Review: Turin Brakes at Hay Festival

Polite, intelligent and softly spoken, the band could easily melt into the crowd queueing up for one of the talks on existentialism or solipsism.

And it is clear from the opening exchanges that they are pleased to be in the Welsh border town.

Bassist Eddie Myer explains that their new album will be on sale "somewhere in a tent" but, if you're anything like him, funds have probably been exhausted on archaeology books.

Further anecdotes follow about band journeys being interrupted by talks on agricultural history and it is clear to see just why Turin Brakes stood out from the crowd when the Britpop party ended at the end of the 1990s – no doubt to their delight.

Their stirring melodies and harmonies blend effortlessly and the live performance only adds extra shine to the songs.

The band is largely characterised by its quieter acoustic Americana but Last Chance and Long Distance prove that Turin Brakes do loud – and fast – just as well.

Their self-deprecating nature is never far away though and lead guitarist Gale Paridjanian asks how many present bought their standout album, The Optimistm, before seeing who has any of their other works.

Future Boy, Emergency 72 and Underdog (Save Me) are all played from their big hit and easily stand the test of time.

The songs offer a gentle reminder of the quality of guitar music around 15 years ago and the scarcity now found within the charts and on commercial radio.

Today's fashions offer little hope that Turin Brakes will find themselves back near a Radio One playlist but the strength of new single Jump Start proves this is not of their making.

And the pleasure with which Myer takes a phone picture of the standing ovation, it seems the band are quite happy doing things in their own quirky and humble way.