PRODUCER Graham Massey (808 State) described Paddy Steer, who plays The Brickyard, Carlisle, next week as sounding “like a Swiss cuckoo clock made of egg boxes and horsehair, glued together by an African Moog player in a Vietnamese iron monger’s shop”.

What’s not to love about that?

Coming on like a 23rd century Frank Sidebottom behind a stacked array of instruments, gargling through a vocoder with his xylophone, Paddy is a versatile and anarchically intrepid creator whose live performances dance daringly on the frontier of chaotic abstraction, in what he says is “a madcap joyride through lounge, romp, deep groove and furry electronic invention”.

Promoter Mark Howlette says of the gig: “Paddy Steer is one of those musicians who you have to see live as there’s a big visual element to his performance. Surrounded by his homemade synthesisers while wearing masks, capes and a whole manner of other worldly attire, I can’t wait for Paddy to play.

“There really is nobody else like him and if you fancy something completely different to get your weekend started, then look no further.”

Paddy has played with a wide range of music and artists over the years - as bass player, drummer, Hawaiian guitarist…

In rejection of the notion of ‘immaculate reproduction’ his live performances are certainly singular but polished by experience for richness, depth and vivid texture, “1 if it were some magnificent curry, or a samurai sword”.

Come with an open mind and your dancing shoes for lounge, romp, deep groove, homely and galactic-expedition whimsy and furry electronic invention.

Paddy plays The Brickyard on Friday, February 28. Support comes from Carlisle’s own Jiggy Beast and The Lucid Dream DJs.

Doors 8pm. Ages 14 and older. Tickets £7 in advance from http://thebrickyardonnline.com or call SeeTickets on 0871 220 0260. Also available (for cash only) from Vinyl Cafe, The Kings Head (over 18s only) and The Brickyard.

n Spiky indie favourites The Futureheads play The Brickyard on Friday, April 3. They bounded into the UK top 10 in 2004 with their superb cover of Kate Bush’s Hounds Of Love. After five albums they took a musical break, returning last year with Powers. Doors 7.30pm. Tickets £17.50 as above.