FOLLOWING the unexpected success of Bon Iver, record men must have scoured rural areas on Sundays listening for the sound of the banjo plucked by a backwoodsman.

Imagine their joy on chancing on Megafaun, once part of Bon Iver’s former, and equally poorly named band, DeYarmond Edison.

In obvious awe of the woodsmoke moorland atmosphere, the North Carolina trio responded with a strong, uncategorisable set that strayed far from their Appalachian upbringings.

Built around the contrasting shapes of Brad and Phil Cook they joked about being mistaken for ZZ Top.

One glance confirmed this passing similarity with a hat, long hair and beards to the fore, with drummer Joe Westerlund looking not unlike Dennis Wilson circa Pacific Ocean Blue. The band’s threepart harmonies make easy comparison with The Beach Boys and Fleet Foxes, but this was an overused trick since each was a strong singer individually. The best songs were also the simplest.

Megafaun thrive on improvisation, and such is the nature of the beast, only some of this actually caught fire.

Too often, they would interrupt an enjoyable melody to play the kind of slow 60s jam that gives the era a bad name. This wilful disregard for conventional form is likely to limit their potential audience, but the open minds of the Bandroom audience remained receptive. Only at the end was there a true connection between performers and audience as the trio disconnected the electricity and moved into the crowd for the rousing, church style finale of Ease Your Mind.

Arms aloft in fervour, there was a profound goodwill that literally levelled Phil Cook – flat on the floor with his banjo for a memorable finish.