STEVE CROWTHER reviews Julian Lloyd Webber with Bosanova, at York Knavesmire.

THERE is something very civilised, very British about sitting in a huge park, lazily picnicking on sandwiches, strawberries and cheap wine while listening to an open-air concert of popular music.

It's good fun too.

The set-up was odd - two large speakers framed the "auditorium" giving the impression of a peopled stereo system - but effective.

First off was the British Waterways Wind Orchestra, ably directed by John Melgate, in a medley which included a super transcription of music from John Williams' score Jurassic Park. The natural elements too added to the early proceedings: the setting sun a welcome backdrop, but a light breeze targeted the mics, providing a not-so-welcome windy counterpoint.

One of the real joys of these concerts is the "windows of opportunity" offered to amateur/young musicians, in this case the Gala Theatre Stage School from Gateshead. Though somewhat squashed into the two front sides, they acquitted themselves admirably. Indeed the first-half pick'n'mix from Les Miserables was excellent with the soloists clearly evidencing real talent. Prior to the main event, a young Lilly McNab delighted the crowd - what there was of it, clearly something had disastrously gone wrong with the promotion - with a sprightly, jet-propelled Gaelic folk-dance to the Lord of the Dance.

Despite the rather crude amplification necessary for these events, Julian Lloyd Webber and his new band Bosanova created a sexy, intimate sound-world of the bossa nova music, or '''chill-out'' music as Julian Lloyd W described it. There was something soulful, reflective and seductive about this performance - which I thoroughly enjoyed - but I wasn't convinced, if this isn't a direct contradiction, by the cello as singer-substitute. I also felt that their 20 to 30-minute slot in a two-hour 20-minute concert was a bit stingy. The fireworks were great, though.

Updated: 15:16 Tuesday, August 12, 2003