Reggae band KIOKO spread the love at Winsford's De Bees

But watching them play at Winsford’s De Bees on Sunday night, it’s clear they don’t care how big the crowd is – it’s all about having fun for KIOKO.

The seven-piece band of talented school friends from Birmingham are certainly on their way to the top, with a collaboration and UK arena tour with UB40 promising to thrust them into the limelight in 2019.

And the crowd at De Bees Music Bar were given a special intimate taste of what the thousands of arena fans have awaiting them.

Their on-stage energy as they belt out original hits such as Kiss Away, Let’s Be Frank and crowd favourite Deadly Roots, is infectious.

Charismatic trumpet players Laurence Taylor and Ewan Whyte, along with trombone player Josh Wilkinson, move around the stage with the kind of fun-loving chemistry that can only be found among musicians who have played together since their school days.

The audience needs little encouragement to join the party, but it comes anyway.

Lead singer Matt Doyle and backing vocalist Ewan take turns venturing off stage throughout the set, interacting with their latest additions to the ‘KIOKO army’, asking for some help with the vocals and even offering a tipple of whisky to help lubricate the vocal chords.

The brass trio dominate the band’s ska-influenced sound with loud catchy riffs, which accompany Matt’s smooth vocals, while Ben Torrens provides the groovy bass lines, Jon Brown brings a jazz element through his lead guitar, and Ian Haughton drums the classic reggae beats.

‘We’re all about love, equality and anti-racism’, says Ewan, as he encourages the crowd to give each other a ‘big KIOKO hug’.

By the end of the set, those who had come to check out what the promising reggae pop band had to offer, found themselves chanting the band’s name back at the stage and giving rapturous applause.

If anyone is going to bring reggae back to the charts, it’s clear this De Bees crowd wouldn’t bet against KIOKO.