The Hurricane Jam

Duke Duncan & The Hurricanes are hosting The Hurricane Jam at West Nic Records on Wednesday 11 November, a night that puts a bit of a twist on the usual jam session. The Edinburgh band act as the house band, providing a full backline including keyboards, so you don't need to lug your own gear in. All genres and instruments are welcome, and there's only one rule: you can't discuss what you're going to play before you start playing. It's a blind jam, which means the music comes out of the moment rather than a plan.

As for the band itself, they describe their sound as a 'hedonistic psychedelic melange' that pulls from fusion, funk, indie dance and swamp blues. They've summed it up as 'Alice out-hatting the Mad Hatter with Kerouac at The Hacienda', which gives you a fair idea of the sort of territory they're playing in. If you're not playing, it's still a night to watch, with the band holding down the rhythm section and letting whoever steps up lead the way.

The night is held at West Nic Records, 32B West Nicolson Street in Edinburgh South, a spot they call 'Edinburgh's best kept secret live music venue'. It's a record shop that doubles as a performance space, so it's a natural fit for a night built around playing and listening.

Entry is free. The evening runs from 7:30pm to 10pm, with the jam itself going from 8pm to 10pm; if you want to play, sign-up starts at 7:30pm, so get there early if you're planning to get involved.