HATS off to the Half Moon for this Bank Holiday Monday fundraiser for the Nepal earthquake appeal.

And hats off too to the great bands on the bill, with openers The David Sinclair Four giving a bluesy rock masterclass that displays the band’s pure musical talent and tightness as a unit.

Next up, husband and wife team Lorna and Nathan — Argonaut — live their own musical dream. Rooted in the Velvet Underground, steeped in punk eclecticism and then soaked in distorted rock guitar they weave Dr Who-style psychedelia via keyboards into vocals that are part Penetration’s Pauline Murray screams and part breathless seduction.

Singer Lorna is mesmerising as she bounces up and down before bending over in a cathartic, trance-like state. Vocally wistful, yet assured, she’s really enjoying the moment. The giant bassist towering behind her looks as fragile as a frightened rabbit. Musically though he is as solid as a rock in this brilliant old-new set — a carnival of noise and a fitting testament to a vision of melding all that they have absorbed as music fans into a unique individual soundscape.

The Wimmin’s Institute are a “super group” packed with individual talent. As if not sure how to start, the set opens a bit shambolically, especially when it comes to swapping instruments but as confidence grows they start to gel, meshing country, punk pop and garage folk with a wistful, beguiling trumpet and intelligent lyricism.

As ex-Linus member, the talented drummer/guitarist Jen Delitto gets into her groove, her smile radiates and the other members all start to show the potential these proud and happy women have for forging a new unique identity with a “post-post-riot grrrl, post-feminist, post-Marxist, post-punk rock new wave.”

Finally, Thee Faction and what more can be said, except they’re brilliant, tearing up the house from the off. They encapsulate all the post-election blues with a blistering Bastards and a triumphantly rollicking set of crowd favourites that, like good wine, simply get better with age.

They’re on soon at the Left Field in Glastonbury, a must-see if ever there was one.

Review by Bob Oram