Star rating: ***

Proponents of the theory that the Celts who settled in Brittany originated in the Asian subcontinent would find much to support their claims in the opening band in this survey of the current Breton scene.

As a steady trade in crepes continued and a Breton line-dance eventually materialised to emphasise the event's fest-noz ambitions, Stok an Dans overlaid a battery of percussion, both electronic and conventional, with distinctly Indian-inflected melodies, raga-like mouth music and harmonium accompaniments. A Scottish side-drum corps added to an intriguing and well organised, if ultimately rather one-paced, set. If the other two groups had a more traditional approach, they too were moving the music on, with guitarist Gilles le Bigot's septet Empreintes incorporating searching soprano saxophone into their flute-led, richly string-driven tunes and lissom songs.

The Hamon-Martin Quintet might have been better suited to a more intimate platform, despite inspiring more dancing and using bombarde and accordion as a surrogate horn section offering considerable oomph. Their main focus fell on singer Mathieu Hamon, who up close is quite a character and whose songs, although self-written, speak of a generations-old source.