After interviewing RaVen a week or so ago, it’s clear they are something a bit different; A string quartet, playing on classical instruments, but at the same time a girl band, with all the stage energy of any other gigging act.

They brought this feeling of something different to Thursday’s gig. Although it was in such a renowned classical venue, it had a much more informal vibe to it. The girls chatted to the audience, introducing pieces from the ‘programme’ (although it was definitely more of a set list!) and playing around with the order.

Their range of repertoire, which boasts ‘400 years of Music in 1 hour’ really caters for everyone. If you’re sceptical about classical repertoire, the brilliant Bach/Led Zeppelin mash-up of Toccata & Fugue and Kashmir, and the great fun and energy of the girls’ rendition of Brahms’ Hungarian Dance will show you that you can do something new with it, and how relevant and full of life it all still is. And if you’re not sure about pop on classical instruments, the quartet’s arrangements, in particular Motörhead’s Ace of Spades and Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black, are truly inspired, and really show off how versatile strings can be.

While I would question the need for miking in such an intimate venue as the Elgar Rooms, and there were a few balance issues as a result of this, the girls were more than happy to explain, when I met them after, why it works for them:

‘We don’t want to just be that standard background String quartet in a noisy venue. We’re more like a band, and bands are miked up on stage, so it makes sense. This gig was different for us because everyone was sitting quietly, but it’s how we’d do it anywhere else…’

You can completely understand what they mean; their act works as it is, and is so varied it would work perfectly at smaller grungy gig venues like the Lexington, and on huge stages like the O2, where they’re playing as part of Release the Peace on Sunday

If you get the chance to catch them, whether it’s at a festival or your local (they’ve done pubs!), it’s well worth an hour of your time to try something new.

RaVen will be appearing at Release the Peace on Sunday 28^th October, and touring with Madness later in the year. Follow @RavenQuartet on Twitter and Facebook to keep up!Their website is RaVen

RaVen’s rendition of Back to Black – my personal highlight! (from last year’s RAH gig) 

Review: Lizzie Rogers