Aspring festival where soya beans are thrown in the air to cast away demons and bring good luck may seem like a strange basis for a band.

But when Farmyard Animals trio Gideon Juckes, Brendan Kelly and Pete Flood visited Tokyo in 2005, they found themselves in the middle of the Setsubun festival and became inspired to bring some of the sounds to Western audiences.

"On February 4 every year we do this ritual at home as well as at the temple," says Kamura, the Japanese former member of John Peel favourites Frank Chickens who now sings with the collective of musicians.

"There are lots of little paganistic festivals in Japan and seasonal rituals. On March 3 we have Hina Matsuri, or dolls' day, where you display typical Japanese dolls.

"In May there is boys' day, where every family which has a newborn baby boy displays huge banners outside their houses. If you stay in Japan for a couple of months you come across some of these rituals."

Setsubun Bean Unit takes its basis from traditional Japanese folk music - in particular the music associated with the Bon Odori festival, when energetic and bawdy tunes are sung over a heavy, hypnotic groove - complete with dancers dressed in summer kimonos.

The unit has combined the music with jazz, dub and electronic funk, all accompanied on stage by a pair of traditional Bon dancers.

"Frank Chickens took some Japanese folk elements," says Kamura, "but not as much as Setsubun Bean Unit. I had never really sung any traditional Japanese folk tunes before so it is really challenging."

The sound is certainly unique, especially with the addition of tuba and brass sounds courtesy of the Farmyard Animals, but is still accessible - largely due to its rhythms.

"It's like music from another world or another planet, even to me," says Kamura. "But you can feel the nice rhythms underneath. Some Bon dance tunes have developed inland, while others from port towns follow the rhythm of the sea."

  • Starts 8pm, tickets £12.50/£10.

Call 01273 709709.