SOUNDS Familiar – a showcase of blues, jazz, glam-pop and new wave covers – is the next Music in the Parks concert in St Albans on Sunday.

Among the bands playing at the Bandstand in Clarence Park are DR Shades, a five-piece St Albans-based rhythm’n’blues outfit who are well known on the local pub scene. They play a variety of classic tunes made famous by such acts as Muddy Waters, Etta James and T-Bone Walker.

Joining them will be The Defamers who perform regularly in London and the South East playing an extensive catalogue of original tracks and covers.

The band comprises guitarist Mark Chapman and bassist Nick Medlin – both ex-Manufactured Romance – joined by drummer Dave Macintosh (ex Doll by Doll) and Dani Medlin on lead vocals and percussion. Having started out covering Elvis Costello, Talking Heads and Joe Jackson songs, the band also writes original material and has drafted in Ebo Ross to share lead vocals.

Also taking the stage will be the Astral Gurus, who often perform at local acoustic nights playing a mix of original songs and covers including T Rex and Roxy Music numbers, and Lou’s Sextet from Buckinghamshire who play Sinatra standards and breezy interpretations of classic songs around the South East.

Music in the Parks, which is provided by St Albans Arts, Sport and Health (SAASH) on behalf of the district council, runs from 1.30pm to 5pm and admission is free.