CORNWALL-based contemporary rockers Tantalus hope to leave the audience asking for more when they appear at the New Brighton Rhythm and Blues Festival this Saturday (August 9).

The group shares the stage with Wirral bands Pure 9 and Munky Puzzel and visiting bands Curb, The World Upside Down, Rush Hour, Bruise and guitarist Steve Roberts.

Max Hunt, Tantalus' keyboard and accordion player, is looking forward to the show. And he has the Internet to thank for his love of the concert's Vale Park venue. He told me: "I loved the look of the venue immediately when I saw it on the website. It looks brilliant and is going to be a great venue to play - provided the rain holds off!"

The group, which formed in 1993, also features lead vocalist Bob Leek, Gerlinde Hunt on keyboard and baroque recorder, Jason Tilbrook on bass and Nick Beere on guitar and lead vocals. The band's name is derived from the Greek meaning to tantalize, which means to 'tease something by offering something desirable and then snatching it away.'

And Max hopes the band will do just that: "By the time we finish, I hope the audience will be left wanting more. We've had a great reaction from the many venues we've visited so far and we hope to replicate this," he said.

The group's members age from 34-45 and live in London and the South of England. Max lives with his German wife, and fellow band member, Gerlinde, in Cornwall and music is his life. When not touring with Tantalus, the two also run a music shop and Max teaches music. He is also a member of 'Fragile' - a tribute band for '70s pioneers of progressive rock, Yes.

Tantalus re-releases its first album in the Autumn. So, if you want to get a flavour of what the band is all about, get along to New Brighton on Saturday.

Now in its 10th year, the festival attracts rhythm and blues artistes and fans from all over the world, with jazz pianist Jools Holland among the many faces sharing the stage with local acts in recent years.

Festival organiser Steve King told me: "The Festival this year is taking place thanks to a lifeline from New Opportunities on Wirral and tremendous support from Wirral Borough Council and help from an incredible number of volunteers. We could not have put this year's festival together without the facility of Cbed and uk-online New Brighton and Liscard. There are no headlines . . . all the artists are quality."

The festival, on Vale Park bandstand, starts at 2pm. And if you are hungry for more, once the festival is over, Bruise will be at the Iron Door Club in Argyle Street, Birkenhead, later that evening at 10.30pm.