BackBeat is a band that plays every percussion instrument in the world, including the basketball!

For those of you who didn't know a basketball could be included in a musical performance, that's not the only surprise you're in for when this young, fun group bring their unusual sound to Southampton this month.

The classically-trained musicians play every kind of music - from jazz and classical to rock and pop and World music - on every percussion instrument you can think of, and many you can't, including the mbira - that's a thumb piano from Zimbabwe - African and Japanese drums, vibes, the xylophone, and numerous hand-held instruments.

Not only that, BackBeat - which comprises three guys and a girl - feature energetic choreography and theatrics in their performance, which makes it visually exciting as well as a sensational sound.

Simone Rebello, Damien Harron, Richard Charles and Chris Bastock all started learning to play instruments when they were at school, then went on to study at conservatoires in the UK before meeting up to form two duets which became a quartet in 1995.

Simone says that BackBeat's music will appeal to all-comers.

"By the end of the concert we've done something for everyone, whether you like jazz, classical or really cutting-edge contemporary music.

"We do a mixture of pieces which include theatrical-style pieces like our closing number, Rebound, which is two of us playing on the drums and two of us bouncing basketballs rhythmically," she says.

BackBeat are at the Turner Sims Concert Hall on Thursday November 23. Tickets, which are £10 for adults and £5 for children, are available from the box office on 023 8059 5151.