And what better place to stage the final gig than at Stainsby Festival, where frontman Tim Storer made festival history twice over?

Down the years he has scored a unique double victory in the singers' competition — the first time with old band Lukas where their triumph saw them rock the main stage and rewrite the history of the one-time folk fest and then in 2007, with his inventive group the Chaos Project.

But returning to the scene of last year's festival triumph, the Space tent, you would never have guessed that this was the Chaos Project's swansong.

The mood was upbeat and the music as tight as Will's drumskin as the band ran through their back catalogue of eclectic creations.

Personal favourites included the summer sounds of Mephisto Jazz, the power chords of On A Day and the groove-laden Dead Or Alive segueing nicely into Ghostbusters, the latter pounced upon by the kids from Brookfield School where Tim used to teach.

No reference was made to it being the final gig and Tim's comment that they would be around a lot over the next few years made me wonder whether he'd had a rethink about keeping the Chaos Project going.

But sadly no, the sheer distance between Chesterfield and Brighton, where Tim and his bass guitarist brother James are now living, means it is impossible for the project to survive.

But north Derbyshire's loss will be a gain for the new stamping ground of the Storer siblings who plan to make Brighton rock with a new sound and a new band.

Who knows, the adventurous pair may bring their next reincarnation back to the county.

Steve Swallow, master of ceremonies in the festival's Space tent on Saturday, said: "Tim is a genuine notable legend. I'm sure he is going to be back in Stainsby even if he's got to win the singers' competition to get here."

GAY BOLTON

MORE FROM THE STAINSBY FESTIVAL:

Stainsby video report

Stainsby photos

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