LIVE music hasn't disappeared from Bermuda completely.

In concert at the Daylesford Theatre bar every Friday will be some of the island's top performers, playing a mixture of sounds, catering to every musical taste.

The Front Line features a host of talented musicians - Howard Rego on drums, Tony Bari on piano and vocals, Stan Gilbert on bass, Ronnie Lopes on percussion and vocals and Graham Maule on trombone.

Each week, the group will be joined by a guest artist; the performances are free.

The idea, the brainchild of Mr. Rego, came about as he reflected on the success of an event he held at the Bermuda Musical & Dramatic Society last year.

"People may remember the Music Quest, a series of five shows I put on last year at BMDS' Daylesford," he explained. "I held one a month for five months, all with a different music theme. They were all sellouts and anyone who comes (to these), can figure on the same sort of scene again - interesting music, in a nice environment, with no cover charge.

"Bermudians are renowned for saying that there's nothing to do and nowhere to go. Contrary to popular belief, live music is alive and well in Bermuda. Bring your dancing shoes or sit and enjoy the evening in the comfortable new surroundings.

"Daylesford has just been renovated. It's like a New York jazz club. It's got a vibe and all the (band members) are well-renowned players. Every Friday night will bring many surprises. There will be no push button, pre-programmed tape loops or machines, just professional musicians playing real instruments.

"(People) won't be disappointed as every musical taste will be catered to - from R&B, to Latin, to jazz, reggae and everything in between."

Mr. Rego has been playing music for 35 years first locally, and then internationally with popular groups of the day.

"I started playing with The Savages, a rock and roll band in 1964," he said. "We started playing at The Guinea Discotheque (where Barracuda Grill is now), and played there six times a week for three years. Within weeks after we'd started (the club) was packed to the rafters and we semi-professionals became hardened professionals."

He left the island in 1969, Mr. Rego said, to pursue formal studies at the Berklee School of Music, before moving to New York City where he lived for 12 years.

"I played with a lot of bands and one of my closest friends was Andy Newmark who was playing with some of the biggest names in the business."

It was on Mr. Newmark's recommendation that he landed gigs with some huge stars, including Sly and the Family Stone, Peter Frampton and Edgar White, Mr. Rego said.

"I travelled on the road a lot and became the pit drummer for the original Rocky Horror Show on Broadway - which, of course, went on to become a huge success."

In 1985, he decided to return to the island permanently.

"No matter what you've done, Bermuda's a valid place to call home even if you've had some international success," he said. "I'm comfortable playing here. It's been lucrative, stimulating and fun."

A number of factors - including Hurricane Fabian - conspired and presented him with the opportunity to take The Front Line before a public audience, he said.

"It became possible for me to pull my favourite players together on the best night of the week. All the elements are in place and we're now coming together, on Friday nights at BMDS. Entertainment-wise, it's going to be very stimulating and (the public) won't know, from week to week, who will stop by and perform with us. But it's going to be very high energy; very world-class stuff."

Friday admission to The Front Line performances at Daylesford Theatre bar is free. The band performs between 9.30 p.m. and 12.30 a.m.