FORGET Toyah's cancelled comeback gig - Worcester's premier funksters Juiced will be getting the musical flowing when they play at the Marr's Bar venue instead of the 1980s pop star this Saturday.

Juiced will be getting back into their fruity groove when they play the Pierpoint venue after disappearing out of sight for a considerable time.

You may have wondered where on earth Juiced have been hiding for the past six months after their appearance at the Birmingham International Jazz Festival last year and their gig at Ronnie Scott's (well before it turned into a lap-dancing club.)

But as Carloyn Evans, the bands saxophonist explains, auditions for a new drummer held the band up for quite a while - on the live circuit that is.

With the departure of drummer and founder member of the group Scott Miles, Juiced took a big break at the end of the year.

However, they are now proud to welcome Simon Lee-Overy from Market Drayton to their rejuvenated midst.

The band are now feeling re-juiced and raring to go for their Marr's Bar gig.

"We advertised locally then in a percussion magazine to find a new drummer," says Carolyn.

"We literally had people come from all over the county, so we took it down to the last couple of candidates.

"They had to fit into the band and we didn't want any primadonnas."

Carolyn says it came down to Simon and one other skinsman at the auditions.

"Simon stood out, he was an exceptional drummer and a nice guy," says Carolyn.

"We hope he enjoys playing with us."

Carolyn says that Simon has even got the band a gig at a festival in Market Drayton and he's only been with them for two weeks.

Carolyn and Simon will be joined by fellow band members Sef Henni, lead singer, Phil Lee, lead guitar, Simon Plowman, keyboards, Nick Davis, bass and Becky Pearman on percussion.

The last time I spoke to Carolyn was at the end of 2001, when Juiced had spent some time in Pebble Mill recording studio.

"We recorded some tracks for a new CD and we're hoping two of them may get some airplay," she says.

"We're writing lots of new stuff at the moment and honing our sound."

Carolyn, who comes from Callow End, says she doesn't like labelling the music of Juiced but at a push she would call it jazz/funk.

"It's all original music," she says.

"The music is written by everyone. We jam together that's how it starts, but the lyrics are written by Sef and myself."

Carolyn, whose influences include jazz, classical and Miles Davis, used to play in a band called 36 Stone with Brian Marr, owner of the Marr's Bar.

She says sitting down at a Juiced gig is not an option and she would like to thank her husband Martyn for putting up with her music all these years.