"That's the way I like it," sang KC and the Sunshine Band.

And at the open-air Theatre in the Park at Herne near Herne Bay on Saturday the sell-out crowd liked it, too, as Uncle Funk and the Boogie Wonderband turned back time to the days of 1970s disco.

It was a rare appearance in Kent for the eight-piece group.

They had only played the Garden of England once before, and that was at Canterbury's now defunct Lounge on the Farm music festival in 2013.

"We have trouble finding venues," admitted lead guitarist Nick Davies.

It's a shame because anyone who pines for the disco boogie beats of the 70s (and who doesn't?) should have the chance to "get on down" to this powerhouse from the past.

The band is based in Hertfordshire but Nick, who was sporting an over-sized black Afro wig, now lives in Kent.

It was unlikely any of his students would have recognised him from the days he taught music at Canterbury's Simon Langton Girls Grammar School.

Now he struts his stuff dressed from head to toe in white, along with his band mates.

All are seasoned musicians and produce such a tight sound it is almost impossible to distinguish them from the real thing.

Imagine a night of non-stop music with Diana Ross (I'm Coming Out); Heatwave (Boogie Nights); Chic (Le Freak); Earth, Wind and Fire (Boogie Wonderland); The Trammps (Disco Inferno) and some Saturday Night Fever with the Bee Gees topped off with Car Wash and YMCA. Not cool but hot.

Graham Gouldman of 10cc described them as the "hippest, funkiest band in the land" and who could argue with him?

It was a bit of a culture shock when they all came striding through the audience to start the show but within seconds everyone was on their feet, dancing.

And that, after all, is why you go to see a live band.

The Boogie Wonderband boasted a small but perfectly formed brass section of Adam Brown on trumpet and Loren Hignell on sax, the towering vocals of singer Sue Darwar and, for the girls, the bare-chested brazenness of Uncle Funk himself (Simon Baker) sporting an illuminated codpiece of epic proportions.

At the back were Warren Woodcraft on drums, bassman Dave Clarke and Marc Rapson on keyboards and backing vocals.

This was not just music, this was pure glitter-encrusted spectacle.

Here's hoping they find another venue in Kent soon.

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