ONE highlight at this year's Baybeats festival is an exclusive reunion performance by seminal home-grown band The Oddfellows.

Formed in 1988 when the local music scene was just a tiny underground affair, the pioneer group went on to release two well-received full-length albums before going their separate ways in 2001.

Frontman Patrick Chng, 40, says the reunion happened simply because The Esplanade asked them to take part.