Johnny's gipsy night out in Hackney

It is not every day you find a Hollywood superstar slumming it in the East End. But last night Johnny Depp came to deepest Hackney to present his favourite band with a trophy at Radio 3's inaugural World Music Awards.

The actor, soon to be seen as Jack the Ripper in From Hell, flew in from his Paris home to hand a prize to an obscure Romanian folk group who usually play weddings and funerals.

He first met the members of Taraf de Haidouks (Band of Outlaws) two years ago when they were cast as his gipsy family in The Man Who Couldn't Cry, by British film-maker Sally Potter. He has become such a fan that he flew them to Los Angeles to play at his club, The Viper Room, to mark the release of his hit film Sleepy Hollow.

Last night at the Ocean nightspot he described them as "the greatest musicians I know" and danced with his girlfriend, actress Vanessa Paradis, as the group gave an impromptu performance at the after-show party. "These guys can play a music which expresses the most intense joy," said Depp.

The band, whose members range in age from mid-20s to late-70s, remain almost unknown in Romania because of their gipsy blood. But, said Depp: "They have this gift to make you feel alive. They are among the most extraordinary people I've ever met."

Joining him were fellow presenters Damon Albarn of Blur and Gorillaz, Joe Strummer of The Clash and ambient pioneer Brian Eno.

Albarn presented an award to double-bass player Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez, of the Buena Vista Social Club, the Cuban musicians' collective.

Senegalese star Baaba Maal won the critics' award for album of the year and other winners included Anglo-Indian composer Nitin Sawhney, London-born Susheela Raman, veteran Mali musician Djelimady Toukara and Afro-Celt Sound System.

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