Futurefest - The Futureheads / Field Music / Yourcodenameis:Milo / Kubichek! / Dartz!

It's been an interesting year for The Futureheads. They did what most bands would kill their granny to do, and made their 'difficult' second album sound like it was the easiest thing in the world; they headlined the superb Truck Festival; they got dropped by their record label; and then they decided to invite a load of their favourite bands to play with them at a one off Christmas gig in Newcastle, as you do.

Opening the festivities were The Catweasels, and they were magnificent. According to their Myspace, they are 'like a geordie Blink 182' but I reckon this only applies if you are actually a bit deaf. What they do sound like is a relentlessly cheery spiky guitar pop five piece who quite simply play wonderful, uplifting tunes to fall in love with. Unsurprisingly, they sound a little bit like The Futureheads , but we can forgive them that, as what they do, they do very well indeed. The few people who have crept out of work / school / bed early to get here in time for their set are very pleased they did, and I am sure we will hear more from this lot in the coming months. The highlight of the set is undoubtedly the upcoming single 'This Is Just The Night Time, Andy', a synthy, sexy masterpiece which deserves to be playlisted at indie discos up and down the country.

Next it was time to make the first dash upstairs to Academy 2 for Sunderland's best kept secret, This Ain't Vegas, who had just kicked off by the time we squeezed into the tiny venue. It is a mystery to me that after two superb albums, this band still aren't massive. 'Ku Jumping' is simply superb, and the snappy, sarky 'Girl U Want' is like all of the best bits of the Sex Pistols rolled into one. It isn't often you see a band this good, this low on a bill, and you can tell the number of people who were seeing them for the first time, as they had that instantly recognisable look of joy that we all get when we find a new and exciting band.

Downstairs again for Kubichek!, and we are starting to feel spoiled. Being one of the most highly anticipated bands on the bill that is this good is never easy, but the Newcastle four piece do not disappoint. 'Outwards' and 'Stutter' both soar, proving that this band have the big tunes, to go with the attitude and talent they possess in abundance, to break out of the local scene, and make it big nationally and beyond.

Dartz! really know how to get a crowd moving, and their exemplary set in Academy 2 could show a few better known bands exactly what it means to make exciting, innovative music. The highlight of their set is the 'X-RayBex', which sounds like you would imagine Blur would, if they were mildly annoyed. Their brand of edgy, angsty brand of indie punk goes down well with the packed crowd, and there is no doubt that this lot were the highlight of the event for many people.

Like a spoiled little girl at her best friend's birthday party, Yourcodenameis:Milo seemed intent on stealing the show. There is no other way of putting it, they were stunning. Promoting their innovative 'Print Is Dead' album, YCI:M are not your average band, and this is not your average live show. They take the packed crowd by the scruff of the neck, and drag them into their glorious post-punk, post-boredom, post-rulebook world. The highlights are every song they play, and it's a crying shame when they leave the stage after theirallotted 45 minutes has elapsed. Go see them, but their albums, get involved. Words really can't do this band justice.

The queue to get into Academy 2 for Field Music was evidence that the punters know more about bands than show planners do. This is a band with a very loyal following in the region, and to put them in Academy 2, which holds just 500 people, when around four times that number wanted to see them was a mistake. Unfortunately, I arrived too late to be allowed in, and was denied the opportunity of seeing them. All reports I heard suggested that they had played a blinder though, and that they are most definitely on their way up. Keep an eye out for these lads.

And finally we have The Futureheads, the best unsigned band in the country. We may never know why they parted company with Warner, but I have a feeling that it will be a decision that the label come to regret. Entertaining comes naturally to this lot, and with the talent available, and the quality and depth of material they now have to draw upon, it would have been difficult for this to have been a poor show.

We were treated to the best of their two albums, with 'Carnival Kids' and 'Decent Days and Nights' being the highlights from their eponymous debutlong player , and 'Yes / No' and 'Skip To The End' doing the business to ensure 'News And Tributes' sells a few more copies over the Christmas period. The now traditionalJaff vs Ross singing competition was rolled out during 'Hounds of Love', and despite the risk of it coming across as a little bit crass it is, as always, a lot of fun, and ensures that the crowd get drawn into the show. Other stand out tracks are 'Meantime' in all of it's cynical glory, and the frankly stunning take on 'Worry About It Later'.

The band themselves always look like they are enjoying themselves, and Jaff in particular has a look of smug self-satisfaction throughout the gig. Maybe the loss of their record deal has freed the band from what they saw as undue restrictions, and now it seems they are concentrating on enjoying themselves, and doing what they do best - making damn good music, and giving the fans what they want. If they can carry this enthusiasm into the making of their third album, it may just be their best yet, and that would be something very special indeed.

So there you have it - proof conclusive that the North East's music scene is packed to bursting with fresh and exciting new talent. How often do you have a bill of seven bands, without a single letdown? This is what the live scene should be like - great bands, good banter, and no-one taking themselves too seriously. Well done lads, damn good show!

FUTURE GIGS