With a constant battle between the drums and vocals, Mute Math shake things up at Club Academy.

New Welsh wonders Kids In Glass Houses show they're ready for the big time at the Roadhouse.

It's not without its problems but Performance show their mettle and magic at the Roadhouse.

The fiery foursome show their power-pop direction with a homecoming at the Roadhouse.

The trio offer Night and Day a well-oiled performance as the falsetto kings of electro rock.

The champions of Nu-Rave make everyone over 21 feel very old at Academy 2.

Crowd surfing and beer throwing are the order of the day for Underground Heroes at Club Academy.

It's been a while in coming, but Performance's electro-rock debut is more than worth the wait.

Tommy Lee and the boys make a thrilling case for the power of rock and roll at the Apollo.

The future of rock rests on the shoulders of old chargers, as Velvet Revolver show at the Apollo.

Coming out of his parents' shadow, Ben Taylor impresses with his own brand of folk at Academy 2.

The return of Crispian Mills and his swirling rock just about satisfies the majority of Academy 3.

The former Blue boybander fails to hit the right notes with a lacklustre show at the Arena.

It's retro stompers and impassioned ballads all round as the excellent Mohair play Night and Day.

Perry Farrell overcomes poor ticket sales to have a blast with his Satellite Party at Club Academy.

The Bristol brooding rockers battle a sweltering venue and technical glitches at the Roadhouse.

Kamal Arafa, Aidan Smith and Flynn offer up a salad of summer fun at the Green Room.

The singer-songwriter overcomes his man-flu for a set of maudlin magnificance at the Academy 2.

It's a refreshing blend of blues, guitar pop and country from The Deadbeats at Academy 3.

Self indulgence and a lack of showmanship take the edge off Ryan Adams' set at Academy 2.

Dwelling in the detail and creating small motes of wonder, Neil McSweeney entertains Trof in style.

Hot acts, smoking moves and a fair few burning foreheads make up the Dale Street Fire benefit.

The cute and confident Nash doesn't quite step out of the shadow of Ms Allen at Night and Day.

Working for a Nuclear Free City get lost in a technological quagmire for a turgid Roadhouse set.

The spin-off aftershow product take some faltering steps into the live arena at the Music Box.

The unashamedly pretentious US trio Blonde Redhead create blank expressions at Academy 3.

The latest export from Sheffield's vibrant scene makes a bunch of converts at the Roadhouse.

The Welsh superstars continue to shine with a hurtling and passionate show at the Apollo.

The Wakefield trio fail to impress at the Ritz with a show that's small on excitement.

Catch up with the beats and treats from the best bank holiday shows like Eurocultured and The Loungs

Flash through some of the sights and bands of this year's intercontinental arts wonderment!

It's just three blokes, lots of hair, naked chests, passion and bucket-loads of talent at Academy 2.

The bearded fun and good time tunes of The Loungs hit the King's Arms, with help from It's A Buffalo

George Thomas and The Owls make their debut a thing of translucent tunes and warming tweeness.

They make you dance a bit and contemplate nursing homes prematurely; it's the Holloways at Academy 2

The best of new talent? The Rumble Strips and others take up the challenge at Club Academy.

Pirouettes, punk and plenty of camp make for a great set by The Exorsisters at Tiger Lounge.

The Toronto band's name may be somewhat problematic, but their sound is nothing short of amazing.

It's disjointed, occasionally uncomfortable and deeply moving as Daniel Johnston comes to town.

It's visceral, emotional and danceable for the layers of wonderment that is Battles at Academy 3.

Americana's pop craftsmen show off their talnets at an intimate show at Academy 2.

Despite all the hype and column inches, The Twang fail to impress at the Academy 2.

The Academy 2 witnesses "an unwarranted renaissance" as Wayne Hussey and company comes to town.

Proof if proof were needed that heavy metal never dies, as Saxon rock the Academy 2.

The sound may have been poor but there was still fun to be had with Girls Aloud at the Arena.

Beth Ditto shines and Lovefoxx shows her gymnastic skills as the two hot bands storm the Roadhouse.

Christina McDermott throws herself around four days of bleeps and beats in the name of fun.

Simon Aldred's sweet apparition continues to shine with ever-increasing intensity at Academy 3.

Something other-worldly this way comes as the angelic beauty of Icelandic quartet Amiina hits town.

The American singer-songwriter lets his music do all the talking at the Academy 2.

Cortina Deluxx, Denis Jones and Liz Green all shine for the Sunday night gathering at Cornerhouse.

There's plenty of superstylin' and ass-shaking for the arrival of Groove Armada at the Apollo.

They may have a preposterous name but that doesn't stop Mr Hudson & The Library thrilling Academy 3.

Ginger and his gang give a lesson in good old fashioned rock punk at the Academy 2.

It's dance-rock all round as a rollicking Kosheen and an iffy Vincent Black Shadow hit Academy 3.

The women dominate but don't quite ring true for a riotous performance at the Ritz.

Polytechnic manage to just about live up to the hype around their debut, Down Til Dawn.

The diversity of style and standard is as wide as Chapel Street itself for Salford's all-dayer.

From Orphan Boy to Cortina Deluxx, get a taste of the sights from Salford's all-dayer.

James mark their reformation with a comprehensive trawl through their singles.

Dunc Le Chunk's Withington folk night produces a fine compilation of local and national talent.

Aurally excellent but visually challenging, the Cinematic Orchestra just about succeed at Academy 2.

The post-rockers show their promise, though not quite their vocal prowess, at Academy 3.

The Smog man vents his fury on a lighting engineer inbetween some wonderful songs at Academy 2.

The former Suede frontman keeps things sharp-suited and glamorous at the Academy 2.

The hard rock five piece cross the Pennines to throw some shapes at Night and Day.

The high-kicking, full throttle North-Easterners hit the Ritz squarely in the ears.

The return of the thinking Manc's band is something of a hit and miss affair at the Arena.

The Sheffield band find themselves shunted into a weird slot with a tiny audience at Jabez Clegg.

DRS and Strategy show their skills and have a few laughs at the Mint Lounge.

It's raucous rock + roll all the way with Louie, The Good Hurt + The Evening Society at Night + Day.

Half Manc, half Texan, all good time fun, a well-oiled Earlies bring the house down at Academy 2.

The Welsh superstars show support act Taking Back Sunday just how it's done at the Arena.

The love and smiles roll out in droves for the Beep Seals' fine show at the Roadhouse.

Glam rock makes a return with Switches at a very hot and sweaty Night and Day.

Jenny McCormick's debut has plenty of the beauty and gentle power of a summer breeze.

Coventry's swaggering upstarts get things hot, sweaty and rocking at Academy 3.

The Glaswegian folk star takes on the oddness of Urbis, with Elaine Palmer and Jenny McCormick

The Leeds four piece hit with energy and fun at the Roadhouse, with help from Colonopenbracket.

Joan Wasser's sold-out show turns out to be the wrong performer in the wrong place at Club Academy.

Ball gowns and slick tunes are the order of the evening as Mizz and friends hit the Mint Lounge.

Johnny Borrell somehow manages to walk the tightrope of cool without falling off at the Arena.

The bespectacled songstress creates pleasant wonders at Academy 3, with help from Your Heart Breaks.

It's a non-stop party for Fall Out Boy as they bring Shiny Toy Guns and Cobra Starship to the Apollo

With able support from Fionn Regan, Damien Rice produces a night of fun and beauty at the Apollo.

The dreadlocked 22-year-old taps, slaps, scratches and strums his way through a set at the Roadhouse

The power and the pleasure of the rising Carlis Star smashes into the Club Academy.

The Bournemouth boys fly away on a surge of influences at Academy 3.

Things get suitably rowdy for Little Man Tate's impromptu secret show at the Roadhouse.