The Rock ’n Roll Circus, The Kooks, Wunderhorse, Richard Ashcroft, Milburn, Miles Kane, The Clause, Day We Ran, Cruz Beckham, Kaïros, Spanish Horses, and Cruz Beckham and the Breakers

I had never even heard of The Kooks before I saw them. I saw them sort of by accident. I was at Glastonbury 2007.

The only band I was excited about when the lineup was released was Arctic Monkeys. I did see them, they were great. But this band, the Kooks, they were something else. I was just walking near the Pyramid Stage and the sound of their set drew me in. It was both exuberant and laid back, which is exactly what I was looking for. I danced around and jammed out to all of their tunes and they were so adorable.

There is just something so sweet about a guy singing his heart out with a cardigan and an acoustic guitar. I didn't know any of their songs, so I didn't know which were the hits but my favorite bit was just as the sun was starting to set. They played this song called Oil. The people around me were big fans and were happy to tell me the name of the song after it was over. By the end of the set, they were my new festival friends. We linked arms and swayed along and they told me everything about the Kooks.

I have seen them 4 times since then and every time has been great but nothing has beaten the first time.

Richard Ash Croft needs no introduction! An Indie legend and a major part of ‘Britpop', which shook up the music world in the 90’s. He is considered by many to be the greatest songwriter of his era, and with songs like ‘Sonnet’, ‘Drugs Don't Work’ and ‘Lucky Man’ its easy to see why. I was fortune enough to see him at the Exeter, small venue for such an iconic artist. It was a sell out and the hall was packed tight. I remember getting to the bar was quite an up evil. The stage ran along the front and the hall was dressed by a red light.
The crowd grew restless but were sent into cheers as the lights were dimmed, the instrumental at the start of ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ started to play. The crowd knew their arrival was imminent! Dark figures started to enter the stage and the crowed roared. Then the stage lights came on and there he was. Chants rang out but finally faded as the drums joined in with the violin part of “Bitter Sweet Symphony”. With that the gig had begun, and what a start! The song I predicted to be the encore was the song he started with! He played for 2 hours and in that time found time for all of his hits. From the days of The Verve to his songs from his remarkable solo career Richard Ashcroft chatted confidently. He spoke about other projects he’d been doing and generally jested with the audience. He finished the gig with ‘Break the Night With Colour’ followed by the Oasis’s anthem ‘Live Forever’ which the audience sang along too with great enthusiasm.
An amazing set by a legendary British songwriter and musician. Don’t miss the chance to see a man who's responsible for some of the best songs ever written and ones that made a big mark on 90’s youth culture.

Miles Kane is a performer who embodies a passion for his music, a passion for the art of Rock and Roll, and a passion for live performance to fans.

I first saw Miles when he was supporting Beady Eye on their first tour of Different Gear Still Speeding. It was the Troxy in East London, and going into the gig I knew a bit from the Rascals, liked The Last Shadow Puppets and was reasonably optimistic he would put on a decent show.

He blew everyone there away. It was a unique reaction, I have never seen anything like it before or since. The usual greeting for a support act awaited him when he came on stage. Intrigue and apathy in equal measure. That lasted no more then two songs, and by the time Inhaler dropped (the only song that had Radio 1 airtime behind it) the crowd were raucous, bouncy and staring at each other in amazed disbelief that this gem had gone unearthed.

To finish with a Hey Bulldog cover was genius, and despite an impressive set from Beady Eye, I can guarantee that no one spoke about Liam Gallagher that night. I have seen Miles in various locations, indoor gigs in Brixton and the Troxy, as well as The Olympic Park and twice at Finsbury. He is not fazed by the occasion whether performing to 2000 or 50000, he brings energy, fashion sense, a fantastic voice and an innovative set list, most recently including an interlude with Sympathy For The Devil.

Each time I have seen him, whether as a headliner or support act, whether warming up a small crowd for Liam Gallagher and Andy Bell, or a sunny park full for Kasabian, Stone Roses or his old mates in Arctic Monkeys he brings a swagger, and when I leave I know I am not the only one still bouncing to Miles' set list.

If you are a fan of good old fashioned Rock and Roll, have the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Oasis or Kasabian on your iPod, or remember enjoying the tunes of The Last Shadow Puppets; or perhaps are wondering why music died in 1969 then Miles Kane is definitely a man you should get out and see.

Personal highlights are Come Closer, Give Up, First Of My Kind, Kingcrawler, Inhaler and Taking Over, and on youtube are collaborations with Arctic Monkeys on stage for 505, and with Paul Weller. If Weller is the Mod Father then Miles is his illegitimate Mod Son.

The Clause nailed it. After following the progress of the boys online for a while it was great to finally go and see them live.

We turned up in time to see Kanvas which was great to see another local band.

The Clause kicked off with Tokyo and Sixteen before sharing some unreleased material and also notably playing a cover of Kasabian’s ‘Club Foot’.

The pinnacle of my evening was the performance of ‘where are you now?’ before which Pearce thanked the crowd and talked about their rise from playing infront of 100 people only a few months ago to now playing infront of 500 people; selling out the Birmingham Institute2. The crowd joined in the song all the way through which seemingly brought a tear to Pearce’s eye.

An absolutely brilliant gig and I can’t wait to see where these boys will go. This is only the start!