Andy Whitby

It’s nice, sometimes, when artists don’t beat around the bush with their stage names and instead christen themselves in a manner that immediately reveals to the listener what they’re all about; credit’s due, then, to Ultrabeat, who give you a pretty clear idea from the very get go that you should be expecting high-tempo dance music, and little else. The Liverpudlian trio hail from Liverpool, having formed in 2002 after having met through DJ’ing in clubs like the legendary Cream and bonding over a shared love of happy hardcore, they first made an impression on the UK charts with ‘Pretty Green Eyes’ in 2003, which went in at number two on the singles rundown. They’ve never quite topped that since, but their two records to date - Ultrabeat: The Album in 2007 and The Weekend Has Landed in 2009 - have both fared well commercially and among the dance scene that Ultrabeat are so steeped in. Additionally, their live sets have won them acclaim from fans and critics alike, and they remain active across the UK and Europe, mixing intimate club sets with huge festival slots to this day; don’t rule out a return to chart success just yet, with plenty still left in the Ultrabeat tank.