Middlesborough Music Live 2006

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Now in its seventh year, Middlesbrough Music Live comprises 12 stages spread across the town centre, showcasing new talent alongside chart-dabbling classics, the highlight being its entry price of absolutely nothing.  The festival’s organisers pride themselves on attracting a real melting-pot of spectators, and it’s easy to see why. Music Live brings together everyone from the earnest vinyl addict taking advantage of the opportunity to catch the next big thing, to the bemused pensioner, pausing to take in a bluesy cover of their favourite Motown hit.

This year’s line-up sees the festival take on another clutch of newly hatched indie and punk rockers, fresh-faced and determined to please with a series of energetic sets. Taking on the difficult task of opening the Evening Gazette Sounds Stage are pop punk trio Dartz!, who unfortunately appear utterly divided as their vocalist struggles to fill the hall, but over on the Main Stage, soul 12-piece This Is Seb Clarke manage to bring a bit of summer cheer to the chilly crowd, despite regurgitating almost every Mighty Mighty Bosstones riff.

As a sheet of drizzle descends on the streets, a hurried shelter in The Empire becomes an electro-pop dungeon as The Soho Dolls rip the room in two with their sleazy basslines and dirty keyboard experimentation. Before we are treated to a dazzling set from hotly-tipped The Sunshine Underground, however, we are swiftly evacuated for what we’re told is a bomb scare but turns out to be a messy attempt to ensure the building is 18+ only. Not quite the all-embracing festival then, it seems...

Despite queues outside some of the larger venues now reaching gargantuan size, perseverance means that a set by popular newcomers Louie is all the more appreciated. Taking a leaf out of the well-thumbed pop punk handbook, their cheerful, anthemic tunes brighten the waning Town Hall crowd before Icelandic rockers Sign have a go at obliterating the senses with a collection of bombastic, theatrical musings. Sadly, their valiant attempts at livening up the half-full room go largely unnoticed by the increasingly apathetic gathering. It’s not long before the mood starts to rub off onto the band, and they depart looking decidedly worn down.

Over on the Basement Stage however, NME-touted The Motorettes are blasting out potential hit after potential hit as their swaggering frontman delivers a rousing Libertines-esque brawl. Here, the minute audience seem far more interested in what this bright young three-piece have to offer and the buzzing atmosphere makes for a very enjoyable set. Next are highlights of the day, Cord, who bring with them a mature insight into post-rock and some pretty stunning riffs to go with it. Managed by the same team as Franz Ferdinand, their epic leanings could easily see them take on Muse as pioneers of rock in a few years time – keep your ears peeled, they could be very big...