BATTLE OF THE BANDS

Blakey's Cafe Bar, Blackburn THE battle for the last remaining slot on the Red Brick Theatre Benefit concert showed both the diversity and quality of the East Lancashire pop scene.

The night was marred by the withdrawal of highly-rated Hyndburn band Flux after their guitarist was involved in an accident en route to the show (see story).

Rael, who opened the night, played a brand of alternative rock which was well-written but failed to really spark. The sound problems probably didn't help their confidence. The best song of the set, Prozac, showed they can write and perform to a high level.

With the standard set, it was the turn of Barnoldswick band Driftwood Shell to take the stage. The lovelorn and frustrated vocals of Mike Heanue and Sarah Tullett, combined with a flowing pop sound, made for quite a heady mix. They threw in a few rockier numbers to break things up but never strayed far from their obvious pop roots. But it was a hometown band, The Burn, who stole the show. With fantastic confidence, they strolled on the stage like they were born up there. Their sound lay somewhere between The Verve and the blues side of The Black Crowes. This talented group had so many quality songs up their sleeve it is hard to single out a particular one for praise. With the band swapping instruments, playing harmonica and one guitarist playing slide to dazzling effect, they demanded everyone's attention.

It was unlucky for Rael and Driftwood Shell to come up against such an excellent band.

The Burn won the chance to take their place alongside the four bands already confirmed to play King George's Hall this Friday.

MARK ASQUITH

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.