Subculture

It was the second year that the team at Stoke Sounds had organised an all day music festival at Burslem Park with meticulous planning. The only thing they couldn't account for was the weather.

Not that the rain put people off. Hundreds of music fans turned up, wellies on and umbrellas in hand to see 40 acts on 4 stages including one dedicated to local electronic and experimental group Bit Jam, and another to bands that come under the banner of 'Wrongpop'.

Every act was local to Staffordshire and South Cheshire and the festival was free. "The city needs something giving back to it, and we want to do it this way." said organiser Charlotte.

"By keeping it local we've been getting a lot more support, not just in kind, but people have been more likely to give us discounts on things because it's about their local community."

Friends of Ken kicked off the main stage

Shot of Sunshine

Friends of Ken kicked off proceedings on the main stage, which was also the first date on their UK tour to promote long awaited album 'Il Tempo Gigante'.

Big Un and the guys ripped through a stunning half hour of power pop-punk anthems evoking the Pixies and Weezer at their best, interspersing it with their own brand of humour.

Tracks such as 'Dance Like No-ones Watching' and 'Spray My Name', were a much needed shot of sunshine amongst the downpours.

Another bands to win over umbrella clutching fans included Crewe's Sumo Kings, who delivered their own angular, Artics-esque indie rock.

There was plenty of attitude and energy to match with lead singer Faz ending up more saturated than the audience after working up a sweat.

Raising the Roof

Back on the main stage SOT's Heart of the Sun, a relatively new band on the scene, showed why a Sugarmill headline gig is just round the corner with a full-on rocking performance, and This Machine is Off raised the stage roof with a stunning performance, which got people up and dancing for the first time that day.

Jake from TMIO gets the crowd jumping

Tunes like "Erase All Programs and "PKD" have that indie cool - ie. Foals - but also a dancefloor sensibility that makes them a lot more Crystal Method than Crystal Castles. Class.

Where TMIO left off, South Cheshire 3 piece Bleached Wail picked up. Their energy was infectious from their opening number all the way to set-closer "Zoo Town", showing that time spent on the road with Cage the Elephant has been nothing but beneficial.

An amazingly polished performance which should soon have A&R men sitting up and taking notice.

Rock'n'Roll Disco

On the Wrongpop stage Alsager singer songwriter MS Thomason, as ever, delivered a sublime set of goose bump inducing tunes.

Matt's haunting melodies were embellished by the violin of Barney Smith, and he even had time to preview new tracks that's he's releasing through Brokenbranch records soon.

Mauskramp's Rich on the Wrongpop stage

There was also the bad tempered rock'n'roll disco of Mauskramp who never fail to deliver live. The revamped Swamp Crawl got heads nodding along with it's intricate guitarlines.

A slamming Active Speaker, which left ear drums ringing with it's swathes of feedback, gave way to a stunning melodic performance from Andy Robbins, and later on the fuzzbox ferocity of the Tribal Brides of the Amazon.

Amazing Day

On the main stage, Bonfires kicked up some mud with their rabble rousing rock and roll, the pop-friendly guitar lines and vocals of frontman Stuart Whiston soaring over the driving drums, harking back to Brit rock influences such as the Bunneymen, and the Verve.

There's no doubting Mr Whiston's ear for a melody and their set featured huge hooky choruses, and sure fire hit singles, in particular the infectious "Drop the Weapon".

Matt Hicks from Herzoga, who headlined

The festival was finished in fine style with Stoke on Trent 3 piece Herzoga, who showed why they've already been invited by Radio 1 to Maida Vale on more than 1 occasion. Steve Clarke's warped bass-lines, are matched only by Matt Hicks twisted lyrics.

They've drawn comparisons to Art Brut and Pavement in the past, but are definitely carving out their own niche with a 'wrongpoppish' sensibility. An encore of 'Nice Car' sees the aforementioned Mr Clarke roaming amongst the enthusiastic crowd, bass in hand, winning over more friends as he goes.

An amazing end to an amazing day - and testament that Stoke's music scene is thriving as it's ever been.