大象传媒

Here it is, then: one of the finest UK platforms for Northern Irish music; Northern Ireland Next Generation. Established in 2005 by Smitty, lead singer with the recently reformed Dirty Stevie, this event is usually the first opportunity bands from this country get to play London.

Escape Act are honoured with raising the curtain on Day 1. Still relatively unknown on the UK scene, tonight provides an opportunity for the Belfast boys to prove they are a force to be reckoned with. 听Thankfully, they do just that. Just ahead of the launch of their first single, 'God Says' on May 1st, the three-piece bound around onstage with no shortage of energy, despite an obvious lack of onlookers.

No haircuts or trendy jackets here. This is an indie guitar band with soul.

Tyrone heros Pocket Promise follow. Having played an eight-date UK tour in February, the band return to London with material from their inaugural EP, 'Waving At Strangers', plus a few new tunes. It's catchy pop vocals, intricate violin melodies and solid bassline grooves done well. But most notable is drummer Joe Laverty who provides nothing short of an inspirational performance. Tight, original beats is what could set this band apart.

Cutaways are next up. Firmly established in Belfast as a street-smart indie outfit with a 90s alt-rock underpinning, they're here to deliver summer to a grimey little pub in Brixton.

We don't need reminding that Kowalski are an incredible band - everyone knows that they pen quality tunes, look great and have a rapidly-expanding following. Tonight's show only reaffirms that reputation, despite only one of the tracks, 'Oh My Good God', hailing from the original 'Sunshine State EP' era. If the next record is even half as good the first EP, we're in for a treat.

So, finally, with the barbeque cooling down and the sun setting, ATL darlings Panama Kings draw the night to a close. But this is no wind-down. Fresh off the back of supporting the Undertones in Belfast, the lads are set to demonstrate exactly what they're about. In Kennedy they have exactly what every band needs, but very few possess - an iconic frontman. Couple that with a clever name, experienced management and one of the best local tracks of 2007 in 'Your Children Are Screaming', and you'll see exactly why there has been so much fuss about them in recent months. They leave the Windmill in awe, but barely intact as guitarist Stu Bell exits the stage in true rock 'n' roll style.

As the doors open for Day Two, there are a few casualties lurking, suffering from the effects of excessive merriment last night. Although a relatively unknown name on the home circuit, better known are two fifths of the band, Pat and Nipsy. Having recruited three new members, they bring their brand of Zuton-esque indie-infused pop music to Brixton. Suffering the same fate as Escape Act twenty-four hours earlier, the well-dressed gents play to a quiet crowd, but that doesn't dampen their enthusiasm, as they lug an upright piano onstage and off. We have in The Fools a winner for the most musically diverse act on the weekend's bill.

The Captain win a different prize. Having just lost their drummer, Swampy, no more than six months after he joined the band, Martin Toner and company arrive in Brixton with a replacement who they have known for less than 24 hours. As a result, the short set consists of a few jams and one or two tracks that have been practiced ahead of the show. They are the first to admit that it all sounds a bit ropey at times, but you can't fault them for trying.

Despite their youth, General Fiasco are fast becoming one of the most serious contenders in Northern Ireland. Tonight's show is a medley of old material like 'Rebel Get By' and newer tunes like 'Talk To My Friends'. From the sounds of it, things are only set to get better.

And with And So I Watch You From Afar taking to the stage the credits start to roll on. NI:NG 08 is drawing to a close. It's been fun - the barbeques, the random dog on the roof barking at pedestrians, the token Swedish guy who travelled all the way from Stockholm to see his favourite band. Same time, same place next year?

Rewind.

And So I Watch You From Afar have come here to play, and they're not done, so sit your ass down and listen. They open with the as-yet-unreleased 'Set Guitars To Kill' setting the tone for what's about to go down: the party is over, now it's time to wreck the place.

Friers and Wright set about destroying all preconceptions about what postrock should sound like. This is a band who have been squeezed uncomfortably into a number of genres by listeners and media folk, all to relative indifference of ASIWYFA. They write the music; they don't label it. Older tracks 'The Voiceless' and 'These Riots Are Just The Beginning' are on show tonight - after all, homage has to be paid to the tracks on which this band's developing reputation has been built.

But it's the newest tracks, soon to be released on their debut album, which are most exciting. With Chris Wee's t-shirt discarded, and Johnny Adger joining Friers and Wright stomping around onstage, it's like something out of the Bible - everything is complete.

Forget what you heard about postrock. This is punk music for the Next Generation.

Sully