Mr Scruff @ Cambridge Junction, May 2006

One of the best nights out ever. From the minute I walked in to the second I left, I couldn't stop dancing and smiling. For those of you who don't know, Mr Scruff plays everything from reggae to funk to soul to Jazz and, erm, everything in between. There's no time to be bored or complacent and you never know what's going to crop up next. This night was no exception. I truly hope he comes back to Cambridge to treat us to some more movin' and a groovin'.

Average White Band @ Cambridge Junction May 2006

Top fun night out with seasoned musicians making it all look far too easy! Yes they played their old funk classics but they also played some really cool soul music. It was great to see some straight looking people really letting their hair down.

NME New Music Tour - The Long Blondes, The Automatic, Forward Russia & Boy Kill Boy @ Cambridge Junction, May 2006

Unfortunately, the only words I can bring myself to utter about three quarters of this gig are dull, boring, pants and uninspiring. Oh, and dated, over produced rubbish. I don't know why I bothered going.

The only band that captured me and saved the evening from being a complete non-event were Forward Russia. As usual they were magnificent. It was the third time that I'd seen them and I found that I had really warmed to their eccentric stage presence. But not only that, their music sounded so alive and inventive and raw.

If the other acts are what is being lorded as "New Music", god help us all.

The Howling Bells @ Cambridge Soul Tree, May 2006

I liked this gig - a lot. I'm really looking forward to buying the album today so I can hear the songs again and I fully expect them to become firm favourites. The vocalist's voice was utterly beautiful and the whole band had a really gentle, calm and confident way about them, like seasoned professionals. Many songs were really "up" but there were a real mixture of darker, atmospheric offerings too - all of which were great. If I had to explain their sound I'd say think of Dolly Parton's voice singing Nick Cave's songs.................no, really. They're fab.

Fields @ Cambridge Soul Tree, May 2006

OH. MY. GOD. Stop what you're doing. Right now. Go to www.myspace.com/songsforthefields and listen to the music there. Now imagine it played live. I guarantee you can't even come close to how good it sounds.

Last night Fields blew me away and became my new favourite band. Their songs sounded uniquely beautiful with soaring harmonies and huge, swirling guitars. They created a wall of sound that was made of flowering hedgerows, full of nesting birds; and then they made it bigger and more beautiful. They played confidently and majestically and they made the whole room buzz and glow. Do you get what I'm saying here? They truly were marvellous. They are marvellous. Please. Get into them. Love them. Let their music love you.