Unplugged

BECKY HIGG (www.myspace.com/beckyhigg)

The diminutive Bristol-born girl with a big heart has been winning plaudits in the urban rock haven of Manchester for the last couple of years, and with the rise of acts like Nizlopi and Jack Johnson, even the Northwest's rock capital is cosying up to her melodic folk soul. Her first mini-album, Your Sofa, was produced independently last year, and on the back of this eight song opus, she was picked up by burgeoning Manchester music house, MassiveUK.

BLUEBIRD KID CLARK (www.myspace.com/bluebirdkidclark)

Bluebird Kid Clark are Dave Fidler, Sion Fitton, Rob Fidler and Tim Fisher. Born and raised in Stalybridge, Manchester, they write about the place they are from and the people they meet. Two bands of immense talent formerly known as The Pedestrians and Rio 6, merged themselves together to form this spine-chillingly good Manchester band. Bluebird Kid Clark are signed to independentlabel MassiveUK records and have just released their debut album 'Bottom Dollar'.

OLI n' CLIVE (www.myspace.com/olinclive)

Oli 'n' Clive have cello, drums, ukuleles, bass, cornet, harmonica, musical saw, guitar, violins, autoharp and eggs, and will hopefully have more instruments soon. Oli is the singer, and Clive is the rest of the band, which is Sanjay, Clare, Pottsy, Maddy, Ruby and Taku. Sometimes they sound like the raw end of Dolly Parton and sometimes like the blithe end of Tom Waits. They've played with bands like Absentee, Semifinalists, and The Rumble Strips.

THE NEW YORK FUND (www.myspace.com/thenewyorkfund)

Singer Joe McAdam displays the cocky passion and gentle poetry that only a Glaswegian who thinks he should have grown up in the American South could have. Jim on bass and Leo on drums drive the band like a rusty tractor with a Ferrari engine, and Adrian makes those of us who’ve ever tried and failed to learn guitar realise why we gave up. As well as indulging in the obligatory rock pastimes of drinking, bowling and beard-growing, The New York Fund have spent a year priming their public at dozens of gigs around the UK (headlining, and supporting The Hold Steady, Ed Harcourt, M.Ward, Modest Mouse, OK Go, and Captain)

OUR DJs FOR THE NIGHT.....THE POUNDLAND DOLLS (www.myspace.com/poundlanddolls)

DJing everything from good old indie rock, to nu-rave, new wave, bubblegum pop, 60s garage, motown & do-wopp, 70s punk, glam & reggae, 80s new romantic & electronica, 90/00s poprock and lots more inbetween.