The Burn only released their debut album Sally O'Mattress at the end of last month, but have already collected rave reviews from the music and style press.

The NME referred to them as 'a genuinely exciting, raw guitar band capable of anything they want, while The Face tipped them as 'the most likely band to make an uproar in 2003'. They have a superb live reputation, reportedly 'combining the album's classic guitar sound with a Roses-style live swagger' - no doubt worth £5 of anyone's money.

The five-piece - Danny Davidson (vocals/guitar), Mick Spencer (vocals/guitar), Graham 'Rod' Rogerson (guitar), Jason Place (bass) and Lee Walsh (drums) - hail from Lancashire. Their humble beginnings consist of jamming every Friday night in a Blackburn hairdressing salon, permission courtesy of a girlfriend. Strangely this was the beginning of the town's live music scene, with no other venues or bands to boast of.

Battle of the bands contests progressed into out of town gigs. One was witnessed by Badly Drawn Boy. He was so impressed by the performance that he offered the band the use of his Manchester studio. The resulting recording, though sketchy, was enough to win them a deal with Hut Records.

Evidence would suggest that these boys and their sound (somewhere between Oasis and The Levellers) quickly wins people over - definitely one to watch.

NB. Interesting sleevenote fact - Bass player Jason has six toes on one foot - allegedly.

May 27, Joiners, Southampton. Performance: 7.30pm Tickets: £5 in advance, £6 on the door Box office: 023 8022 5612