Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

Last week Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Introducing in Wales hit the road. Three shows were recorded with some brand new talent from around the Welsh towns and cities of Bangor, Wrexham and Swansea. I've already given you a bit of info on each of the bands, but here are a few thoughts after the gigs.

Masters In France

Wednesday in Bangor was more of a radio show than a normal gig concert, but it was great to catch up with a whole host of friends, musicians and bands from the Bangor area, especially after all the activities of Radio One's Big Weekend in Bangor earlier in the year. , , , and The Stereotypicals were just some of the bands in the audience who'd come to see , and Attack! Attack! play a small selection of acoustic tracks. You can still hear the live show from Rascals in Bangor on the iPlayer online.

All three bands adapted their songs beautifully to the acoustic set up, and all three bands displayed incredible vocal gentleness and skill with such a stripped down set. Great night, great show and Bangor's ever-dramatic setting - sandwiched between mountain and sea - will always be an inspiration. I even learn how to do some beatboxing with the MC, - that was an experience!

On Thursday at Central Station we had an opening set from which was lively, funny, daft and glorified nonsense in the vein of the best pop punk bands from the States. Next up, had the melodies and song structures of bands such as Lostprophets and Kids In Glass Houses, with perhaps a little fewer antics on stage, and a strange choice of cover from The Cranberries, but a strong set all the same.

They were followed by a very young band, Ocean City, who are pretty fresh-faced and to be honest need a little work polishing their act. They were playing a little prematurely as the penultimate band on a bill, but gave an enthusiastic performance all the same, followed by Attack! Attack! with full band line-up and playing whole host of songs from The Latest Fashion, which are already sounding like classic songs. It's surprising how quickly you pick up on their catchy choruses and undeniable adrenaline-fuelled rifts.

Highlights from Wrexham's gig will be on the Radio One show this Wednesday.

On Friday night we were down in Sin City, Swansea. It was my first visit to the venue right bang in the centre of the city, and just yards from clubbing central on the Kingsway.

Attack! Attack!'s Ryan and Neil with Beth in Derricks Records

Round the corner was Derrick's Music; the stories from owner Chris Stylianou about the shop's origins from 1956 and the famous people who have shopped there over the years were highly enjoyable. Sin City's big room was possibly a bit big for our Introducing tour, but we had a great show all the same. Swansea band , with their Muse-inspired crescendo of guitars, was an exciting start to the night, swiftly followed by the big ballsy sound of Tiger Please. Again there was a storming set from Attack! Attack! to close.

Attack! Attack! live at Sin City

There were only three dates, but our tour around Wales has been incredible. It's been good getting out of the office and out of the studios and meeting so many new bands, being handed loads of demos, and getting a chance to see some bands live that we've been playing on the show. Thanks to all the venues, sound crew, bands and anyone and everyone who came along, and now I'm off for post-tour meltdown!