Day 1 of the 3 day festival that sees 180 bands play across 17 venues around Brighton. A handy little wrist band gets you in to any of the venues and everyone is seen peering into their gig planners hoping to spot the next Nirvana, Radiohead or Chaka Demus and Pliers.

First up are Figurines at The Zap who we see quite by accident as the queue for the MTV2 sponsored line-up at The Beach had too many spotty teenagers for our liking. Figurines are from Denmark and are surprisingly good. I mistakenly liken them to Pearl Jam after one song but their alt-rock is more interesting than that. The lead singer sometimes sounds like Justin Hawkins which is no bad thing and their set thumps along nicely. Can you name another Danish band? No, me neither.

A short walk across town and we are at the Ocean Rooms. Another darkened club converted into a music venue for the weekend. I am suddenly aware how little I have been clubbing in the last few years. Holy Fuck are from Canada and are lazily described as "Blip-Hoppers". They play modern electronica with live instruments and they rock. The crowd are overcome with emotion and one excited punter offers to buy them breakfast. I think he might be drunk. I can tell they are popular as photographers almost outnumber the crowd. Does everyone with a digital camera think they are David Bailey?

Moving along to the Komedia, a more upmarket venue which is used to hosting world music rather then grungey indie kids. C.O.R.D are from Norwich are as uninspired as their hometown. Their lumpen sub-Radiohead meanderings are unremarakable in almost every way.

We endure their thankfully short set in order to see The Feeling who I have been keen to see and are frankly one of the few bands I have actually heard of on the bill. There songs are undeniably catchy with some great harmonies and take you back to early 80’s M.O.R. bands such as E.L.O and the Buggles with their unfettered feel-good vibes. They are perfect Radio 1 fodder and undoubtedly will go far. My partner in crime Barfly is disappointed at them not sounding like Hall ‘n Oates and troops off to find something that will make his ears bleed.

I am left hands aloft in Radio Ga Ga mode with the rest of the audience who happily clap away safe in the knowledge they are the least coolest people in Brighton.