Tonight sees The Shires roll into Gateshead on the crest of a wave, having broken the Top Ten with their debut. It's no surprise that this beautiful hall is packed to the rafters as we arrive as support John and Jacob are closing out their set. These two guys exude the spirit of Nashville and unsurprisingly they’re closing out with a track that was featured in the Nashville TV show.

As we kick ourselves wishing that we had been there earlier, the stage is reset for The Shires to make their entrance. They’re at the forefront of a country invasion in the UK, and borne off the back of the TV show , this duo has perfected some incredible tracks all of which are on show this evening.

'Nashville Grey Skies' is beautiful, and does really highlight their country sound. For some people it seems to be odd that these guys are British but they do make it quite apparent, the track 'Made In England' really highlights their pride in their home country.

It is quite clear to see why these guys have shot to such popularity so quickly; they have a really accessible and interesting sound. 'State Lines' brings proceedings down a notch, yet it only goes to highlight the beauty and the depth in this duos lyrics. There’s an obvious leaning toward American themes which runs throughout the evening.

Yet the stand out track for us this evening, is the wonderful 'Brave' this over excited crowd are completely hushed as they mesmerise us all with their incredible talents. The track itself is so delicate and so sweet, perhaps one of the most touching moments we’ve experienced in a while.

In a music industry crammed so full of bluster, and generic singer songwriter boredom, The Shires are offering something completely different and unique in the current popular scene, we’re sure that this will not remain that way for long. For us it was an adventure outside of our normal comfort zone, yet one we relished and truly enjoyed, these guys are currently honing their craft but it wont be long before they’re in considerably larger venues.

Arriving uncharacteristically late, we dart up the stairs of this beautiful old building, the thrum of the band above us emanating down the stairs, and, as we enter this grandiose venue, we’re greeted with a wall of noise. Whilst being dazed and confused by this incredible sound, we realise it’s the extraordinary Fever Dream.

Yet again we’ve arrived at the wrong end of the band's set, but from the short amount that we catch it’s an incredible force of noise. The beautiful vocals almost seem lost, yet the hooks that we catch are beautiful and excited. What follows is nothing short of incredible as the bands change over in record time.

Tigercats take to the stage in a little under five minutes, and they’re in ferocious form, providing the crowd with a blistering set; showcasing beautiful indie pop hit after hit with an obvious leaning toward newer material, 'Junior Champion', for example, really is a stand out track, its poppy vibe and brilliant hooks fill the room. Whilst time ticks on we’re transported away from the darkness and gloom to a world much brighter.

That said, 'Full Moon Reggae Party' goes down a storm too, their indie pop sensibilities really shining through. The spiky guitars fill the air, whilst the urgency and excitement of the lyrics liven the mood.

One thing we can say about Tigercats, they have an innate ability to brighten up any room and despite 'Sleeping in the Backseat' being quite a dark track, its upbeat and happy tone, can’t help but get our tired feet moving. These guys were always going to be a big hit with us.

Tonight, whilst their set is short, its also one of the most uplifting, exciting and interesting experiences that we’ve had in a very long time. The grandiose settings of this beautiful library assisted though, creating an incredible backdrop to an incredible night.