The idea of the "Brat Bus" tour is to showcase new bands which the NME critics believe will be huge in 1998, and this year's hopefuls are Welsh trio, The Stereophonics, agit-dance band, Asian Dub Foundation, West Country rockers The Warm Jets, and pop revivalists, The Audience.

This year, The Stereophonics are hotly tipped to inherit the mantle of the Manic Street Preachers, and their debut album, Word Gets Around, has already hit the UK Top Ten.

The Jets have some rather likeable tunes, with a pleasant, buzz-pop sound, and singer Louis Jones performs with steely, peroxide determination. The emphasis shifts from guitar riffs to dance beats when Asian Dub Foundation bound onto the stage, and the crowd welcomes the change from aloof to in-your-face. Led by rapper Master D, ADF rip effortlessly through hip-hip, bhangra and drum 'n' bass, never letting up on the barrage of beats and samples.