ACTS COME THICK AND FAST FOR FANS AT TWISTERELLA

Future stars on show as festival of fresh talent takes to stage

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT

WHEN your listening habits have settled into a predictable rotation of tried and true favourites, it’s time to find something new. No better opportunity than Twisterella’s packed timetable of up-and-coming artists, then, to blast fresh music into the lug holes.

And the intelligent, artful pop of Middle Management is the ideal opener in the Teesside University Students' Union Terrace. Their exhortation to “f*** big tech”, introducing the jangly stomp of Influencer Influenza, encourages spectators to leave phones in pockets, at least for a few minutes.

Upstairs in the Students' Union Hub, Swim School are a powerful, atmospheric headliner, conjuring an impressive swirl of noise - a winning contrast of silken vocals against pounding rock intensity, with Alice Johnson's vocals never failing to hit home.

Back in the terrace, Brodie Milner marries a distinctive voice with dry wit. His self-effacing charm heads off any criticisms of his catchy single, with its less-than-catchy title Drinking Martinis in the Olive Gardens of Gethsemane: “Is it a mouthful? Yes. Am I a pretentious a*******? Yes.”

No so much self-deprecation is apparent from Jacob Peck, the high-voltage frontman of Hungry, a singer with charisma and personality to spare as he shouts, gurns and repeatedly declares their second song is about “DOGS!!” for no discernible reason.