Radio One Live kicked off on Monday with Steve Lamacq's pick of the new Britpop bands.

The gig featured cheery stadium rockers Starsailor, local heroes Electric Soft Parade and guitar band Keane.

The gig was broadcast simultaneously on the DJ's show and each band made the most of this huge stage.

Undeterred, fans of Seven Dials-based Electric Soft Parade did their best to turn the event into a homecoming celebration for the group that is in the vanguard of promising Brighton acts.

Standing in a semi-circle on a stage crammed with Starsailor's equipment, ESP appeared to be enjoying themselves - if a little nervous.

They had little reason to be: Their upbeat numbers are strong, they have a growing stage presence and a full-on sound.

The one danger to the band is they wear their many influences on their sleeve.

At times, they are a Britpop jukebox - one minute they are Oasis, the next Supergrass and the next, Ash. But then, versatility is no bad thing when you are building a following.

Perhaps it is a question of polish, something Starsailor has in spades: Every number was carefully arranged to show it off to the full and the darlings of the music Press were extrovert, confident and brash to match their melodramatic songs.

"This is going to be massive," said lead singer James Walsh to introduce Fall To The Floor. "Every time there's an indie disco you're going to hear this. It'll be an anthem."

In fact, most of their songs are anthems, whether it's the theme song Alcoholic, the exploratory Tie Up My Hands or the excellent Silence Is Easy.

Starsailor are one of those reliable bands like Teenage Fanclub that have a collection of strong songs, play every festival going and add to their burgeoning following at each one.

Given the current rate at which they are accruing fans and the belief the music industry has in them, they could easily follow the likes of Radiohead and Coldplay on to the world stage.

In Walsh, they have a capable frontman who is in equal parts Richard Ashcroft and Jim Kerr while Barry Westhead's capable and elaborate keyboard playing filled out the band's sound superbly.

It was the first time Starsailor had played Brighton but they received a riotous welcome.

It may have been a grim, autumn night outside, but inside, everyone was in a mood for celebration.