There were a lot of disappointed Kooks fans in Brighton on Saturday night.

Hundreds queued in vain, hopeful of getting into the best gig of the Great Escape Festival. But, as with Texan music festival South By South West, the festival is organised for music industry delegates.

Fans can buy a day pass for £17.50 but it only gets them into a gig if there is space after the delegates have arrived.

On Saturday, the delegates were out in force and when I arrived, security was busy throwing out a desperate fan who had jumped the fence, still clutching his girlfriend's bag - she had disappeared anonymously into the crowd.

Once inside the mirrored cabaret tent, it became apparent Kooksmania was in full swing.

The thrill of seeing one of the hottest bands in the UK in such an intimate and unique venue had swept through the crowd.

Sadly, the feeling wasn't shared by all the music industry delegates.

As I happily bounced along to the scruffy pop brilliance of Ooh La, I was repeatedly shoved in the back by a man who demanded I stop dancing.

Unable to understand how anyone could do anything but dance to the melodic skiffle of songs like She Moves In Her Own Way, I found solace in the heaving mass of sweaty moshers at the front.

Alongside like-minded fans I could fully appreciate the brilliance of a fusion of reggae beats with joyous guitar pop and sing along to glorious urban anthems like I Want You Back, Eddie's Gun and You Don't Love Me.

Mop-haired singer Luke Pritchard was worshipped by the crowd who grabbed and stroked his sinewy limbs at every opportunity.

All strangely rock 'n' roll, considering he is only 20, went to stage school and formerly dated squeaky-clean bicycle counter Katie Melua.

This is likely to be the last time we see the four spritely graduates of Brighton Institute of Modern Music play such a small venue.

In the past they have played The Freebutt and Pressure Point but in September it is the prestigious Dome Concert Hall. Then it's only a matter of time before the stadiums come calling.