Followers from all over Europe make the pilgrimage to Brighton for one of the most prominent gatherings on the Mod calendar.

The weekender, organised by The New Untouchables (NUTS), features two nights of live music, as well as a club night, a retro market and a scooter rally.

London-based revivalists NUT have been organising Mod and Sixties events all over the world since 1990. Founder Rob Bailey says: "Brighton is one of our favourites, because of the history of the place and its association with the scene. This weekender is one of the best."

It kicks off tonight, with a welcome party at the Sussex Arts Club, Ship Street, with London band The Impact and DJs (9pm-2am, £7).

Tomorrow and Sunday afternoons, the Mods and their friends will gather at The Volks and along Madeira Drive for a retro market, record fair, scooter displays and DJs, from 1pm (see page 20).

A Sixties night, one of the weekend's highlights, takes place tomorrow at Komedia, Gardner Street (11pm-5am, £10). Mods go allout to dress as sharply as they can, so expect tailored suits, mini dresses and more Fred Perrys than you can shake a stick at.

It's easy to feel underdressed, so it's worth making an effort with your Sixties stylings. Original Mods and the new generation will be in attendance for this night, which is as authentic as they come.

It's a serious business but if you haven't got the clobber or the moves, worry not: "Everyone's welcome as long as they have a genuine interest and appreciate and respect the scene," Rob says.

Live music will come from Big Boss Man, playing a hip Hammond hybrid of pop, Sixties R'n'B, Latin soul and funk.The band recently had a track, Lucky Seven, used in a Nike World Cup ad (the one starring Thierry Henry and Eric Cantona).

Signed to Blow Up records, their debut album, Humanize, was also used as the soundtrack to the BAFTA-nominated film Sweet, which starred The Mighty Boosh.

It's featured on the comedy duo's second DVD and if you look carefully, you'll spot Big Boss Man playing in the nightclub sequences.

NUT DJs will be playing R'n'B, ska, beat, Northern soul, blues and classic modernist sounds.

The seaside weekender ends on Sunday, with a Northern soul all-nighter at Concorde 2, Madeira Drive (10pm-6am, £12). Brighton Got Soul! is the first Northern soul all-nighter to take place at the club.

Rob and a group of friends formed NUTS because of a mutual respect for the mod scene. "It was the love of the music and fashion which started it but it grew into something much bigger," says Rob.

The team is responsible for events including fashion shows and film nights all over Europe and America.

  • Sussex Arts Club, 01273 778020. Komedia, 01273 647100.

Concorde 2, 01273 673311.

http://www.newuntouchables.com