"The south coast is the new Detroit, isn't it - Keane, The Ordinary Boys and all the rest," says respected music DJ Steve Lamacq of our thriving band scene.

"At the start I thought 'I can't go to Brighton for the show, it's too obvious'.

"In the last three or four years so many musicians, writers and bands seem to have migrated to Brighton, it has almost become a suburb of the London-based music industry."

Despite this hesitance, Steve is bringing his monthly live band night for BBC 6 Music down to Concorde 2 next week. Our ears will be treated to the biggest buzz to come out of Sunderland, The Futureheads, along with Glaswegian outfit Sons and Daughters, who recently toured the US with Franz Ferdinand, and joyous local rockers The Mutts.

The basic premise of the cutting-edge show is to get out of London to cities around the UK, and put on a gig involving three up-and-coming bands, including one local to the area. Steve, who is sometimes referred to as a John Peel protegee, introduces each act.

"I usually like to drop in at least one reason why people should come away from the bar," he says.

A year and a half old, Lamacq In The City has already taken The Shins to Birmingham, Worthing-bred The Ordinary Boys to Nottingham and guitar-free Keane to Bristol.

"We pick bands we think are on their way up or people would like to see," Steve says.

"We go to places where we think something might be happening - but we don't exactly know.

"This time last year we were up in Liverpool with a group called Ladytron headlining, and a support band that seemed set do something - Franz Ferdinand. We've also been to more unexpected places like Sunderland, which of course now has bands like the Futureheads coming out of it.

"There's always a slight gamble involved - we have to predict three months ahead what might be happening, what might be exciting at the time."

It seems he got it right this time. The Futureheads, who have not one but four vocalists who jump from beautifully arranged harmonies to raging shouts, have just had their guitarist Ross Millard listed at no 21 in NME's annual cool list because "being cool means being an individual -- leading not following."

"I like The Futureheads because they've made quite an impression by playing music which is not instantly accessible," says Steve.

"The great thing about all three bands is they've all taken pop or rock 'n' roll music from a completely different angle.

"The Futureheads are influenced by post-punk bands like Gang Of Four. Then you've got Sons and Daughters who have taken the Scottish indie sound and built this driving rhythm into it.

"The Mutts are more straight down the line, but are doing something filthier.

"They all have imagination. These are not three production line bands. They're doing it because they like doing it."

The show will be recorded for broadcast on Sunday 12 December.

Starts 7pm, tickets cost £8. Call 01273 673311.