Matt Ward and Will Tostevin from The Raffle who played on Monday at North Beach for Liberated Earth. (Picture by Dave Le Page, 0969155)

IT was the day after Liberation Day and the hangover hadn’t yet worn off.

My ears were still ringing from standing next to the speaker during the previous night’s headliners, tribute band Bon Giovi. Monday was probably the unlikeliest time for an alfresco gig, yet the Vale Earth Collective had invited four young, talented acts to play on the North Beach.

First on the bill was James Dumbleton with his unique brand of folk. He wasn’t helped by technical difficulties at the beginning of his set. His songs definitely mean a lot to him, that’s obvious, but it seemed to me that his act may have been more suited to a smaller stage, a more intimate setting perhaps. Still, this didn’t stop him going through a short burst of songs, including Friends with Bella and the aptly named Song about a Hangover.

Next on the bill was Funk Andrew, one of my favourite local bands.

You can never fault these boys on their energy and their dedication, playing gigs every week and always delivering 100%. Monday was no exception. They played mostly self-written material and, given the chilly setting, gave exactly what was needed: a burst of adrenaline and something to jump up and down to.

However, the highlight of the night was without a doubt The Raffle.

The band looks every bit like a group who could go places. For the first time on the night, the small crowd started to become really animated. And who can blame them: The Raffle’s blend of Indie rock with folkish rhythms is infectious to say the least. Front man Will Tostevin has the sound of a Pete Doherty in the prime of his career, while the rest of the band sound like a well-oiled unit, which is saying something since it was 16-year-old Ollie Marson’s first gig on bass.

‘He looked like he had been playing with them all along and they sounded brilliant,’ said fan Alex Warlow.

After a blinder of a show there really was only one local band that could complete the night: Brutus Stonefist. They came, they saw and yes, they did rock. Brutus’s heavy beats may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you had stayed this long in the cold, as many had, then you had to have some interest. The crowd were worked into a frenzy by Tom ‘Shinfo’ Domaille’s powerful vocals and Mark Mercier’s frantic riffs.

A suitable end to what really was a great night of local talent.