Heineken Rollercoaster

Last year, Dermot Lambert (Blink) and Dave Brown (Little Sister Sage) developed an idea to host a showcase night offering young bands the opportunity to be seen and heard by representatives of the music industry. Now, the Garage gigs are back with a vengeance.

First to grace the stage (for their first ever gig!) were Dublin-based three-piece Sixdown. Offering punky, bass-driven grunge rock laced with raw vocals and armed with a selection of infectious, well-crafted songs ('Sellotape', 'You Walk So Cool'), they breezed through their set despite the inevitable first gig nerves.

Next up on the bill this evening are Ely, who have been gathering considerable momentum of late. A traditional four-piece guitar band specialising in pop/rock, Ely are empowered by Michael Kavanagh's pure voice accentuating rich, melodic guitar riffs (think Chili Peppers 'Scar Tissue').

'Preacher' (their single awaiting release) is typical of the style of pop/rock that is enjoying success in the charts at the moment and no doubt will feature prominently on many radio playlists.

And last, but by no means least are Kosha, fronted by sultry rock chick Jo. Her voice - angelically human and devastatingly powerful - possesses an incredible range which she is not afraid to explore. The songs, which echo Garbage and Smashing Pumpkins during the days of Siamese Dreams, can at times lack direction and diversity. That said, Kosha are a band of impeccable talent and the dramatic 'Conspiracy' displayed their ability to capture the essence of a great song and unleash its power onto their audience.