Mandela Hall, Sunday, March 7, 7pm

Noel Gallagher once described Ocean Colour Scene as “the second best band in Britain”. With Oasis gone, the Brummie folk-mod-rock combo should now be capitalising on their new-found position as the best in the business.

Their mid-nineties heyday of chart |success with singles including The Riverboat Song, The Circle and Better Day may be over, but OCS have a longevity, fuelled by the support of their dedicated fans, which has seen subsequent career highs including playing with thrash metal bands out in Korea and the honour of being pronounced 'Band of the Festival' at last year's V Festival.

The recent release of their critically-acclaimed ninth studio album, Saturday, using esteemed producer Gavin Monaghan (Kings of Leon, Robert Plant,The Editors,) marks 21 years in the business — Ocean Colour Scene may just have earned the status bestowed by the mad-for-it Manc, after all.

The band arrive at the Mandela Hall to showcase new material from their album. Support comes from local band The Vals, who are also looking forward to a successful 2010.