Drive-By Truckers @ The Liquid Room, 6 Aug

To class a band as 'Southern Rock' is as useful as calling them an Indie group. Whatever the original meaning of it was has been ruthlessly diluted over the decades. Throwing the likes of Band Of Horses and REM in there may be geographically accurate, but categorically, is it really correct? On the other hand, meet Drive-By Truckers. Based in Athens, Georgia - but predominantly hailing from The Shoals, Alabama - there is surely not a band around today that adhere so wonderfully to the typecast. They sing songs of fightin', drinkin', lovin' and losin' and can cite albums like Alabama Ass Whuppin' and The Dirty South amongst their burgeoning back catalogue. And while they have recently made efforts to take their sound in a more alt-rock direction, the roots of their sound are inescapably grounded in the deep, deep south. For any fans of bluesy, boozy and intelligent rock n' roll, this Edge Fest appearance shouldn't be missed. [Finbarr Bermingham]