goNORTH @ Dundee, 5 Jun

After some deliberation over the menu for tonight’s instalment of goNORTH – the first of this annual two day gathering where many contemporary hopes and industry figures that span the breadth of Scotland’s musical landscape converge – it lands on Highland quartet, Shutter (4/5), to quite literally blow the possibilities wide open at the Doghouse. Though their presence is understated and they barely look up throughout their set, they regularly set the stage alight throughout their all-too-brief half hour of Pelican-flavoured post-rock. This high standard, by which many of tonight’s other performers will inevitably be measured against, leaves little wonder as to why Deftones snared them for a support slot in recent times. The drums arrive fierce and accurate, adeptly penetrating the clear, layered, dual guitar assault as and when the crescendos rise and warble out. There’s effortless synchronicity at play here, and the tools to beat away the boredom that too often dogs the genre are firmly in Shutter’s possession.

Next up, we cross the road to what’s loosely being considered ‘the hip-hop stage’ at Fat Sam’s tonight. In search of the next circled name on the list - a duo called Mellow’d Elements (2/5) who promise “lyrics so phat, you might get wet” – we find two middle-aged, bald-headed Scots in basketball shirts jovially preparing the crowd for their bedroom grown beats and rhymes. And for a minute, hopes of Irvine Welsh's answer to Goldie Lookin’ Chain look set to flourish. But what wit the Elements possess is quickly squandered by crude, unexceptional delivery, which, in turn, is obscured by a cacophonous din of muddy, uninteresting beats. Carefree entertainment descends into bad parody as the DJ takes too long to scratch each song to a close.

Elsewhere in Fat Sam’s, Glasgow septet Be A Familiar's (3/5) youthful exuberance is fairly spilling off the stage; cello, piano, trumpet and boy-girl vocal harmonies add an exceptional range and depth to what might otherwise be stripped down to standard Scottish indie rock fare. Instead they echo something more like a Celtic Death Cab. While the overall effect occasionally falls short of the sum of the band's many fair-faced parts, there is a glaring probability amidst their abundant multi-instrumental talents that a little time and experience could undoubtedly foster this into something special; high profile showcase gigs like this and their forthcoming slot at T in the Park will no doubt prove a baptism of fire.

Over the road (where entry is still for gratis, Fatty’s have gone rogue by this point and started charging for what was intended to be free for all) the Doghouse is rammed in honour of local favourites Luva Anna (3/5). The same scene that has springboarded The View and The Law to recent success is here in full fervour, and while it’s easy to be dismissive of the lack of variety among the crop, it’s even easier to appreciate the atmosphere and sheer quality of the tunes on display tonight. Drew Boy and Rob's confident, versatile vocals effortlessly switch pitches with engaging four part harmonies that rollick dextrously between verse and chorus from song to song. Luva Anna probably aren't going to break the mould of the Dundee music scene, but with trundling sea shanties like This Is Fucking Urgent, they’ll certainly strengthen its resolve with a change of jeans.

A well oiled majority of punters, press, bands and industry honchos appear to choose Big Big Sound (4/5) as their soundtrack to the end of what has proven to be a pretty successful first night for goNORTH 2008. Dual saxophones skank their way through b-boy rhythms - both programmed and live – while the Dundee collective lay down a myriad of genius samples, compulsive hooks, throbbing bass, sophisticated synth lines and light speed raps that the Elements might want to take notes on. Basically - beer or no beer - they're an all encompassing, crowd-uniting, genre-busting powerhouse. And in the context of indigenous unsigned band showcases, that's a lot like goNORTH itself.