Slim Francis / Baillie and the Fault @ Cabaret Voltaire

A sudden thunderstorm ensures a sparse turnout tonight. Baillie and the Fault are down to two members from their usual four but play a professional acoustic set nevertheless; slightly surprising when they've cut their teeth purely by using gigs as rehearsals. The vocals and guitars are clear and well appreciated and Dark Water is a standout track which works well stripped down tonight. Sounding a little like Snow Patrol without the rhythm section, the Fault are, however, different enough and more rock with the full set-up to distinguish themselves. With more gigs planned they should be ones to watch.

Slim Francis are Aric Carroll and Matt Johnson. Playing traditional rock songs on life and love, they have a big sound from a short scale Gibson SG. It's a powerful combination that matches Carroll's smoky vocals nicely. Unfortunately, with most of the crowd drinking in the bar upstairs the sound is deafening in front of the stage and most of the good amplification is lost echoing around the room. It's only when a string breaks and Mike Baillie lends his acoustic that the true feeling of the songs comes through. And it's dangerously good – those bittersweet melancholy sounds that whisky is guzzled to after a break-up. [Chris Bathgate]