Get a lift from a band that travels well

Their album Wicked Man's Rest, out on Monday, and gusty Radio 2 playlisted single Walk You Home, are far from the emulating the troubled bloke from Stoke.

They came about when Brighton-based singer Mike Rosenberg met songwriting partner, guitar-playing arranger and soundtrack composer Andrew Phillips at a Free Burma Campaign benefit gig in London in 2002 where the former had blagged a place in the line-up.

The pair bonded over a mutual love of hip hop and traditional country and folk and a year later were joined by kickboxing bassist Marcus O'Dair, Israeli drummer Alon Cohen and wry keyboardist Richard Brincklow, who'd previously been in a DJ Shadow cover band with Marcus.

Now they play songs that depict a world seen through the eyes of a cast of outsiders and hoping to explain their struggle.

"It's about the characters we try and illuminate through these songs… all of these low characters are suddenly put up on a pedestal and their stories are being told," says the distinctively high-voiced Mike ahead of their Leadmill headliner tonight.

Local support band Durban, meanwhile, have a busy night. Once they've finished their Leadmill Road set they're off to Nylon in Charter Square to headline Bluewire where you'll also find Craine, The Re-form and an acoustic set from Martin Goldsack. Durban also headline a St Luke's charity gig at Under The Boardwalk a week today.