There aren’t many people in The Bull & Gate tonight (surprising, isn’t it?), so it’s a good job Northampton-based five piece Atlantic Dash immediately manage to fill the vacant space with their blend of soaring choruses, clattering guitars and gut-bursting vocals. Tonight’s slew of speedy three-minute guitar stomps and piano-led anthems thrash, trash and attack some of today’s contemporary rock sounds (not a bad thing) whilst still retaining an exciting fresh energy. This youthful exuberance is clearly evident in lead vocalist Ethan Dickins’ (great name) onstage spasms and drummer Tommy Francis’ (no, that’s a great name - can’t get any better than that) rampantly precise rhythm. With Atlantic Dash’s two guitarists - Nathan Dickens and Stuart Morrison (spoke too soon) - flipping between explosion and flutter, roar and sparkle – this newly-formed kaleidoscopic juggernaut already display a distinctive sound.

Set highlights include glittering slow-burner ‘Solitude’, the fast and crackling ‘Opportunity’, and upcoming debut release ‘Leave it all Behind’ (out 19th April). This band can play their chugging raucous guitar hooks very well indeed, but it's when Dickins takes to the keys that Atlantic Dash seem to settle into their true calling. During tunes such as the stratospheric ‘What is New?’ the band hints at the stack of anthemic charges they have just waiting to detonate. On the evidence of tonight’s hungry performance, these new Fierce Panda cubs have the craft, look and potential to make some very big waves indeed.