The Ultimate Chill

CAIRD HALL, DUNDEE

PLANNED, performed and frequented by kids, The Ultimate Chill has been showcasing up-and-coming musical talent for many years now. How apt, then, that Dundee - the City of Discovery - should host the event's Best Band Final between young, talented revelations Callel (from Edinburgh) and Liquid Blue (from Wick). Ultimately, Callel's experience and added confidence edged out Liquid Blue (imagine Avril Lavigne fronting Altered Images instead of Clare Grogan).

After the kids came two more established (but still youthful) outfits: The Hedrons and the Hazey Janes. More suited to small, sweaty rock clubs, The Hedrons' all-female punk cast took advantage of the large stage by playing hopscotch to Ramones-esque beats. The Glasgow band's hopelessly endearing vocalist Yvonne Tipping even took a trip into the audience. Local heroes The Hazey Janes however, engineered the biggest cheers, their delightful country-pop leanings proving that The View are not the only notable band to come from Dundee.

That said, there were a couple of bones to pick. Despite its regal surroundings, and regardless of the large, vocal turnout, the Caird Hall was simply too big for this event, leaving it bereft of the atmosphere it deserved.