THIS was the first time I have attended this venue and I am always happy to try out new delights. I was very impressed with the place; there is lots of room, it looks great, sound quality is good and the lighting is also sensibly placed to illuminate the bands. It also has the big plus of being a smoke-free-zone, so I can see me coming here a lot more often in 2013!

First band on had come all the way from Salisbury and are new to me. Called I'm Designer, they’re a rock band - but really, they are a bit more than that – and they were a bit more lively and contemporary and genuinely exciting to watch. Technically very good, which is important, but not as important as being 'fun', which they were. They moved around a bit and they engaged with the audience – a great  start to the evening.

Next up were Kilkovec, a Basingstoke band I have seen a few times now. The crowd had grown a little for them and they got off to a very strong start. This is essential for a live band - get the punters on board loving you quickly from the start! Even better, they followed it up with some great songs, delivered cleanly and professionally. Different from the first band, but the styles were complementary, so it all worked very well.

The headline band were Treasures who have been attracting some very positive comments since they first emerged a while back. I have seen them several times before, but not for a while and to be honest they were a little too tame for me. They are really tight as a band, but not heavy enough for my tastes.

However, tonight, they debuted an extra guitarist, who has promised a lot more oomph. He wasn't kidding and they do seem a lot more invigorated and vibrant. Very good headliners for the night and I shall be checking them out again pretty soon.

Thanks to all the bands, the promoter, management and staff of Pure for a great evening of live music.

Neil Duncan, ISSUEPUNZKINE