Sunday 15/07/07 Gossip, The Horrors @ Salford Quays, Manchester

Attempting to stage any outdoor event in Manchester, is like saying to Liam Gallagher ‘‘come and have ago if you think your hard enough!’’ But as the rain predictably pours miserably up here at Salford Quays it cannot drown out the quality of music on show. Post-punk poppettes, New Young Pony Club, try to brighten up the day with their upbeat sound, however by the time lead singer Tahita Bulmer sings, “Grey skies are not my favourite colour,” she’s clearly given up.

The Horrors seem to fit the day much better; dark and deep, just like the ominous clouds above us. The black clad outfit cause a stir amongst the older, conservative member of the audience, but those already converted to their gothic ways, and clamorous din they concoct. A typically engaging show then, most notably on a rip-roaring ‘Sheena Is A Parasite.’ However, it’s clear that most people braving the elements are here for the main act: The Gossip.

The Arkansas trio hit the stage with a thunderclap of in-your-face raucous sounds. All the tracks have the same quick tempo and catchy bass loops and the rapturous front-woman, Ms Beth Ditto, is everything Gigwise hopes for: quirky, loud and full of energy. The front-woman and the band look quite casual in appearance, probably due to the fact that they lost some luggage on the trip from Barcelona. But Beth doesn’t mind, reminding the crowd that, "you don’t need pretty dresses to have a great show."

Beth doesn’t make any apologies for the weather, but instead embraces it, stating that she loves coming to Manchester. She then proves her love for the local music scene by singing The Smith’s ‘This Charming Man’ acapella. Charming, indeed. As the set progressed, the Gossip definitely shook the rain from the crowd’s bodies, pumping out funk after funk after funk. ‘Listen Up!’ sounds like it is on its way to becoming a Gossip classic, while ‘Your Mangled Heart’ and ‘Jealous Girls’ are both fervently received.

As someone attempts to crowd surf and gets thrown out, Ditto gets down from the stage to confront the security guards, however she struggles to get back up and instead of swallowing her pride and getting the bouncers to help, she makes her band put down their instruments to give her a helping hand. Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome on stage again: Beth Ditto, the Punk Diva.

And from one diva to another, Ditto uses the chorus of Madonna’s ‘Music’ to mash up the introduction to the song Gigwise and most people here were waiting for, ‘Standing In The Way of Control’ – performed with as much passion and gusto as the day it was written. Trimpuhantly, Ditto shouts at the end of it all “I’m a supermodel y’know!”

Whatever she is, Beth Ditto is a huge talent in more ways than one and with performances like this, Ditto and the Gossip have cemented themselves into one of the biggest live forces of recent years.