Monday 31/05/05 Orange Evolution Festival @ Newcastle and Gateshead

When all the summer festivals set you back a couple a hundred quid, you’d think that everyone would fancy going to a free one. Especially a free one with bands you’ve actually heard of, not your little brother and his school friend doing some hardcore emo. And you’d think after the North East was packed for the Radio 1 Big Weekend, they’d been in the mood for some more good free music. But despite all of the above, it just wasn’t that busy at the Evolution Festival on Bank Holiday Monday.

The smaller stage, on Baltic Quay - which would feature The Futureheads later - is buzzing as Gigwise walks over to the huge car park at Spillers Wharf where the major bands are playing. But despite the enormity of the car park, the crowds never pass the sound stage. Whether it 's down to lack of promotion, or just the fact that people couldn’t be arsed, either way it's their loss.

Second on the bill are The Rakes, the relative young ‘uns of the crop. From their set it’s clear that they will be pushing their way further and further up the bill as the year goes on. People around us are only half listening , concentrating more on pints of cider, but even they start to prick up their ears, bob their heads and stop their conversations to listen to the set. Getting a pile of uninterested drinkers to stop what they are doing and listen early on in the day is a better than us writing a review.

Dogs Die in Hot Cars belt through their debut album. With the extra prominence given to the female section of the group, who creates beautiful harmonising and unbelievably infectious tunes. Glorious.

Then it's time for Mylo, here to destroy rock and roll. And destroy it he did. He might have had guitars on stage but really there was no need, you could hardly discern them from the man behind the decks. But as dull as he was to watch the rendition of ‘In My Arms' it was still enough to send anyone into hypnotic, disco raptures as the sun began to beat down on Newcastle.

Now it was time for the masterful sounds of Dizzee Rascal. The audience is awash with caps, baggy trousers and a proliferation of head scarves. Dizzee’s brand of goofy rap and slightly geeky music mixes well and manages to sound fresher live than on the record.

But if the day belonged to anyone it's the Super Furry Animals. The crowd are getting frantic with SFA chants as the band come on to ‘Slowlife’. With his now requisite Power Rangers helmet Gruff started the crowd off for a non-stop sing-a-long. The hits come rolling on, along with some lesser played Furry favourites such as ‘Run, Christian, Run’. As a live act the Furries are mind-blowing amazing, taking you from raucous moshing and over-the-top swearing to moments of emotive beauty. New songs like ‘Zoom’ from the forthcoming ‘Love Kraft’ sounds like an instant classic. The only problem... where is the encore? Boys you always do the encore after 'Man Don't Give A ****', and damn your lack of furry costumes.