THE Access All Northern Areas Tour 2004 calls in at Lincoln and the Adelphi in Hull next week en route to Fibbers in York on Wednesday.

Mounted by the Access To Music education programme, the tour is a chance to experience new talent from the project's northern centres. Each city has one representative: My Salvation from York, Lauwine from Hull and Ride The Bus from Lincoln.

My Salvation met at the Access To Music studios at The Jam Factory in York and they have since played at Fibbers and at the Access To Music regional final.

Their blend of guitar riffs, vocal harmonies and dynamic stage shows is built around the axis of Alex Brown, lead vocals, Byron Ward, lead guitar, Clark Howard, drums, and Rob Darbyshire, bass.

Lauwine, who formed almost two years ago, draw inspiration from The Cure, Faith No More and Foo Fighters; Ride The Bus are a Ska-core five piece who have played more than 50 gigs in their first year and have released a six-track EP, Peas In A Melon.

Doors open at 7.30pm, and admission is £3 or £2 with a flyer.

u LOOKING for the next Coldplay or Keane? On Monday at Fibbers, Levi's Ones To Watch presents Thirteen Senses, a Cornish four-piece with big dollops of wailing, ailing guitars, soaring choruses, plenty of piano and an angelically-falsetto vocalist in Will South.

They are now recording with producer Danton Supple, whose clients include Elbow, Electric Soft Parade and Coldplay. How very fashionable.

CAN Scassa Monakee follow fellow co-favourites Sixty 6 into the semi-finals of the Fibbers/Evening Press Battle of the Bands on Tuesday?

This week, York indie trio Sixty 6 won Heat Three with a display of tight, competent musicianship. Now Scassa Monakee will be seeking to knock out Framed By Fire and The Spiral. Admission for the 7.30pm start is £3.

u DUNDEE singer-songwriter Michael Marra launches the Black Swan Folk Club's new season in his York debut on Thursday.

"Long a cult figure in Scotland, he's gaining popularity south of the border with his wry, witty and observant songs, accompanied mostly at the piano," says Black Swan club organiser Roland Walls. Doors open at 8pm; admission £6, concessions £4.

Updated: 08:52 Friday, May 14, 2004