THE demise of Shed Seven is a reminder that the rock industry can be harsh. New talent is always rising, and Fibbers welcomes three of Britain's brightest new hopes during the next few days.

Tonight, Thea Gilmore headlines with Adam Masterson in support; on Tuesday (4th), the boy wonder of Walsall, Clarkesville, makes his York debut.

The Anglo-Irish Thea, with five albums to her name by the age of 23, will be playing in a five-piece band for the first time on her autumn tour, promoting Avalanche. "This album demanded a band, and while it may be possible to do these songs acoustically some time, I wanted to get close to how the album is," she says. "Now there's more energy floating about on stage... and in the audience too!" she says.

Ladbroke Grove songwriter Masterson, 22, has been penning songs since he was 16 and is now on the fast track, having signed to BMG offshoot Gravity for his debut album, One Tale Too Many.

"Mick Stewart from Gravity was handed my demo tape by someone at Universal and he liked it so much, he signed me up straightaway, even without seeing me play!" he says.

"I'd been in bands but I wanted to go the solo route because I felt I could do more on my own. I knew I'd have to work harder."

Clarkesville is essentially Michael Clarke, also 22, from Walsall, who has formed a band since recording his debut album, The Half Chapter. "Famous Walsall groups?" he says, struggling for a name. "The music scene must be worse in Walsall than in York!"

Updated: 09:32 Friday, October 31, 2003