York Barbican Centre came alive with every type of music imaginable with BarbiCUBE, the spectacular finale to York's Live Music Festival 2003.

Presented by Cube Media studios in association with the City of York Council Arts Service, it featured more than 100 of York's most talented musical performers.

Saturday's event had everything a good festival has and more and without having to traipse for miles around muddy fields - all the goodness was crammed under one roof. The celebrations started at 1pm in the foyer with BarbiCUBE Unplugged and the hugely entertaining 1920s' trad jazz act, the Imperial Young Gentlemen's Dance Orchestra, followed by a cross-section of artists, the pick being solo guitarist Phil Thwaite.

The main event in the evening was spread throughout four very different areas each with a real life of its own; the main stage, a DJ/Electronic bar with live visuals, an acoustic lounge and the Pure Sheng/Melt lounge.

The main stage opened with York singer songwriter Hayley Hutchinson, whose performance was inspiring and substantial with bags of finesse. Next up were the Shanks, who hinted at possible greatness to come, dispelling my early assumption they might be all haircut and no substance.

Sevenball brought an element of solid, serious rock to the proceedings; once perched on the Barbican's stage they give a strong showing. Breathe, despite being thrown together after more than a year of inactivity, wouldn't, couldn't and didn't disappoint.

The night's headliners were New Flesh who tore into their set with gusto. Armed with a triple-pronged MC line-up they delivered an antidote to the guitar frenzy that had preceded them.

The main stage wound down with Skassa Monakee whose lead singer, Lucy Taylor-Gee, effortlessly charmed the audience while the band skilfully moved from hard-hitting drum and bass to chilled-out jazz.

The Electronic bar featured some incredibly talented producers. After a warm-up from Nigel Rogers, Pilliavin And Zimbardo put their DJ talents into full effect, playing across four decks and two mixers. UK bass artist Debasser, playing live, pumped up the crowd with his mix of phat beats and dirty bass, and next up, veteran producer and live artist Tim Wright, a.k.a Tube Jerk, created a technohead's paradise.

In the Melt/Pure Sheng Lounge the groove was to the fore, featuring some of York's best DJs including Rich Clark and Leo Clayton, organiser Mark Autumn, and the City of York Council's own Wesley Zepherin, all backed up by third-deck scratching from Mossadon and live percussion from Vaz. Done out in black and with cool lighting, this was one room where you could forget you were in the Barbican.

When the heat and pace was getting too much, people could chill out in the acoustic lounge where Strung Out 2003 winner Mike Newsham was the focal point.

The Barbican, and York, has not seen an event of this magnitude in a long time and the vibe was incredible, with everyone coming together to enjoy music that would be considered impressive anywhere in the world.

Updated: 12:12 Tuesday, June 10, 2003