SHOULD you have missed out on a ticket for Shed Seven's sold-out three-night residency at Fibbers, don't mope.

After the Sheds complete their home-city run on Saturday, the next two nights amount to a health check on the condition of British rock in 2003. Clearlake, The Delays and Virginia MacNaughton on Sunday add up to the best triple bill of the Fibbers year so far, and if you haven't yet heard Clearlake's February album Cedars, why not?

"It's full of gorgeous, poignant melodies and sharply observed lyrics," says Fibbers manager Tim Hornsby. "They stretch effortlessly from simple veiled love songs with buzzy, dark riffs to gently uplifting material, effortlessly wistful and rich in harmony."

Clearlake hail from Hove, Sussex; Monday's headliners, British Sea Power, come from the Sussex coast too, neighbouring Brighton to be precise, and they have a debut album ready for release on June 2 by the name of The Decline Of British Sea Power.

Royal Navy trousers, gymnastics, plastic decoy birds and art rock all have a place in their live show. One-time Teardrop Explodes loon Julian Cope loves them and so does metal mag Kerrang! and girlie glossy Cosmopolitan too. Can you resist?

Still looking to the future of British rock, the Fibbers/Evening Press Battle of the Bands 2003 sends Five Finger Discount into combat with The Asylum Seekers and Vetro Baby next Wednesday from 8pm. Admission is £3.

Updated: 08:58 Friday, May 16, 2003