A normal Saturday night in Leicester, but in the basement of the Looking Glass there is a band with big ambitions. Not that you would know it speaking to them.

When I ask them who the best band they played with is, "Morning Runner!" is the instantaneous reply, without a single hint of doubt. I can almost see the stars in their eyes as they reply. In person, they are what you would expect from 'just another indie band' trying to make it big. They're polite, smiling, and the sort of blokes you would love to share a pint with. Not that it is necessarily a bad thing, but speaking to them, they're normal.

Which makes the wall of sound when they get onto the stage even more surprising! In this small room, with about 100 people listening, the volume is still turned up to the maximum, and every song blasted out with the passion of a big stadium gig. Andy Kempin's guitar echoes and twists and turns with every last effect, creating the illusion that there are in fact five guitarists and not just him. A comparison could be drawn to fellow indie band The Crimea. It is exciting for them that they are in the process of compiling an album with producer Chris Sutton, who has previously worked with Paul McCartney.

The songs are ambitious, with soaring melody from vocalist Lee Wakeling that will grab you by the scruff of the neck and make you listen. Falsetto isn't a problem; quite the contrary, with half their songs it appears to be a necessity, and it works.

Ashdowne serve as a welcome reminder to music fans, many of whom are disillusioned with over charged ticket prices and star struck musicians who have lost perspective on where they come from. This gig was free, and with 17 songs it commands the attention well. Forget your Wembley stadium and Nottingham arena, this is the sort of venue where halfway through their set, the band will whip out a clipboard and ask all in attendance to write down their e-mail address.

There are plenty such incidents during the night which bring a smile to your face, and could only ever happen in a 'venue' this size. Between songs, one man gets up, shakes the hand of a band member and says "fantastic, top music! Now I have to pick the kids up from Justin Timberlake!" as he walks out. And there are no sound technicians either. The drummer has a laptop at his side from which he controls effects, and of course with computers there is no guarantee it will always work, as shown when it doesn't work before one song.

Ashdowne themselves are made for venues bigger than this. Some of their songs are almost Feeder-esque, and the stage really is too small for a band with so much energy and will to move about.

Of course, the performance is not flawless. Their sound does not change much between songs and after a while the lines do become a bit blurred. The bassist also forgets his riff during the 'encore' meaning the band has to play an earlier song again to finish, and some of the song writing does seem a bit mundane to the modern generation brought up with Muse's space rock – a song about a Primo lounge in the service station brings a wry smile to mind.

Do not let that distract you though from a group of young musicians with many catchy tunes, a fantastic singer, a guitarist who is adept with his instrument, and a drummer who pounds away with endless enthusiasm. 'Start Where It Ends' and 'Eyes Wide Open' are the standout songs, along with a new, frantic up tempo ditty they have yet to name.

A little generic? Maybe, but then these days, what isn't. If you like your indie melodic, check this Leicester four piece out.

If you want to find out more about Ashdowne, visit www.ashdowne.com, www.myspace.com/ashdowne, or go to Virgin Megastore Leicester and buy their CD.

SET LIST

FLOODGATES

STARTS WHERE IT ENDS

BURIED AWAY

HOME

MAD DOGS

BREATHOUT

TURNING

EYES WIDE OPEN

-----------------

FOOTSTEPS

SIRENS

PRIMO LOUNGE

WORLDS APART

NEW SONG

NUMB

SINKING IN

MISSING

----------------

STALEMATE

EYES WIDE OPEN REPRISE