Emerging bands The Smokin’ Barrels and Little Comets, from Newcastle, have plenty to celebrate in the next few days.

NEWCASTLE-based band The Smokin’ Barrels warm up for tonight’s mouth-watering gig supporting indie giants Kasabian, with a record deal in the pipeline after a glowing endorsement from the godfather of Brit-pop.

The Barrels have been plucked from hundreds of up-and-coming bands to provide support for Kasabian at Tyneside’s MetroRadio Arena Kasabian will be performing tracks from their new album Velociraptor, having established themselves as one of Britain’s biggest rock bands. Considering the Smoking’ Barrels are still an unsigned band, it makes the invitation to appear all the more remarkable. But that is nothing compared to the precocious outfit’s seal of approval from Noel Gallagher.

“What’s not to like?” said Gallagher, after hearing the Barrels’ new EP, Mindless Self Indulgence, a collection of captivating indie rock tunes.

The Smokin’ Barrels’ head of PR, at London-based Indie label Supersonic Music Ltd, Leigh Macfarlane, is in discussions with the 44-yearold’s Sour Mash Records label in an attempt to broker a record deal. On hearing the band’s latest release, Gallagher mused: “I like it – a bit like Kasabian, a bit like Oasis. They’ve got something. Bit of hard graft and a bit of polishing in the studio and a couple of those tunes could fly, no question.”

The former Oasis singer-songwriter is the second Gallagher to give his blessing, to the North-East threepiece, after brother Liam acknowledged their talent while witnessing them perform at his Pretty Green store in Manchester earlier this year.

Barrels drummer Craig Redpath is understandably excited about the prospect of signing for the legendary artist’s record label. Oasis was one of the bands who inspired the Cramlington- born musician to form a group.

“Less than two years ago we’d only played about four gigs and then we played the 02 Academy supporting Howard Marks, and since then things have kind of snowballed for us,” says 21-year-old Redpath. “Supersonic have been brilliant for us so we have to thank them for their backing and support. We do have to pinch ourselves at times when we think about how far we have come on as a band. To play in front of Liam Gallagher, and have Noel Gallagher say he likes our music, means a lot because Oasis were an inspiration for us when we started out, as were Kasabian.

“Where will we be this time next year? I’m not really sure, but if we keep improving, we will keep making progress as a band. Hopefully, it will be onwards and upwards.”

The Smokin’ Barrels warm up for Kasabian gig with a set at Newcastle’s Pretty Green store at 1pm tomorrow afternoon.

• For more news about the band and how to purchase The Smokin’ Barrels’ EP, check the band’s website: thesmokinbarrels.co.uk

LITTLE Comets made their mark at the start of the year with the release of their dazzling album In Search of Elusive Little Comets, becoming one of the most exciting new bands to come out of the North-East.

Still mining a musical alphabet as deep as the sea, the current release offers a similar mix of observational dank lyricism and sanguine melodic intonation, in a slightly more relaxed musical environment.

The Geordie mavericks are set to deliver the single Worry on home turf at Northumbria University early next month.

The record brings with it the Little Comets’ trademark afro-beat swagger. It’s a highly-contagious and beautifully-unconventional chorus hook, with the usual carefully constructed poetic lyrics, sung with both power and perfection in equal doses and it all comes together to make a heartfelt lament to take the indie scene by storm.

Catch them live at Northumbria University, Newcastle, on Saturday.