SUN-KISSED music-lovers were served a treat yesterday when some of the best up-and-coming British and US bands turned on the style at a Bank Holiday event.

Tens of thousands of people took the opportunity to watch the Middlesbrough Music Live event with Goldie Lookin' Chain entertaining the crowds later on in the afternoon.

According to event organiser Graham Ramsay, the fifth year of the live festival was probably the best line-up so far.

Covering seven stages across the town centre, the eclectic bill was chosen by Bryan Stubbs and Mr Ramsay's Middlesbrough music promotion group, Ten Feet Tall.

He said: "I think this year's bill is the strongest yet, and Bryan Stubbs has done a tremendous job booking bands that are really exciting."

As a result, the five headline bands were top ten hit-makers Electric Six, the unpredictable 1980s Matchbox B-Line Disaster, rising mod-punk stars The Ordinary Boys, North Yorkshire's Fame Academy favourite Alistair Griffin and signed Teesside band Mercedes.

Mr Stubbs said the day had run as smoothly as could be expected.

He said: "For the second year running, the weather has been fantastic and the crowds seem to be enjoying it. Some of the bands this year are absolutely fantastic, and I am just trying to see as many of them as I possibly can."

The event organised by Ten Feet Tall for Middlesbrough Council cost about £100,000 to stage this year.

According to Mr Ramsay, some of the most promising acts were Goldie Lookin' Chain, who played the Central Gardens stage, and the outrageous hip-hop Youngblood Brass Band, from New Orleans, who played on the same stage earlier in the day.

One music lover summed up the feeling surrounding the event.

He said: "It is sunny, the music is fantastic and I cannot wait for next year's line-up to be announced."

With Ten Feet Tall working on the festival for four months in advance of the event, there is plenty of time for the team to book some more musical gems to follow in a long line of successful bands that have since gone on to success, including the Darkness and Keane.