Hartlepool based The Jar Family are five individual songwriters and musicians, who decided that, rather than strive for success in isolation, they would join forces to pool their talent and create their 'industrial folk' sound. Taking their name from the donations jar they passed around at early gigs, the band are a tight knit group who had the foresight to realise that they were stronger collectively than they were individually. Although on paper the idea of five very different and charismatic personalities with a wide range of musical styles working together harmoniously seems unlikely, the stunning results of their work to date speak for themselves. They have the knack of being able to win over a crowd quickly and they are extremely entertaining to watch. Imagine, if you can, Steam Punk infused Bob Dylan wrestling The Pogues with Bez in a top-hat! They are one of those rare and wonderful acts that quickly galvanises a crowd and brings a real sense of old fashioned showmanship to the stage. They are a truly exceptional live act

• Folk