Having toured with the likes of Florence & The Machine and Los Campesisons, they're returning to the UK for a string of headline dates on the back of having their amazing single "Tongue Tied" used on the Apple iPod Touch TV commercial… you know the one.

With comparisons to the likes of Pixies, Breeders, Pavement, Dinosaur Jr, Modest Mouse and Moldy Peaches under their belts, their tuneful, noisy, indie-art-pop will force you to put on your dancing shoes - whether you want to or not!

"Sugary and sunny and stuffed with melodies, this California quintet are hard to hate, and with omnipresent single 'Colours', hard to avoid." - NME

The album, set for release in February, is already creating a stir. Two tracks have been selected to feature in Noel Clarke's forthcoming film The Knot, due to hit cinemas on Valentine's Day. The first single, Too Close, went straight on the Radio 2 playlist. See him at ARC, Stockton before he moves into arenas.

'A class act' Daily Mirror

'anthemic…lyrical….soulful' BBC Music.

Hello Cruel World, Gretchen Peters' eighth album and her first solo studio effort in four years, has just been released to huge critical acclaim.

Recorded at Patty Griffin's East Nashville studio and coproduced with Doug Lancio (Patty Griffin, The Greencards, John Hiatt), the album features a duet with Rodney Crowell ("Dark Angel"), and guest appearances by Kim Richey, Viktor Krauss and Will Kimbrough. Peters' songwriting has brought her to the Grammys twice and won her a CMA Song Of The Year award for the groundbreaking "Independence Day" (Martina McBride). This May she was nominated for induction in 2011 into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame (previous Hall of Fame inductees include Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Rodney Crowell, Hank Williams, Dolly Parton and Jimmy Webb).

But that's only half the story. As a recording artist she has won near-universal acclaim from media such as Time Magazine ("her choir-girl voice has a seductive hint of late nights and cigarettes"), AllMusic.com ("her finest moment as a recording artist and a song-lyric poet" - Burnt Toast & Offerings, 2007) and Mojo (The Secret Of Life, Best Albums of 1996). One To The Heart, One To The Head (2009), her collaboration with singer-songwriter Tom Russell appeared on numerous year-end Best Of lists, including PopMatters ("one of the best folk records in recent memory") and No Depression.

Support comes from Canadian Lynne Hanson 'Beautiful' Q Magazine

The Strawbs have enjoyed major success on both sides of the Atlantic. Their hit singles Part of the Union and Lay Down topped the charts

Recent years saw the original line up returning to the studio to record The Broken Hearted Bride, a return-to-form effort that solidified the band's staying power. Now playing acoustic sets of classic numbers, The Strawbs are Dave Cousins on guitar, dulcimer and vocals, Dave Lambert on guitar and vocals, and guitarist Brian Willoughby.

Combining the talents of northerners Stu Hanna and Debbie Hanna, the duo Megson are hot property on the British folk and roots scene. Their four albums, 'On The Side', 'Smoke of Home', 'Take Yourself a Wife' and the new release 'The Longshot' have chronicled that blossoming creative talent.

Three times BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards nominated and winners of three Spiral Earth Awards the husband and wife duo hail from Teesside and draw heavily on this heritage to create their unique brand of folk music. Their infectious sound is a mix of heavenly vocals, lush harmonies and driving rhythmic guitars and mandolas.

Since the duo's genesis in 2004 the couple have played up and down the country at numerous folk clubs and festivals picking up a strong fan base along the way and selling out their extensive tour dates. Their growing talent was recognised not only with 3 nominations for Best Duo in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards but also with burgeoning interest from the major broadsheets.

Megson continue to deliver on the promise inherent in fellow folkie Seth Lakeman's endorsement: "For my money" says Seth "Megson are amongst the most exciting trailblazers of British Contemporary Folk."

Support comes from brother and sister duo Joe & Helen Hammill, who are best known for their work in the wonderful Cattle & Cane. Don't miss this – it's a gig you'll be talking about for years.

"Megson have steadily established themselves as two of the freshest, most original performers in the latest folk revival. 'This album places them in the major league." The Guardian

"A force in the folk revival." The Observer

"Simply Brilliant!" The Sunday Express

One of the most incendiary live bands around, don't miss 'em as they rip Sumo Sunderland a new one!

He is probably best known for his work with Shona Kipling and Flook, but has recently become a full-time member of Kate Rusby's band. His work with Shona Kipling, accordion player extraordinaire, earned them both a Folk Award nomination and their gigs expanded all over the world from Spain to Canada.

Damien's debut solo album Summer Hill was released in May 2010 on the Pure Records label and was produced by Joe Rusby and Damien. It features acclaimed musicians Michael McGoldrick, Aaron Jones and John Joe Kelly and the title track also features vocals from Kate Rusby.

Having spent a year with Anglo-Irish super group Flook, his banjo playing took him to many more different venues. Now with a solo career ahead and his work with Kate Rusby, he is sure to continue his success and further his reputation as a superb singer and instrumentalist.

"An outstanding banjo player and superb vocals" Sunday Express

"What hits you immediately is the richness of O'Kane's voice…" BBC Music

"The best and most surprising vocal CD of 2010 and one that will have a very long life" Irish Music Magazine

Guitarist and founding member of Dr Feelgood, Wilko Johnson has influenced everyone from Joe Strummer and Mick Jones to Steve Albini and now embarks on an unmissable nationwide tour accompanied by Norman Watt-Roy and Dylan Howe.

In 1971, Wilko first made his name when he formed Dr Feelgood - a British pub rock band from Canvey Island, Essex. Known for their high energy live performances, their first two studio albums, Down by the Jetty and Malpractic, proved immensely popular. Their breakthrough live album, Stupidity reached number 1 in the official UK album chart. By the time Dr Feelgood released their fourth album, Sneakin' Suspicion, Johnson left the group to pursue a solo career. By 1980, Johnson joined Ian Dury and the Blockheads.

Recently Johnson featured in Julien Temple's Oil City Confidential, a full-length feature film documentary about Dr Feelgood, and has also of late been seen starring opposite Sean Bean as Royal Executioner Ser Illyn Payne in HBO's fantasy series Game of Thrones.

Support comes from blistering young blues trio Virgil & The Accelerators. One of the youngest blues rock bands in the UK, Virgil & The Accelerators have hit the ground running with their debut album and are taking their material to their fans who wait in anticipation.

"Some guys got it down, Leonard Cohen, Paul Brady, Lou Reed, secret heroes" - Bob Dylan.

Recommendations don't come much higher than this but then Paul Brady is no ordinary singer, song-writer. One of Ireland's most successful and highly regarded artists, he crosses musical boundaries again and again incorporating folk, rock, blues, traditional Irish and classic pop styles.

And he brings his brand new Dancer In the Fire tour to ARC to coincide with the release of his latest album Anthrology.

His songs have been covered by everyone from Bonnie Raitt, Tina Turner, Cher, Joe Cocker, Art Garfunkel, Carole King, Phil Collins, Cliff Richard and Ronan Keating. And he continues to garner huge respect from the younger writers and performers of today including Glen Hansard, Sarah Siskind and Shawn Colvin.

An evening with Paul Brady is a captivating experience and this great talent can easily be compared to his contemporaries such as Jackson Browne, Van Morrison, Richard Thompson and March Knopfler. Don't miss this rare opportunity to see one of today's greatest artists live in Stockton.

"The iron fist in the velvet glove of Irish Music"- Bono

"Probably the best melody writer I can think of" - Bonnie Raitt.

Scottish singer-songwriter Justin Currie is most famous for his role as founder member and front man of Del Amitri.

Currently working as a successful solo artist, Justin's music is dominated by strong imagery and storytelling, powerful yet understated vocals and a sound that, whilst firmly rooted in nineties pop-rock, translates beautifully into modern, urban ballads. With influences from Nick Cave, Crowded House and Mark Lanegan, his music is hauntingly dark, yet refreshingly uplifting.

The Blues Band, featuring former Manfred Mann lead singer Paul Jones, Tom McGuinness, Dave Kelly, Gary Fletcher and Rob Townsend, formed in 1979 and are still arguably THE pre-eminent British blues band.

The individual members of The Blues Band were already held in admiration by generations of rhythm and blues fans when they formed and almost two and a half decades and over 16 albums later, they continue to add to their growing army of followers.

The band are today acknowledged throughout Europe and beyond as being amongst the very finest purveyors of rhythm and blues. They have inspired numerous other blues bands, many of which have come and gone.

So here they are, as enthusiastic as ever, Britain's finest, most skilled practitioners in the art of the blues.

Chill out on lazy summers evening to Pink Floyd...

Having just returned from hosting the internationally renowned Lindos Floyd Fest in Rhodes, Think Floyd drop into ARC.

With over 10 years experience of touring theatres and venues around the UK, Think Floyd have built up a reputation of "The UK's number one Pink Floyd tribute band" and fans travel to see them play time and time again. Dubbed "the definitive Pink Floyd experience", Think Floyd are renowned for their stunning celebration of the music of Pink Floyd, faithfully recreating the atmosphere, visual magnitude and musical genius of one of the world's most legendary rock phenomena.

The bands new show for 2012 features the whole range of classic Pink Floyd from Barrett, through Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here to The Division Bell.

This is a 'must-see' evening for all Floyd fans...