Win Eden tickets

THOSE of you still umming and aahing over whether to see Razorlight at the Eden Sessions on July 9 may be swayed by the announcement that The Maccabees are supporting, writes Lee Trewhela.

And if you're still undecided then maybe our tempting competition to win two pairs of tickets will spur you on.

The Maccabees, once witnessed by What's On being blown off stage in London by Penzance's own I Say Marvin (though that was very early in the band's career and where are ISM now?), will support Razorlight, inset, at the Eden Project on July 9.

Following the successes of their debut album, Colour It In ("the best alt.pop record of 2007" NME, sold out tours, a triumphant night at London's Roundhouse), The Maccabees bettered their debut with the excellent second album Wall Of Arms, which was released last month.

Where Colour It In was an art-pop special, full of colourful and wistful melodies, Wall Of Arms treads darker paths where problems and break-ups aren't always solved by a bittersweet love-ditty.

The Maccabees' intriguing shift in style is typified by first single Love You Better, a rousing introduction to the album, with spine-tickling staccato guitars and a heartfelt treble-entendre at its centre.

Can You Give It – the album's standout – starts with see-sawing bass, wonky guitar and Adam And The Ants-style drums (complete with a Stand And Deliver chorus line), until singer Orlando Weeks' unmistakable vocals kick in and lead the band on a pirate-esque sing-along.

Razorlight are playing fresh from losing drummer Andy Burrows and the release of my least favourite album of 2008, Slipway Fires, but don't let that put you off!

The band are always a good bet live (the secret Surfers Against Sewage Ball appearance in St Agnes in 2004 and Ripcurl Boardmasters headline slot at Watergate Bay the year after were testament to that) and, love him or loathe him, Johnny Borrell is a charismatic frontman.

Now with new drummer David 'Skully' Sullivan-Kaplan they are back on track – and with three albums to choose from and such memorable tracks as Rip It Up, Golden Touch, Somewhere Else, In The Morning and America, the biomes will pulsate to their bombast.

Tickets for the Razorlight Eden Session are priced £35 each plus a booking fee per ticket. To book, contact the Eden box office on 01726 811972 or go to www.edenproject.com

To win a pair of tickets tell What's On the title of the band's debut album. Is it:

● Up All Day

● Up All Night

● Up All Week

Entries, marked Razorlight, must reach us by Wednesday, June 10. Usual rules apply.

Send your entries to ltrewhela@c-dm.co.uk