Minehead - a small coastal town in the English county of Somerset, popular with visitors for its quiet sandy beaches, famous cream teas and for between the 8th and 10th of May 2009 a truly one-of-a-kind festival brimming with die-hard music fanatics and genuinely exciting bands.

Featuring a line-up chosen by both the iconic curators at ATP (one of the premium global festival and concert organisers) and the festival ticket buyers themselves, the line-up was one of the most diverse, eclectic and entertaining set of acts imaginable. And though we'd expect nothing else from the ATP: Fans Strike Back festival, the weekend still threw up more than enough pleasant surprises along the way.

The first came on our arrival, with each festival goer receiving a pack of cards, each one containing a photograph and biography of all the bands and artists featured over the weekend, along with some clever origami card holders to put them in.

So, keeping with this suitably quirky theme, we review the grinders from the jokers, those who bubbled or bust, flushed or folded, and any other tiresome card-themed metaphor you care to come up with...

FRIDAY

KING - Critics and fans lapped up his mellow, romantic song-writing when first discovered, but there is apparently more to LIAM FINN than meets the ear. Joined by a female collaborator, Liam's live show is an entirely different ballpark compared to his music on record. The careful, quiet musicianship was replaced by some crazed youth experimenting left, right and centre with live loops, lots of layering, and a instrument called a 'drum-guitar' (looks like a guitar, played like a drum). A complete surprise and a total delight for anyone who went to witness the set.

EIGHT OF HEARTS - French electro-artist Anthony Gonzalez wowed the music press with a stunning release called 'Saturdays = Youth'. Containing all the optimism, dreaming and romanticism of teenage years, the album was a triumph from start to finish. Seeing the addition of M83 on the line-up then was an exciting prospect, made all the more satisfying by Gonzalez and friends performing the majority of the album in its stunning, atmospheric glory.

ACE - One word to describe the entire set from the most marvellous rediscovered 80's electro band, DEVO. Headlining the Pavilion (the largest stage at the Butlin's venue), the crowd was a mix of curious onlookers, dubious cynics and excitable red-hatted fans. Dressed in bright yellow jumpsuits and wearing those iconic red hats, it was touch and go whether these middle-aged comeback kings were going to pull it off. Those who doubted do now fully repent our sin. Pulsing, anthemic, and bizarre in all the right ways, Devo made for an unmissable festival experience.

SATURDAY

KING - An understandably excited crowd waited patiently for the final band of the day on the Pavilion stage, and to say that this act satisfied the room’s tension would be an understatement. BEIRUT, complete with exquisitely precise string and brass sections, literally stunned the audience into a state of pure euphoria. The set was tight and consistent, the music seeming to flow from the fingers of Zachary Francis Condon and band with the most astonishing ease. Perfection.

JOKER - Anyone who didn't go to check out THE JESUS LIZARD firmly deserve this card thrust in their face. After a ten year absence and still being regarded as one of the most influential and exciting noise- rock bands, it was an anticipation unlike any other for the hundreds who gathered at 1am to witness musical history in the making. And David Yow and company didn't disappoint. Despite them all being as old as the crowd's parents (and even grandparents), their enthusiasm was incomparable, lead singer Yow throwing himself into the crowd before even the first song had been completed. A truly electric set from start to finish which would no doubt see heavy queues the next day for a repeat performance.

SUNDAY

KING - It's always nice when a band live up to their name, and this was certainly true of THIS WILL DESTORY YOU's performance. The last day of the festival with a stage time of midnight, the Texan post- rock band had quite an effort on their hands to keep a quickly tiring audience awake and interested. Luckily, the sheer volume alone was enough to keep anyone’s eyes wide open, but even without the PA system, This Will Destroy You's mastery and song writing held an audience in pure captivation.

JACK - Jack-the-lads these certainly are, aiming to rival The Jesus Lizard's crowd interaction (and quite possibly outdoing them). Pretty much the entire audience gathered at the Pavilion stage knew this was going to be something pretty interesting, and FUTURE OF THE LEFT didn't disappoint. They even threw sweets in our faces, because 'everyone loves Refreshers'. Damn right we do, with Future of the Left being one of the most refreshing bands around at the moment.

EIGHT OF DIAMONDS - A welcomed late edition to the line-up, THE MAE SHI had no problem whatsoever with continuing on the theme started by Future of the Left. They came, they saw, they proceeded to rip the place apart. Chaotic bursts of sound exemplifies the experimental punk this Californian band come up with; something you really need to experience live to get the full effect from.