It feels like every time we turn up in Middlesbrough during the first week of June, it rains. This year is obviously no exception, as we arrive for the newly named Middlesbrough Intro Festival, which plays host to some of the most promising British talents in the music industry. With last year's event boasting the likes of The Blackout, Flood of Red and Futures, it could be hard to top, but Organised-Sound have faith in 2011's line-up.

Opening Middlesbrough Intro Festival for us this drizzly Sunday afternoon is The Computers. Walking on stage in the expansive Town Hall, the four-piece are entirely striking, kitted out in fully white apparel. Holding an entirely charismatic stage presence, complete with politely-spoken word introductions and reminders of "Ladies and Gentlemen..", their music is entirely different to what you'd expect from such formalities. Sounding completely chaotic - in the best way possible - their guitars are loud and jarring, whilst front man Alex Kershaw's vocals are almost totally screamed. But first and foremost, they are utterly exciting to listen to and watch. Clamouring on top of amps and speakers, before dragging his mic stand off the stage and onto the floor below, he encourages the small crowd to gather close, adding a much needed intimate touch to a stage set up so huge. By the time they reach the end of their short set, Kershaw is left simply shouting his thanks to the crowd, and we're already excited to see them sometime in the future.

Heading outside into the Town Hall Courtyard, we settle down for the remainder of the day at the Sumo Stage. Sadly, Francesqa seem to be the sore thumb on today's bill - mainly boasting bands of a more post-hardcore persuasion - and thus their usually sultry pop rock seems a little lack lustre; something of a pity since their performance marks the close of their most recent UK headline tour. Maybe it's exhaustion, or the cold, or a combination of both, but sadly, today they seem somewhat lost. However, not even the miserable weather can dampen the spirits of the crowd as they launch into closing track 'Ghosts', which always seems to be a powerful offering.

Up next, Deaf Havana are as strong as ever, with front man James Veck-Gilodi leading the crowd in several impressive mass singalongs throughout. Débuting a reasonable amount of new material, tracks like 'The World Or Nothing' sound huge, before old favourites 'Friends Like These' and 'Smiles All Round' entice some incredible crowd reactions. Ending the set with the soaring 'Nicotine and Alcohol Saved My Life' works perfectly, as the rain begins to fall and the crowd are left singing the closing lines, whilst Veck-Gilodi is left smiling centre stage.

If we're honest, there's very little that can prepare today's crowd (or the security, for that matter) for the performance of Trash Talk. Being well known for getting involved, vocalist Lee Spielman instantly climbs off stage and into the midst of the audience. Encouraging circle pits, mosh pits and even a wall of death, their set transcends into a blur of movement and aggression, as the songs quickly rush by. Nevertheless, they are still entirely tight and on form, even as the vocalist stalks to the back of the crowd to scream his lyrics at an unsuspecting security guard attempting to hold together a steel fence that was flattened by sheer force in an earlier song. With most of the tracks played being taken from their 2010 album 'Eyes & Nines', they are completely riotous and - as ever with Trash Talk - it's one of those unforgettable performances. It just seems a horrible shame that two girls are carried out by security to ambulances by the time their set is up.

With such a variety of bands playing across the several stages today, it feels extra special to be able to watch We Are The Ocean headline to such a big crowd this evening. Making their début at this festival - back when it was called 'Middlesbrough Music Live' - three years ago today, it speaks volumes about their growth to welcome them back as the day's final act. Judging by their entrance, and the reaction they receive, it's also well deserved. Whilst it always feels a little strange to watch a band in daylight - even if it is close to 9pm - they work incredibly well in such a large venue. Tracks from their new album 'Go Now And Live' sound especially electrifying, with Dan Brown and Liam Cromby working wonderfully in sync to make songs like 'What It Feels Like' and 'Trials and Tribulations' truly exciting.

Balancing the new material with plenty of old, we're also treated to tracks from 'Cutting Our Teeth', including 'Look Alive', 'Lucky Ones' and an extraordinary performance of 'Confessions'. Disappearing off stage as Cromby sings the eerie opening verses, it takes a minute or so for the majority of the crowd to spot Brown as he climbs up onto the top of an ice cream van parked idly within the courtyard confines. Screaming the rest of the song's lines from the top of the vehicle, it's one of those stark yet powerful images when he lifts the microphone above his head, and the security swarm around the van below. Jumping down - and unknowingly cracking the windscreen in the process - it takes a few minutes for him to return to the stage, before the band triumphantly end the set with WATO classic 'Nothing Good Has Happened Yet' and new offering 'The Waiting Room'. As they finish up, it's hard not to think about how far this band have already come since their first appearance here in 2008, and honestly, it's nothing short of thrilling to think of what's to come next. But, hopefully, no ice cream vans will be damaged in the future.

But, in the words of WATO guitarist Alfie Scully, that was fab.

By Sarah Jamieson.