The Hollyoaks Music Show with Matalan

N-Dubz

There were tremors in Hollyoaks village during recording of the second episode and it wasn't N-Dubz's DJ Mazer's basslines swelling from his sound system, no! It was Dappy – he wasn't wearing his traditional Dappy hat!

The urban outfit, needless to say, swiftly recovered from this faux-pas to deliver a two song set, including their biggest hit to date 'Strong Again'. The blips and Knight Rider-esque beeps sent the crowd into a frenzy. Why, you could even see ATD (Darren) and Jorgie P (Theresa) bopping like one of those bop it toys. The audience couldn't give a tuppence about the torrential downpour – would you if you were wearing a highly fashionable poncho? – because N-Dubz ode to Facebook woes, 'I Need You', took their mind off any weather worries.

Like some sort of pop psychologist, N-Dubz lay down on my metaphorical green sofa to tell me their social networking woes. Read all about it!

The Veronicas

The last time The Dog In The Pond patio saw an explosive performance from a couple of twins on was when the Burton twins met their grim end (... too soon?), but fear not! This time around the twins in question, The Veronicas, were full of life!

The duo, complete with band, hammered out their top 20, text-speak hit '4Ever'. The sassy, Bon Jovi 'It's My Life' sounding song was so rawk that I swear you saw the boat on the pond rock. That's the right, The Veronicas rocked the boat.

The Aussie twins get up close and personal in our episode two gallery!

Alphabeat

You've got to love Scandinavians. Not only is their English better than our English, their meatballs are better than our meatballs, their beards better than our beards, but their flatpack furniture is pretty good too. And so is their pop. Alphabeat are no exception.

After watching great Danes Alphabeat performing 'The Spell', you'd be forgiven for thinking that, like Scandinavian flatpack furniture, they simply assembled the song. Everything just fits together so well! Stine's voice, Anders SG furious tambourine bashing, the turquoise suits, the... the... perfect pop... Ikea style!

Nb. I know Ikea's Swedish, but it IS Scandinavian, so cut me some slack, yeah?

Alphabeat will let you be in their band if you speak Danish. It's true! They told me in this interview!

N-Dubz minus THE Dappy hat, The Veronicas not performing outside The Dog In The Pond and Alphabeat providing MOBS with more than just smoothies in our episode two gallery!