Although this year's Mercury Music Prize was claimed by Scottish art popsters Franz Ferdinand, it could be argued that the real winners were The Zutons.

The musically-confused, mixed-gender quintet from Liverpool failed to make any real impression in the nation's collective consciousness in their first two years in existence until they somehow found themselves on the Mercury shortlist.

Sales of their album Who Killed The Zutons? trebled, taking it to Gold status and, having been regarded as absolute outsiders, the bookies were suddenly declaring The Zutons one of the favourites.

The fact that the prize itself ultimately eluded their grasp was almost irrelevant - besides, there are those who would regard any prize that can be won by M People as dubious at best.

The important point was that people around the country had been introduced to the world of The Zutons: A crazed stew of soul, funk, country, punk, jazz and psychedelia that, in a post-Pop Idol era, sounds just a tad unusual.

Critics have struggled desperately to find musical reference points for this insane aural assault, resulting in a staggeringly broad circle of suggested influences stretching from The Cramps to the Spencer Davis Group to Dexy's Midnight Runners. (For what it's worth, Sly And The Family Stone, Talking Heads, and Captain Beefheart might be nearer the mark, although there's also a hefty dose of the voodoo weirdness epitomised by Dr John.)

This sound has taken time to develop.

"About six months ago, I started writing much better songs," says McCabe. "I wasn't just trying to be crazy all the time. I tried to simplify everything and we found where we wanted to be. We got into this whole soul-funk-voodoo vibe and we just suddenly realised what made us exciting.

"I think when we started, people thought we were just like The Coral but not as good. It was a f****** pain for us because we had only been together for six months and we didn't really have a clue. Now we know exactly what we want to do and it's like a fresh start."

Live, this lunatic fusion is pretty much unstoppable. Over a bed of irresistibly grooving rhythm section and Abi Harman's live saxophone, singer David McCabe delivers his dark tales of zombies and ghouls as well as more conventional, if skewed, pop themes.

Here, if ever, is a band who can offer something for everyone and they're kicking off their tour here in sunny Brighton. Go down and join the party.

Starts: 7.30pm, Tickets: £10, Tel: 01273 709709