Unfortunately, at times, the last few years have also shown us that there isn't too many outside Northern Ireland who tend to notice it.

Thankfully 2008 has witnessed a sharp change in that trend. Already this year Oppenheimer have taken America by storm (again), Fighting With Wire have signed an illustrious deal with Atlantic, new boys Panama Kings have turned heads everywhere they go emerging as potential world champions and scores of other bands are taking up the charge.

And then there's our own wee Mid-Ulster. A relatively small area in terms of population, we don't have a capital or even a main gathering place and you won't often see us getting denied entry from fancy night clubs because of our un-cool stripey jumpers - we smart ones that is.

But we can lay claim to the fact that somewhere in our lush valleys and green-ness there is a fountain. No ordinary fountain mind you, but one which seems to spout originality, youth and musicianship in one fell swoop.

One which has sprouted the genuis of Leya and later Joe Echo, the now disbanded Angelfall and The Tides, Driving By Night, Oonagh Clarke, John Gribbin...and a fairly popular little band by the name of General Fiasco. You may have heard of them. If you haven't, then expect to...a lot.

For there is little doubt the Mid-Ulster trio will be huge. Hence the reason you get to see them this weekend - because they're available.

Since the trio kicked things off around the beginning of last year they've grown from strength to strength and taken Northern Ireland's music scene by storm. Their pop songs are so beautifully constructed if only you could find a way to solidify them you could hang them in a gallery and charge ridiculous admssion.

Now it seems the rest of the UK and even further afield have caught on and we may have to loosen the strings, let the rest experience these moustachioed princes at their very best.

And with a solid support tour first to Fighting With Wire and then to One Night Only as the two make their way across the UK over the next two months, it seems we may have to share our love for the trio further than we might have liked.

Also continuing to grow massively in Mid-Ulster is a little festival/music group/bunch of genuises who work under the moniker of Glasgowbury. You may have heard of them.

And realising a good thing when it slaps them in the face, those boys over at Glasgowbury HQ aren't going to let it go easily. So when you launch your new series of monthly G Sessions, who you gonna call?

A further testament to GF's success thus far, the last time the G Sessions were given a revamp following the festival it was Oppeneheimer who stepped up to the plate with one album finished, a second imminent and tours of the UK and America commonplace.

GF on the other hand have yet to release any recorded material (Rebel Get By, their first limited edition single will be out on November 10) but could put Oppenheimer to shame with the amount of fans won and effort injected during their relatively short stint at the top.

Owen took some time to talk to us this week about life in the fast lane with General Fiasco but still wasn't giving too much away from behind the scenes.

"We're really looking forward to getting to see some new places as far as touring is concerned," he said, "particularly with Fighting With Wire who we got to know recently - that should be good fun.

"Things have been going really well with the band and we've got the single release coming up soon as well so everything's been really positive."

Women love them and men...well, men love them too, it's hard not to. "We've always had a good reaction from our fans and built it up since early last year. Hopefully we can convince people on the tour to enjoy the music too."

Me thinks it shouldn't be a problem. General Fiasco hit the UK's roads in a few weeks and this will be your last chance to see them locally for quite some time. So you know what to do.

£5 admission and doors open at 9.

A limited edition of Rebel Get By is released through the label Another Music, Another Kitchen on November 10. rather spiffy looking t-shirts are also now on sale.

www.myspace.com/generalfiasco