Whoa, mama! Very feisty duo The Courettes have two dates in the north-east this August (in Newcastle and Stockton) where they will be hitting us up with their awesome wall-of-sound-heart-of-soul.

I caught The Courettes the last time they played the region and their whirlwind of fuzzed-out guitars, driving rhythms and sixties-inspired glamour, left me absolutely floored (in the best possible way). Comprising the husband-and-wife duo Flavia and Martin Couri, this Danish-Brazilian powerhouse are whispered about in awed tones on the garage-rock scene, with their sound a thrilling collision of styles. Imagine – if you can – the raw, rebellious energy of The Sonics fused with the melodic “Wall of Sound” sophistication of The Ronettes, and you’ll only be halfway there. It’s a sound that feels both vintage and vital, delivered with a rare intensity that has earned them a justified reputation as one of the most exciting bands on the planet. And I love the way they capture a specific kind of analogue magic – saturated with reverb, distortion and bags of soul. If you still need proof that the three-minute pop-song is one of the most potent forms of expression around, then roll-up, roll-up. DP

The Courettes: Sunday 9 August, The Cluny, Newcastle, 7.30pm, £15, thecluny.com; The Courettes, Friday 14 August, Georgian Theatre, Stockton, 7.30pm, £17.50, georgiantheatre.co.uk