Untitled Music Project bring their Mclusky-lite angry posing to a near deserted main stage. They'd probably would suit a sweaty club perfectly but those catching the rays on the grass don't seem fussed. Maths Class don't fill us with much inspiration either so it's off to the twee indie pop of Pocketbooks, who are a delight and deserved more than the small pocket (pardon the pun) of those here today.

Back to the main stage and Thomas Tantrum's squeaky indie just make us wish Life Without Buildings were still around and The Victorian English Gentleman's Club are Pixies but without what made Black Francis and co. remotely interesting.

Feeling somewhat disillusioned with the live music on offer so far, it's time to take refuge in the Girlcore tent and the realisation soon beckons of where the fun of Offset lies. The cream of the crop of female DJ talent play in front of a cleverly installed photo frame and an array of props that line the tent show that the organisers have a sense of humour. Little Boots puts on a storming set of electro treats (including a mind-boggling techno remix of Whitney Houston's I Want To Dance With Somebody) and puts us back on track for the evening's entertainment.

Other attractions at the festival include a petting zoo and the alarmingly repetitive Guitar Hero stage, on which you could be forgiven for thinking that the same band were playing the same chords for the duration of the day. The Last.fm stage hosts a curious double-bill of New Zealand's Die! Die! Die!, whose hardcore stylings remind of a less extreme Refused and prove to be a welcome break from the middling indie, while Drum Eyes, featuring DJ Scotch Egg and friends, is an intense and highly rewarding experience and one of the most interesting sets of the day.

The lack of Fangs and Grabba Grabba Tape on the final bill is yet another blow, the latter of which could have been genuinely the weekend's highlight. But trying to forget those absent, Young Knives play a crowd pleasing set back on the main stage, Weekends & Bleakdays encouraging something of a sing-along to the still rather thin crowd. The band are on fine form and even win over this doubting writer in being the perfect sunset festival band.

Selfish Cunt offer shambolic mayhem to a packed across the field, Martin Tomlinson still proving himself as a charismatic frontman even if the music delivered isn't quite enough to back up the arrogance while Chrome Hoof are outstanding, being the only band to truly capture the audience's imagination with their mix of !!! danceability with fearless hard metal sensibilities.

It's a shame Wire couldn't be likewise. As they look thoroughly unhappy to be here and drawl out sub-standard pub rock, we seek an early exit, ending not a terrible day but perhaps one that would have been seriously in trouble had the weather not been as satisfying as it was.

Offset Festival 2008: Day 2