TOCKWITH music journalist Dave Simpson brings his post-punk pop power trio, Refuel, to the Woolpack Inn, Fawcett Street, York, on Saturday for a free night of spiky sounds and acoustic fun.

As a rock critic for the Guardian, Simpson is better known for writing about bands than playing in one. He has interviewed or reviewed acts from The Stone Roses to Kraftwerk, but insists that being a musician would have been his other dream job. “I wanted to be the drummer in New Order but the job never became available,” he says.

However, after forming Refuel with lead singer/guitarist Dan Crow and bass player/vocalist David Breslin and supporting heroes such as The Monochrome Set and Fischer-Z, Simpson is finally – albeit to a small extent – living the dream.

“Jericho Keys at BBC Introducing said that one of our songs ‘will make you pogo so much that you’ll make a hole in the ceiling’,” says the drummer. “That was as exciting as seeing my name in print for the first time. It's going to be strange if anyone reviews Refuel. We recently played with a band who I once gave a very bad review. I decided not to remind them.”

Refuel will be joined on Saturday's 8pm bill by Vinnie Whitehead and Casee Wilson. Admission is free.