Hope Sandoval will grace us at Field Day in June and only this week Gwen Stefani was all smiles in studio photos, flanked by the rest of No Doubt. So if 2012 is the year of not just reunions (Stone Roses, At The Drive In, Refused et al) but also the year of seminal female leads returning to the fray then tonight at the Portland has set the bar.

Prior to the return of Kate Jackson we were presented with two contrasting bands, the first of whom were Bricolotheque. Bricolotheque are a two-piece dark ambient outfit, who decked out the stage with keys and electronic apparatus. Previous research into Bricolotheque discovered that they're a band who describes themselves as, “better at writing songs than they are at playing them” and after tonight I would argue they're underselling themselves, the songs were great but the performance was just as. Bricolotheque were loud, possibly the loudest we've heard in The Portland's petite backroom, yet through the noise and heavy sub bass there was no distortion. And vocalist Matt Abysmal played the protagonist, juddering and animated, and literally breached the gap between stage and audience. Bricolotheque deployed icy keys that chilled more than the cold snowing airing outside. Foremost it has to be said that Bricolotheque are an outfit you'll have a definite yes or no opinion, their industrial 80's ambience, circa The KLF, is not the style or genre to collate fence sitters. Liked or disliked, all in attendance will agree Bricolotheque were unforgettable.

Next up were a band we've been proudly touting for months, a real accomplishment on their part considering they've only been a band for six months, yet had alluded us live until tonight. Riding waves of post-punk guitar riffs, deep bass and crashing beats Ill Murray had arrived and it made our knickers wet.

The four-piece served up an impressive set giving off the aura that they'd been playing together for years, gliding through with such precision that the only fault we could pick is the shit brand of cider they had on the stage to quench the thirst they built up through their insanely ferocious guitar playing. The garage fuzz of 'Throats' off their 'Fugu' EP was a crowd pleaser, and set closer 'Maldon mud Race' was as big live as we had hoped starting with a deep bass line, the track has the clearest definition of the entire EP, it built patiently, combining bass, guitar and vocals into a form before elapsing into a brief eye of calm before dropping again into a ferocious climax. 'False Prophets and Football Teams' was in our opinion the highlight of the set, a calm, Americana neighborhood bop rhythm, contrasted with an emotive pitched vocal, the mix of the two was melodic and spun a wheel of emotions from soothing to fear. It was also one of the few tracks to be taken from their forthcoming full debut album; tonight bodes well for said record.

It has to be said that the greatest selling point of Ill Murray tonight was how they've managed to avoid that pitfall that new and/or young bands do of imitating the sounds they're inspired by. Yes we could feel the range of influences, the bass and drum intros of Joy Division, the riffs and strumming of Weezer, Nirvana and even Blur, but the set wasn't a homage to these. Instead Ill Murray has blended their inspirations into their own, fresh sound. A sound that should justice prevail see them become popular way beyond Cambridge.

All of this was of course build up for the return of Kate Jackson. After the split of The Long Blondes in 2008, a departure that left a gaping big hole in the indie genre, former lead singer Kate Jackson bounded back onto the music scene in fantastic fashion. It was fitting that early on the new journey of The Kate Jackson group that Jackson lead out her new band on a stage she had previously been triumphant on with The Long Blondes. On that occasion Jackson was the focal, with her deliberate struts, distinctive hand gestures and flicks and all of these mannerisms were on show again tonight. In short Kate Jackson still yields the stature of a powerful front woman who can turn swooning indie boys into putty. Objectification and presence aside Jackson's showcase of new material was equally impressive. Having drawn on the guidance of ex-Suede guitarist Bernard butler, Jackson has put together a spiced infusion of glam, indie and rock, with a little western twang thrown in for good measure.

You could guarantee that over half the crowd in attendance was there through a Long Blondes link, either it is because of the band or the love of Jackson as the front of that band. Ultimately these connections were all linked through the common intrigue of what the new material will sound like. Fittingly Jackson and her new ensemble duly delivered. New single 'Wonder Feeling' popped up early and was definitely a stand out due to its tale of teenage love and gripping narration from Jackson. 'Wonder Feeling's B-side The Atlantic was bigger live than the record but it was following track 'Leaving Me Easily' that stole it for us. Its never easy to step out of the shadow of former glory but tonight Kate Jackson showed her new material has the might to allow her to do just that.