SOUNDCLASH 09: Alvarez Kings + Playground Mafia + Stainless + J1 + DJ Lowrider + DJ Uzele

Alvarez Kings Claiming the crown as South Yorkshire's premier indie band, the Kings are a great live band and after support slots with The Enemy, Kooks and Little Man Tate its looking like 2009 will be their year which the guys get off to a flying start by headlining Koko, London in early January. With edgy melodic guitar on bass driven tracks and Simon's distinctive vocals on some cracking new songs like Is That What She Said, its easy to see why the labels are reportedly chasing them. www.myspace.com/alvarezkings

Playground Mafia Taking the electro dance scene by storm Playground have had a top 2008 since their debut in March, supporting the likes of The Whip, Skepta and Wiley - when they had 900 bouncing to their beats. Creative force and frontman Matt delivers a high energy performance as seen on their recent sold out Sheffield Academy gig for BBC Introducing. National and local radio play have helped create quite a buzz and if you like to party the Mafia's mish mosh beats will do it for you. www.myspace.com/playgroundmafiamusic

Stainless A Sheffield rock band, these young guns have just recorded a self produced debut album Under The Arches. A quartet founded by John Rowland and Daz Fearn, their heavy guitar riffs and Zacc's raw edged vocals give the steel city rockers a great base to drive an impressive live set. www.myspace.com/stainlessbandsheffield

J1 Mysterious urban music artist J1 is another local who has been on the grime / hip hop scene for a few years under various guises, including playing the 3Dom festival. His mixtape Keeping It Real, under the pseudonym Precha, caused quite a stir last year and another mix is due out anytime now. Catch him here at one of his rare live gigs. www.myspace.com/j1official

Djing are the legend that is DJ Lowrider, from Manchester, ripping the floor up with his eclectic mash of indie, hiphop, madchester, breaks, and pretty much anything with a solid beat. Sharing turntable duties, veteran of several Malia summer residencies is DJ Uzele, he'll be playing his mix of floor fillers big and loud.