www.myspace.com/bradycole Four-piece rock band hailing from the latest cradle of new acts, Fife. Drawing from a range of influences such as AC/DC, Led Zeppelin, and the live energy of The Who, the ban
d have just come off tour with the Foo Fighters. They did it all unsigned and with no management and went down brilliantly. Why don't they have a record contract? Does Scotland not want to rock?
2 CITY www.myspace.com/cityrock This Alloa-based outfit describe themselves as "a four-piece carnival of lush pop sensibilities and uplifting rock 'n' roll" which is pretty accurate and there is no reason why they won't be huge. They are young; at least one isn't yet 20, and very keen.
3 THE MYSTICS www.myspace.com/intothemysticsThe Mystics cite their influences as a marriage of alt-country and British late 70s new wave. But it's not that curious; Elvis Costello did do a country album, as did Squeeze. Current musical comparisons might also include The Jayhawks. They've played some well-received gigs in small places but corking tunes, three-part harmonies, switchblade guitars and stirring rhythm section will surely see them in bigger venues by the year's end.
4 THE HURRICANES www.thehurricanes.co.ukIt's difficult to describe this quartet – they say their good points are "unstoppable onstage charisma" and a "heroic blending of modern indie-punk with truly old-school 50s rockabilly and 60s garage rock." They are certainly very smart in matching red blazers, but the music is good and quirky, with a definite heavy Kinks influence. They play the winter Dance Party in Edinburgh on 23 February.
5 THE HIGHWAYS www.myspace.com/thehighwaysApart from Lena Zavaroni, there probably aren't many other music acts hailing from the Isle of Bute. The Highways are nothing like Lena, being a five-piece meat-and-potatoes indie rock band who deserve more than to be monikered Rothesay's Finest. They are getting better known further afield and could do some real damage in 2008.
