Best unsigned band

1 BRADY COLE

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 band 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/intothemystics
The 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.uk

It'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/thehighways

Apart 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.