WAXPLANET are the latest potential guitar heroes to explode in style on to the Manchester music scene.

Coming armed with some very choice tunes that have a hint of legendary Manchester music geniuses World Of Twist about them, Waxplanet knock out some rousing psychedelic riffs, particularly on demo `Streets on Fire'. The track is one of the chief aural delights to come out of the city in a good while.

They'll be playing live in Manchester soon but, in the meantime, check out www.waxplanet.co.uk for a chance to hear some of their tunes.

Another smart new Manchester band The Jakpot are creating some crunching upbeat guitar anthems including the truly brilliant Fickle that you can download at www.thejakpot.co.uk

Sunday International from Stockport have recently released a simply brilliant single called So Calm. The song is itself is anything but calm and is, instead, lyrically uplifting with a magical melody too. Check them out at www.futurebutterfly.co.uk

Merchandise have been knocking around town since 2004, when they released their excellent album Lo-tech Solutions To Hi-tech Problems. At the time they were simply studio based, now they've got a band together and are hitting the road. You catch them live at Roadhouse on March 22.

The ever excellent Akoustik Anarkhy are putting out two muscical master pieces this month: The Loungs I'm Gonna Take Your Girl and Soft Priest's Done It EP are both rather brilliant.

Check out The Forest when they return to the live circuit with a gig at Club Blowout at the Star & Garter on March 8.