SCORES of the Midlands' bright young things will be coming together in Kidderminster to make some noise - as the town hosts a musical showcase next week.

The Sonic Boom event is in its fifth year and is organised by Kidderminster-based record label M.A.S (Mighty Atom Smasher) Records, of whom Robert Plant of the legendary rock band Led Zeppelin is a patron.

This year's bash takes place on Tuesday, June 14, at Redwoods Wine Bar in Dixons Street and will see a total of 20 new bands and artists each playing a set.

One of the highlights is set to be a performance from Worcester-based innovative rappers Ambush, who are described as a 'thunder-kick rap and drum and bass act'.

Also playing are Kidderminster band Edgeway, who play dance-orientated pop and have gone from strength to strength after supporting Robert Plant at recent gigs.

Worcester-based Rocket Dogs - who have recently signed a major distribution deal in Germany - will also unleash their 'psychobilly' sound on the night.

And new psychedelic Kidderminster group Otis Coyote will also be hoping for a good response when they take to the stage.

As part of their set, the band will be playing a song inspired by a call they had from a musician friend in Tucson, Arizona, who lives near to the railway being used to transport nuclear warheads to Iraq.

"Slow Train to Tucson builds gradually, intensifies and then subsides spectacularly," said the band's guitarist Dan Hunt.

"We're hoping to get a good live recording of the song at the event and have it released in the near future."

M.A.S Records' promotions officer Luke Hatton said the idea behind the event was to give these types of bands a chance to get up on stage.

"These new local bands are rewiring rock music in newer ways and still believe in the unlimited potential for self-expression inherent in three-minute song forms," he said.

"The vital aspect of M.A.S Records is its spirit for inspirational music and we want to ensure new local artists can be heard regardless of genre or production values."

The record label has been running for three years now and releases a compilation CD each year of artists it works with, which also features tracks from Robert Plant.

And Tuesday's event - which also includes appearances from Dead Letter Office, Bare Bones, Choke Go Hollywood and His Verbal Crusade - is set to be filmed and recorded by the label.

"There's a big variety of music, from brutal rock to acoustic artists and it's just showcasing everything that's coming out of the area and our commitment to musical talent," added creative manager Kevyn Gammond.

The Sonic Boom event starts at 7.30pm and tickets for the night are £2.