WHO THE HELL ARE...

...Arctic Monkeys

Jam hot: We're all familiar with the "firework" bands, groups who explode suddenly into fame and light up the scene for one glorious moment before fizzling out and crashing to earth faster than you can say "difficult second album syndrome". But now, make way for the "gelignite" bands, who blow up so swiftly and suddenly they're in danger of already being old hat by the time they release their debut single. Luckily for Arctic Monkeys, their debut single has already been released (Fake Tales of San Francisco) and there's still no sign of the buzz waning. The Sheffield band are tipped to be the next Libertines, and have been described as the best British band since The Jam. Their live gigs have already become the stuff of legend, and Irish fans are eagerly anticipating their first Irish dates, in Belfast tomorrow (August 20th) and Dublin on Sunday (21st).

White Christmas: We have Santa to thank for the arrival of the UK's hottest new act. Three years ago, the jolly old fellow in the red suit gave Alex Turner and Jamie Cook guitars for Christmas, but instead of tossing them aside as many kids do with their presents, the lads worked hard at learning how to play them. They were joined by bassist Andy Nicholson and drummer Matt Helders, and began writing razor sharp, wickedly witty songs about life in grim northern towns (A Certain Romance) and teenage prostitutes (Sun Goes Down). There's been a unanimously warm response to the band's music, but a cool reception for the awful name. However, one of the band's heroes, punk poet John Cooper Clarke, has given it the thumbs-up.

Arc light: Most new bands have to work hard to lure punters away from the bar or distract them from the bird they're chatting up. They've got to bribe music biz types to come and see them, promising free beer or girls as incentive. The Monkeys only had a few demos, which they handed out free at their gigs, but when they played their debut gig at the Grapes in Sheffield, the crowd went bananas. Perhaps it was the streetwise lyrics of lead singer/guitarist Alex Turner, or maybe it was the musical mash-up of Smiths, Clash, Jam, Oasis, Queens of the Stone Age, System of a Down and Roots Manuva, but it wasn't long before word got around. Soon, fans were swopping the band's demos online, discussing them in chatrooms, driving for miles to catch them in concert, and singing back the words of every song - even the ones they hadn't finished writing yet.

Monkeys' due: The Monkeys are now signed to Domino records, and are ready to ride straight into the charts. "I guess it can still get bigger," says Turner. "Instead of hundreds of people singing the words, it could be thousands. Does that feel any different, I wonder?"