Beat Battle @ Soul Biscuits, Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh, 4 Jul

8 Mile was so six years ago; these days you bring hi-tech machinery and a shitload of killer samples to face off against other beat makers - your diss is in a sly arpeggio, and the crowd can be won over with a well-placed bass line. To limit the chance of total cacophony all entrants have been supplied with samples, free to twist as they like, and contenders will be judged upon the crowd's inbuilt taste meters. Make sure yours is switched on! Also playing live will be The Evil Residents aka U Turn (2005 Scottish DMC Champ), MCs Madhat, Riddlah and Dandy, with Nasty P, Babes and Gino on support. If you can't stand the heat of battle, through the back everything cools down for house-friendly Baltimore stylings. If you're thinking, "Damn it, I need to be in this competition!" email soulbiscuits@yahoo.co.uk with your name, equipment and contact number. Good luck! [Alex Burden]