Copyleft, Forest Café, Edinburgh, 9 Feb

Copyleft started a few years ago in Aberdeen before moving down to Glasgow looking for the scene and public they deserved. They are now a full-time band; original members Tickle and Brad have joined forces with Bundy (bass), Bartek (drums) and Justin (percussions) to bring you a mix of hip-hop/rock/dub tunes based on anti-establishment wake-up calls to a better lifestyle. Inspired by the world's news or his own adventurous life, Tickle's lyrics convey his anger against a system in which inequality has become an everyday issue, where corporations rule, and the music industry is conducted by money rather than talent. On a mission to "tell it like it isn't" and on the lookout for truth, justice and the un-American way, his rapping is fast, witty and engaged (sometimes so fast you've got to hold onto your pint not to be blown away). Tickle manages to match up the humour of his puns with his clearly revolutionary ways. All this is backed with a steady bassline coming more from dub than rock, teamed with a punk on the drums and a guitarist finding his way through all the guitar pedals to make it sound extraordinary. Copyleft is definitely out there to be looked for. [Cedric Thierry-Mieg]