The King Blues Stir it Up @ Dingwells, Camden Town

Combining ska and punk these Hackney formed boys are using music as a tool to protest and shout about what is wrong with the UK today.

Walking across the Camden Bridge a large group of punks congregate, while a group of rude boys try and sell me some grass.

I begin to feel, as I normally do when I cross this bridge that Camden is the place where it is fashionable to be different and eccentric and strange; where people can turn round and say 'Fuck this- I've had enough'.

Round the corner a long queue appears, comprised mainly of alternative rockers.

The sound of soulful ska with the face of rock punk is the attraction tonight.

Dingwells, a cosy venue with maximum capacity at 500, is full and the crowd is buzzing.

The King Blues stroll onto the stage with balaclavas covering their faces and the protest begins as main man Jonny 'Itch' Fox proudly graffiti's 'the King 'Fucking' Blues' on a large white cloth.

The music starts and the masses love it. Crowd surfing, general raucousness and an electric feeling consumes the room.

A scene has been set and with beats such as These Streets are Ours and Taking Over, it is no wonder these men are making a statement.

With right-wing politicians taking over London and a war in Iraq that is still raging, there is a generation of youth that need a band like this to be their voice

Halina Watts

Originating with Itch, The King Blues grew and so did their repertoire.

Comprised of a drummer, two guitarists, a percussionist, and a vocalist who plays the ukulele, this is a musical band.

Humble beginnings saw them performing in undesirable squats to street corners.

Now they embrace the stages of Love Music Hate Racism gigs to Glastonbury and the Academies.

Poetic melodies and working class protest is what this band does.

Come Fi Di Youth is a commanding call to us youngsters.

Itch belts out the words with such urgency that when he sings 'no, no, no' it is an obvious defiance towards anyone that may want to divide the British people.

With right-wing politicians taking over London and a war in Iraq that is still raging, there is a generation of youth that need a band like this to be their voice.

Social freedom, a people's government, and cultural respect is what they sing for.

In the words of Tariq Ali, ''this is rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of this country. A new generation of musicians are challenging war monger politicians and their courtiers (Bono, Geldof etc). I hope those songs prosper''.

They finish with Save the World, Get the Girl, a light, simple tune that delivers a powerful message - I wonder if they will get what they want?