EBBW Vale's Beaufort Theatre hosts a rare bill of pop and rock this weekend. 'Mag7 - Alternative Underground Night' features THE FLOWER KILLERS, WHITE APPLE, SHADEE, and AMORPHA.

TOMORROW'S bill is the first of many monthly, at first, appearances by Mag7, a community-based group affiliated with those promoters of the great and good in the local arts, DepCult.

A spokesman for Mag7 said: "We hope to build this into a weekly Saturday night venue for up-and-coming bands both signed and unsigned from all over Wales and the UK. "We also intend to link this to Depcult Radio and have the bands appearing at the venue to record sessions, do interviews and have their demos or singles played. "Also look out for Depcult nights at The Pop Factory, The Coal Exchange and Clwb Ifor Bach in the coming months."

Saturday's bill has some Gwent/Torfaen bands you should hear:

AMORPHA - a young band based around the Brynmawr/Blaenavon/Blaina areas. They have just recorded a new demo at 24/7 studios in Pontypool and are looking for a small label in Wales to release their particular brand of Grunge/Nu Metal. The band is: Gus Rogers (drums), Baz (bass), Paul (guitar) and Cusack (vocals).

SHADEE - were formed around five years' ago in the Ebbw Vale area, since when they have received interest from Virgin America and home-grown labels.

Their knack of genre-shifting has given them a solid local fan base, which they are trying to expand with gigs in Bristol and the South West of England. At the Beaufort show they will be showcasing a new singer and a new sound. Check out www.shadee.org.uk.

The band is: Chris Long (samples, keyboards and backing vox), Adrian Scott (drums), Dan Moon (vocals) - Damien, Lee and John (guitars and Keyboards).

WHITE APPLE - college-based pop/punk band that won a Wales-wide competition at the end of last year.

Recorded their demo at Loco studios in Usk, and are currently gigging all over Wales. Look out for them supporting Talkshow at the Hilltop Club, Ebbw Vale in April and also look out for dates in TJ's, Newport and in Cardiff.

The band is: Stan (drums), Alex (guitar), Marc (vocals) and Andrew (bass).

THE FLOWER KILLERS - were formed just over two years ago and comprise members from Brynmawr, The Rhondda and Abergavenny.

The band (pictured) released a limited debut single last year through indie label Pressgang which had limited distribution through Universal.

The single was picked up by Plugger/ Promotion's company Red Alert and given much radio play.

The band also appeared on Shotgun Slideshow, had a video filmed by Daffydd Wyn which was picked up by Jez Breaden of MTV. The video then had short rotation on Mtv 2.

The Flower Killers have been recording several new tracks and are currently talking to several indie labels about a national single release. You can catch the band live at The Windmill club, Brixton, on Friday March 22, supporting One Lota featuring members of Joe Strummer's band, The Dublin Castle, London, on Thursday April 4, and the Camden Underworld on Wednesday April 17.

The first Mag7 night in the Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale is on Saturday March 23.