Following its sell out debut in 2008, December will see the return of The Barbican’s playfully dark celebration of all things festive (and officially ltd ’s favouritest Yuletide knees up), Twisted Christmas.

Following on from their stunning performance with the London Symphony Orchestra in October, Grizzly Bear have announced a return to the UK in March 2010.

Having sold-out both the Luminaire and a second London date at the Social in just a few hours, Fionn Regan has just announced news of a much bigger show in the capital next year.

Essex four-piece, London Black Market, will stage the official release of their second single, ‘The Hardest Stone To Throw’, on Fiction Records at The Queen Of Hoxton on 7 December.

ltd checks out the finest nights the city has to offer – from dance to glam to grime to just about any genre you can think of, so long as it gets us moving

There’s a back-to-basics, less-is-more aesthetic at work this edition, in keeping with belt-tightening ethos of the times.

The music that’s been bouncing around the ltd office lately…

As you may have guessed from the title, this Kent based four piece don’t hold back on the drama. With epic, swirling choruses and the type of slick, brooding production that will give White Lies a run for their money in 2010 these guys mean business. And having spent no less than 18 months on their first EP with a who’s who of knob twiddlers that boasts Doves, Massive Attack and Radiohead collaborators among its ranks, success looks about as assured as the dress code (predictably: all black). ltd caught up with front man, Alastair Blackwood…

BEAK> may not be big, but they are clever. ltd speaks to the thinking man’s indie hipsters

James Sherry is what you might call a music industry journeyman. Having started out as an office boy at Metal Hammer in the early nineties, he soon moved into music journalism and from there has done, well, quite a lot really. Stints in A&R and various aspects of music promotion led him to setting up his own PR company, Division, in 2006. Specialising from the outset in heavy rock, punk and metal, it was one of the first PR companies to have a dedicated online wing, and with artists like Gallows, Placebo and Enter Shikari on its roster, Division now stands as one of the hottest names in music PR. Despite these days having his finger wedged firmly in one or two rather impressive pies, Sherry told ltd that at the end of the day, it’s all still about the music. Right on…

'stripped, punk sound'

'edgy, upbeat songs'

Tactical Thinking may be based in three cities, and they might be working on a dozen projects each, but they look like the country’s most exciting hip-hop collective right now. Charlotte Richardson Andrews talks to Deadline

With a debut album due for release in February and killer new single, ‘Mowgli’s Road’ out later this month, are most people’s safe bet to knock Florence Welch on her delightfully off-beat arse in 2010 and reign supreme in the battle for the goth femme pop throne. And Welsh born 24 year old Marina Diamandis is no stranger to a scrap either. She’s already dissed Lily Allen on her blog and swung punches at annoying punters at gigs. Yes, this girl’s got spunk. And, oh yeah, some pretty bloody good songs too. Little Boots, La Roux et al beware. There’s a new queen in town. We caught up with her on a tour bus headed to Brighton…

Nocturnal cycling and kitchen refuse drafted into the service of their songs... Safe to say Lulu and the Lampshades are not making a determined bid for the American charts. We like ‘em all the better for it.

John Lydon. Enough said. Michael Wylie-Harris talks to the man who changed music forever