John Kennedy (the Xfm DJ, not former President) can see the future.

As a pioneer of new talent, Kennedy sorts the Stones from the Steps, deciding who will get airplay and sessions on his show and has been instrumental in launching the early radio careers of Razorlight, The Kings of Leon and Dizzie Rascal.

Exclusively for yourlocalguardian, the Merton Park resident and all round guru predicts who, and what, we will all be talking about on the music scene in 2009...

"Last year was a great year for new music with all sorts of new bands breaking through from Foals and Glasvegas to The Ting Tings and Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, many of whom got their first ever radio play on X-Posure Xfm back in 2007.

I'm also keen on Bleech from East London, Rogues from Harrow and Wales, Slow Club from Sheffield, Twisted Wheel from Manchester and Telepathe from Brooklyn.

I'm hoping that some of these people will make the charts which I reckon will see a continuation of the success of amazing new British females with a new wave of electro pop tinged people such as Little Boots and La Roux.

Locally this year I'm very excited at the prospect of local heroes Gold Teeth who did a session for me last summer. Their debut single is out in February.

Other locals worth looking out for include Artefacts For Space Travel, Los, and Anison. Hopefully we should have the return of X-Posure originals Jamie T and Good Shoes with new albums in 2009.

Festival wise the boutique event will blossom further as people react against the corporatisation of the established events.”

Having grown up in the area, Kennedy is particularly passionate about supporting local bands and talent. His first gig was the ‘Merton Parkas’ at New Wimbledon Theatre, a concert which made the front page of the local newspaper at the time, due to gig-goers ripping up some of the seats.

“A variety of people have played in the area”, says Kennedy.

“The Beatles and The Rolling Stones played at the Wimbledon Palais. I got John Peel’s book for Christmas and he mentions going to a venue called Hobbit Garden in Wimbledon to see Genesis. I have never heard of the place before, I don’t know if any of your readers have?”

Kennedy urges local residents to support their music venues; “There are a lot of active music lovers in the area and I sometimes think they don’t believe there is anything going on and that they have to look beyond and head into London. The Watershed in Wimbledon has enabled local musicians like Good Shoes and Jamie T to practise on stage and launch their careers.”

Catch John Kennedy’s X-posure show on Xfm, Mon-Thur 10pm-2am. The show celebrates its 10th year anniversary next month.

He hosts a regular night at The Watershed, visit watershedlive.com for details.

Get in touch if you remember the Hobbit Garden, contact kfinburg@london.newsquest.co.uk