Seattle DJs predict the up-and-coming

A few radio hosts who champion local bands were asked for their favorite bets to make it big.

John Richards, KEXP: Richards, who plays local acts on his 6-to-10 morning show, picks the Blakes, whom he co-manages; the Blue Scholars; and Cave Singers.

Said Richards via e-mail: "Blue Scholars have a chance — the hip-hop environment is changing, and their message is perfect timing. The Cave Singers are just GREAT, and with Matador behind them, who knows!"

DJ B-Mello and DJ Hyphen, KUBE: Seattle hip-hop station KUBE 93.3 has been playing more local artists than ever, and these two station DJs like this new Seattle wave.

B-Mello e-mailed his might-make-it-big list:

• Dyme Def

• Fatal Lucciauno

• Blue Scholars

B-Mello also spins on KEXP's "Street Sounds" Sunday night hip-hop show, where Fatal Lucciauno "really impressed me with his freestyle a few weeks ago."

Fatal's crazy flow can be heard at myspace.com/kexpstreetsounds.

Hyphen's take, also via e-mail: "I think there are a bunch of artists who have a chance to achieve success outside of the NW... Some of the artists that could make some national noise are: Blue Scholars, Gabriel Teodros, Common Market, D. Black, Dyme Def, Macklemore, Grynch, Vitamin D, Boom Bap Project, Unexpected Arrival, Ricky Pharoe and Grieves."

Chris Travis, KNDD The End: Travis hosts KNDD 107.7's "Young & Restless" local show on Sunday nights (7-9 p.m.), and went with these four Seattle bands:

• Schoolyard Heroes — "I think with the release of their new full-length in August, it will elevate them to a new level nationally."

• Patient Patient — "They're all incredible musicians, and their performance has an urgency that is hard to experience from just listening to the recordings. I think when their new record drops in the fall, it will blow people away."

• Kay Kay & His Weathered Underground — "Completely unique from anything going on right now, and brings to mind a 'lounge' feel ... I always get calls about this band when I play them."

• Speaker Speaker — "This band has been on the 'bubble' for a little while now, and I think their songs are too infectious to live too under the radar for too long."

Jolene, KISW: The single-named hostess of KISW 99.9's "Loud and Local" show on Sunday nights (11 p.m.-midnight) is big on these five hard-rockers:

• Point One

• Fall From Grace

• Surface Tension

• Mos Generator

• Zero Down

— Tom Scanlon