MONGREL is a fitting name for a group made up of a mix of musicians better known for their work with other bands. With their outspoken political message and fusion style, they are never going to sit quietly on a cushion like a carefully-bred pedigree.

Mongrel are made up of Jon McClure and Joe Moskow, of Reverend And The Makers; Drew McConnell, of Babyshambles; MC and political activist Lowkey; Matt Helders, of Arctic Monkeys; and the groups’ former bassist Andy Nicholson, with Jagz Kooner as their producer.

“It’s hard getting everyone together because we’re all in other bands and stuff,” says the outspoken Jon McClure. “It’s a refreshing change to the usual boring Caucasian rock music we’re bombarded with.”

The vague plans to form a dub/hip-hop project in the back of his mind crystallised on hearing Lowkey’s mixtape.

“I’ve never heard anyone say the things he’s saying so articulately,” says McClure. “I saw him performing in Hyde Park not so long ago, and all the young Asian, Muslim kids were there, loving it. He’s like their Elvis, so I thought ‘Let’s have it.’ I got a great vibe coming from him.”

Although bands have tried to fuse guitars and rap together before, McClure insists a new standard of quality is being set by Mongrel, who play Liverpool’s Alma de Cuba next month, as part of the Sound City festival.

“It’s very easy to fuse music together, but the majority of people are unwilling to do it, because they won’t get rich doing it,” he explains.

“When Klaxons formed, they did an interview where they said, ‘We were thinking long and hard about what style of music hadn’t been reinvented, and then decided upon rave.’ They sound like marketing executives at a mobile phone company.

“I wanted to rectify the fact that the narrative of music in this country omits anyone that isn’t a white man.”

The political agenda in modern music is being set by British MCs, he adds.

“They’ve been unafraid to tackle issues that affect us all. You can’t say that about guitar bands who write songs about going out, getting drunk, meeting girls and getting kicked about by bouncers.”

* MONGREL play Alma de Cuba, as part of the Sound City festival, on May 20.