In 1976 it was Devo and Heart. 1986 brought us Sade and the Beastie Boys and 1996 saw the emergence of the Fugees. That eclectic list illustrates the difficulty of pinpointing the artists that will explode onto the music scene in the future, but 2006 looks promising.

To jumpstart your 2006 musical collection, Intermission predicts the artists whose names may seem foreign today, but will be ubiquitous by this time next year.

Steel Train

Hailed by critics as the next Crosby, Still, Nash and Young, Steel Train fuse folk, rock, funk and country into a refreshing conglomeration of styles without going over the top. As intense as CSNY were about their protest songs, Steel Train is as laid-back about their harmonies. You are more likely to see the five band members hot boxing than marching, so while the comparison to CSNY is understandable, it sounds like Steel Train is having more fun.

Originally from the New York/New Jersey area, Steel Train’s influences reflect their extensive West Coast travels. Their new CD “Twilight Tales From the Prairies of the Sun” would be the perfect soundtrack for a road trip to Santa Cruz.

The group members are notorious for playing anywhere at anytime, and their devotion to the music will keep jam-bands around for a long time to come.

Download immediately: “Road Song,” “Tickle Your Toes” and “Gypsy Waves”

Imogen Heap

Best known in the United States as half of Frou Frou, whose song “Let Go” was popularized in the movie “Garden State,” Imogen Heap began her career as a solo artist in England. Her current release, “Speak for Yourself,” proves that Heap can thrive on her own.

“SFY” is an inventive mix of electronica, pop and earnest singer-songwriter lyrics (I’m using the electronica adjective as a compliment here). It’s a triumph of technology and vision that prevent the synthesizers from turning the record into something that belongs at a rave.

Saying her music is pop is misleading, because there is little on “SFY” that is light and fluffy. Heap knows how to layer intensity into her vocals, and the musical arrangements are complex.

Out of all the artists on the list, Heap is most likely to be everywhere tomorrow. Her songs have been featured on “The O.C.” and creator, Josh Schwartz, praises Heap whenever he can. Unlike much of “The O.C.’s” hype, Heap’s is well-deserved.

Download immediately: “Loose Ends,” “Hide and Seek” and “Goodnight and Go”

Schoolyard Heroes

The least known out of the three picks, Schoolyard Heroes belongs in its own musical category. As they are from Seattle, if you listen closely you will hear a little Nirvana, a bit of Soundgarden, a splash of Heart and . . . Rob Zombie?

Schoolyard Heroes’ subject matter is a bizarre mix of horror, zombies, werewolves, robots and skeleton armies. Yet there is nothing ghastly about their latest CD, “Fantastic Wounds.” The music is tight and driving. The biting guitar riffs and drums are relentless, and lead singer Ryann Donnelly’s vocals are forceful.

With song titles like “Serial Killers Know How to Party,” “Centaur: Half-Man Half-Motorcycle” and “The Girl Who Was Born Without a Face,” Schoolyard Heroes is not afraid of the creepy. They just finished touring with Vendetta Red and Pretty Girls Make Graves and will be playing shows mostly in Washington for the next few months. Hopefully they will make their way down to the Bay Area soon.

This is not a band you will easily forget, which is why they are Intermission’s dark horse pick for 2006.

Download Now: “They Live” and “The Girl Who Was Born Without a Face”