We thought we’d put together our list of bands and artists
to keep an eye out for this year. In the following review if you see an artists
name in bold then just click on it to bring up a track (mostly via youtube) for
you to check out.
We’ll kick off with everyone’s tip for this year, Palma Violets, signed to Rough Trade
records, they released a well received single and recently had some good
exposure via an appearance on Jools Holland, & are expected for big things
in 2013. Also signed to Rough Trade & worth checking out are another guitar
based band called The Family Rain.
Keeping with the guitar bands, and hailing from Akron, Ohio in the States – the
same hometown as the Black Keys (and not dissimilar to the Black Keys in style)
come The Heights Band.
Canada has recently had quite a few bands that we have been
hearing of and can recommend you take a listen to. These include July Talk who are another bluesy rock band
but with a joint male/female vocal. Theres an interesting indie pop band called Royal Canoe who are worth a look and also Mac Demarco who delivers quirky guitars and dry vocals. Stepping thing up a
gear are Metz who are signed to the
legendary Sub-Pop label and deliver fast heavy garage grunge. Lastly from our
Canadian recommendations, and the complete opposite of Metz are the Barr Brothers – an experimental folk
band with an outstanding debut album. Keeping with the ever popular folk scene
are a Cornish based band called Brother& Bones, who have been compared with Mumford & Sons (who quite
frankly disappointed us with their 2nd album) & have just released their 2nd
EP. And then there’s Mt Wolf who
describe their music as dream folk & are another band to keep an eye out
for.
Another genre that has been growing from strength to
strength over the last few years is Synthpop, with a whole spate of bands
coming through at the moment. Bastille
and Chvrches seem to be the main
two that are being touted for big things in 2013. Other synthpop artists we can
recommend are Liverpool based Dan Croll
and from across the pond is Los Angeles based Sir Sly. Another duo (also from the States) but on the slightly
darker side of electropop who are worth a listen is MyPet.
I was blown away in 2012 by Brittany Howard from Alabama
Shakes there is something about her voice that has real soul in it, for 2013 we
would like to highlight two artists we have recently heard of who have
something special about them vocally. First up is Neighbourhood – a band from California who have released an EP
called “I’m Sorry”, and their singer is a little reminiscent of Amy Winehouse.
Also is Laura Mvula who has been
tipped for big things by the BBC & Guardian music polls amongst others and
has also been shortlisted for the BRITS critics award.
Following on from one of the best all female bands of 2012,
Savages, it seems back here on the Manchester music scene there are three
female (or female fronted) artists who are looking to make a name for
themselves in 2013, Pins are dark
female pop, whilst Findlay (who we
have previously featured on Listen Up Manchester) has a more female garage punk
sound to her, and finally the Louche
who are more down the lines of shoegazing indie. All three are worth checking
out. Not too far away from Manchester (down in Stoke) are one of our favourite
unsigned acts we have heard – psychedellic rock band Psyence, if you enjoyed the debut album from Toy in 2012, be sure
to check out these guys. Also not too far away up in Leeds it seems that the
punk scene is alive and well with Eagulls
recently releasing a new EP and old school high energy punk from Nervous Twitch (also worth noting their
guitarist Jay Churchley’s solo project of lo-fi pop Songs in the Key of Jay).
Heres one that’s hard to pigeonhole, a blend of soul, funk
& hiphop with falsetto vocals, but with the pedigree backing of Damon
Alburn (I believe he plays bass on the forthcoming album) – Child of Lov has been compared to the
likes of Gnarls Barkley and Prince. Another band that have had praise from some
of the rock hierarchy (Paul Weller & Jeff Beck) are The Strypes an Irish band who are clearly influenced by old rhythm
& blues & Rock & Roll. But taking Rock & Roll right back to its
roots is the increadible J D McPherson
who delivers one hell of an authentic vintage rock & roll style performance
in his work. More 60’s inspired jangly guitar indie music (think the Stones if
they were born and raised on the west coast of America) are the Allah-Las. More 60’s style jangly indie
are Belfast’s Sea Pinks who released
their debut album ‘Freak Waves’ in 2012. Other more up to date indie guitar
bands worth a look are London’s Cheatehs
who have that early 90’s vibe and Wolverhampton’s The Lines who seem to be making a big name for themselves in the
Midlands & have similar sound to the Courteeners. If however, you are more
into the likes of Vampire Weekend and Two Door Cinema Club, then the next big
band on you radar should be Peace a
new four piece (or should that be four peace) from Birmingham. Some good indie
pop from further afield worth checking out are Reptile Youth from Denmark and SanCisco all the way from Australia.
Next up is a duo from York called …and the Hangnails who deliver a heavy blues sound with fuzzy
guitars and punk vocals. If you are into the blues then look no further than Gary Clark Jr – one of the best blues
guitarists out there right now, from Austin, Texas (a hotbed for musical talent
& home to the SXSW music festival). He’s been around for a few years now
& hopefully 2013 will be the year he makes a big name for himself over
here! On a completely different note & also from the States is a new
industrial rock band described as Nine Inch Nails with the energy of the Foo
Fighters – Free Medicine.
To round things up we have a trio of great UK singer/songwriters all very different from one another, but all equally deserving of your attention! First up we have Buckingham boy Nikki Murray – who releases his debut album soon and his first single I’m Coming Back has been doing well across Europe and will be followed up with the infectious She’s Electric. Next up is Sean Taylor from Kilburn, who (the legendary) Bob Harris has described as an ''absolutely superb guitarist ... reminiscent of John Martyn”. Finally we have the beautiful and melancholic Keaton Henson who’s debut album I would recommend you all to listen to. Keaton is currently about to embark on an already sold out tour playing in museums up and down the country.
To round things up we have a trio of great UK singer/songwriters all very different from one another, but all equally deserving of your attention! First up we have Buckingham boy Nikki Murray – who releases his debut album soon and his first single I’m Coming Back has been doing well across Europe and will be followed up with the infectious She’s Electric. Next up is Sean Taylor from Kilburn, who (the legendary) Bob Harris has described as an ''absolutely superb guitarist ... reminiscent of John Martyn”. Finally we have the beautiful and melancholic Keaton Henson who’s debut album I would recommend you all to listen to. Keaton is currently about to embark on an already sold out tour playing in museums up and down the country.
So it may be quite a long list, and we hope you discover
some new artists from it to get excited about, but it is testament to a
potentially cracking year ahead in music of all genres. Roll on 2013! For as
many of these bands as possible (not all are on there) I have put together a
Spotify Playlist for you all to listen to – click here for the link: 2013 New Artists Playlist
Great information on these artists. I had never thought of checking blogs to find new music. Thanks for helping me create my new playlist.
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