Amy Gravelle (@AmyGravelle) checks out a host of acts about to tour, here’s her recent highlights that will be playing a UK venue near you soon.
Jungle are undeniably one of the most exciting things to break out of the UK music scene in quite some time. So earning themselves a slot on the John Peel Stage at this year’s Glastonbury Festival (27 June) was almost inevitable. At 1pm on Friday the hyped up indie band of the moment took to the stage, grabbing the gathering crowds attention with a commanding rhythm section and added volume levels coming from their well-coiffed backing singers. Tracks such as Busy Earnin’ and Time get the crowd moving, with electro-indie-funk infusions and calculated beats. There’s enough soul and integrity coming from a duo so inventive in sound to prove they’re worth way more than just hype.
On the road: Latitude Festival (19 July), Reading and Leeds Festival (22-24 August), Leeds Metropolitan University (23 October), The Ritz, Manchester (24 October), The Arches, Glasgow (25 October), The Institute, Birmingham (27 October), O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London (30 October), Concorde 2, Brighton (3 November), Anson Rooms, Bristol (4 November)
As a former Bristol University dropout, Sony quickly realised academia’s loss was music’s gain, recently signing 21 year-old George Ezra. His scaled-down bluesy-folk music is already winning over the nation, acting as an alternative to your Sam Smiths and John Newmans. Catching Ezra at Glastonbury on Sunday (29 June) the singer-songwriter charms his audience with tracks such as Blame It On Me and Benjamin Twine. His gravelly anguish feels real and even in his lesser 20-something years the experiences he sings of wash over you with resonance. Cassy’O and Budapest thrust Ezra into the spotlight, proving his Radio 1 hits can be transferred onto the stage with a genuine significance that can stand the test of time. As long as Ezra keeps writing songs like this, he has the potential to be a genuine household name.
On the road: Latitude Festival (19 July), V Festival (16-17 August), Newcastle University (17 October), Queen Margaret Union, Glasgow (18 October), The Ritz, Manchester (20 October), O2 Academy Bristol (21 October), Portsmouth Pyramids (22 October), O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London (24 October),The Institute, Birmingham (25 October), Cardiff University Students Union (26 October)
Speaking of new artists, Wolf Alice are also on the list of emerging indie bands to watch out for. Opening the Barclaycard Theatre stage at British Summer Time in Hyde Park (5 July) the London quartet launched into a set made up of popular tracks taken from their EP, Creature Songs. Tracks such as Blush steal the show, with lead singer Ellie Rowsell dedicating Bros to her Nan who’s apparently watching in the crowd. Mixing angelic vocals with angsty power chords and lustful lyrics keep Wolf Alice exciting and enigmatic enough to hang onto every word. With raw talent and a drive to succeed, they’re sure to continue to climb up and demand attention in the indie-rock ranks.
On the road: Secret Garden Party (24-27 July), Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff (21 August), Reading and Leeds Festival (22-24 August), Bestival (4-7 September)
