Look, we’ve all been there, gone to a festival and forgotten that amazing band we saw half cut. Well then, let the team over at Festival Baby do the hard work for you. They’ve done a special round-up just for us picking out their five favourite acts of the year, and predicted why they’re gonna be big in 2016.
If they are wrong when you check this list again next year, they have promised us they will flush their heads down the loo. The nearest one is just round the corner at Starbucks. Well if you say so guys…picks below:
1. LANY
What the hell does LANY mean, you ask? Well, according to Paul Klein (one third, alongside Les Priest and Jake goss), it represents a span across the US from L.A to New York – hence, LA-NY. What the hell do LANY do, you ask (again – chill out)? Well, they make dreamy, R&B-influenced pop music that doesn’t really sound like anybody else out there. Fresh off spots at Lollapalooza and Slossfest, they were slated to play Reading and Leeds this year, but pulled out at the last minute, which is obviously really rubbish.
2. Shakka
You’re not likely to find an act more respected across so many scenes as Shakka – he even gave a talk at Tate Britain about ‘art’, whatever that is. Besides all this recognition, he’s not yet hit the big-time – although we’re sure that the bright lights are just around the corner. He performed at Brownstock and Wireless this year, and his bookings can only increase next year once everyone takes notice. If you’re into urban music with a unique and tuneful twist, then Shakka should be on your radar – if he’s not, then you need a new one. Halfords do good deals on them, FYI.
3. High Hazels
We first discovered High Hazels recently in famous Sheffield venue, The Leadmill, during Tramlines festival. The band – who hail from a suburb of the city – are four school friends who bonded over a shared love of music. They have drawn comparisons with fellow Steel City band Arctic Monkeys (mainly by us) but have a distinctive sound of their own. They already have an album behind them and a promising future ahead, with sharp melodies and a strong following, much in evidence during their well-received Tramlines performance.
4. Pretty Vicious
The Welsh quartet have been making much headway over the past year and were a big success on Glastonbury’s BBC Introducing Stage. Fast, furious and nothing to do with Vin Diesel, the quartet from Merthyr-Tydfil are likely to graduate to a bigger stage at next year’s Glasto and we predict they’ll be racking up headline slots around the country’s best venues by, erm, the rack-full.
5. Júníus Meyvant
Unnar Gísli Sigurmundsson made a very good decision in adopting the stage name Júníus Meyvant, as he’s been garnering quite the following in Europe and across the pond, with heavy airplay on Seattle’s KEXP station gaining him much attention. Think Damian Rice with bells, or, more specifically, strings, and lots of them. Unlike many a singer-songwriter who goes down the big band, high production route, Meyvant’s output is good, extremely good. Already a star in his native Iceland, it would be a crime if his work didn’t become more popular over here in the next year or so.
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