Following our very awesome Best Tracks of 2014 list, we wanted to provide you with some of our Ones To Watch for next year. These are bands (and artists) we think will do some serious good stuff in ’15. Enjoy! Comment! Share! Let us know your own thoughts too!
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GUEST PICKS
Jericho Keys (BBC Introducing in York and North Yorkshire)
The artist: Hello Operator
The link: https://www.facebook.com/hellooperatorband
Why: With plays on BBC Radio 1 & BBC 6 Music. A slot on the Leeds & Reading Introducing stage for a band who only brought out their first song in March. It’s apparent with the backing of local and national radio. The world could be at their feet.
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Jen Walker (Teenage Cancer Trust) picks:
The artist: Echosmith
The link: https://www.facebook.com/Echosmith
Why: I seem to tip them every year!
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Tim Hornsby (Booker and Founder at Fibbers, York) picks:
The artist: Slaves
The link: https://www.facebook.com/slaves
Why: Bloody brilliant live. Sweaty, witty, loud and great material. One of my favourite shows of 2014.
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Harry Johns (Brawlers) picks:
The band: Dead Harts
The link: https://www.facebook.com/deadharts
Why: They’ve been around for a while but this year was theirs for the taking considering their record ‘Cult For The Haggard Youth’ was released and was fucking rad. Plus they’ll drink you under the table no questions asked.
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Simon Gallacher (tour manager, letlive.) picks:
The band: Crooks
The link: https://www.facebook.com/CROOKS.UK
Why: Imagine Balance and Composure, Rise Against with American Football, and open the door to Crooks. Live shows splitting at the seams with passion and rawness, yet very truthfully conveyed. 2015 is the year for them.
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Giles Moorhouse (Armalyte Industries) picks:
The band: 3Teeth
The link: https://www.facebook.com/3Teeth
Making Coldwave hot once more, this Hollywood act have brought the past crashing into the new Millennium with a bang. With nods to classic Ministry, KMFDM and Concrete Lung and some ultra smart media-savvy, the future’s toothpaste bright for 3Teeth.
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Bobby Bloomfield [Does It Offend You. Yeah?] picks:
The band: Vienna Ditto
The link: https://www.facebook.com/viennaditto
Why: “I love them so much they let me direct their video! If there’s any justice in the world they will breakthrough next year!”
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TEAM PICKS
Dom Smith (editor) picks:
The band: King 810
The link: https://www.facebook.com/KING810FLINT
Why: Slipknot love ’em. The world loves ’em. Winning formula, innit? Pure anger.
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Sep Gohardani (writer) picks:
The band: July Talk
The link: https://www.facebook.com/julytalk
Why: This year’s revelation and hopefully next year’s stars, Canadian rockers July Talk blend memorable riffs with the interesting and entirely successful vocal dynamics between the gravelly, Waits-esque voice of frontman Peter Dreimanis and the dulcet tones of co-vocalist Leah Fay.”
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Francesca Fortunato (writer) picks:
The band: State Champs
The link: https://www.facebook.com/statechampsny
Why: One of the bands at the helm of the pop punk revival. These guys are going to do big things.
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Jay Sillence (video production) picks:
The band: Richard Lomax & The Tontine
The link: https://www.facebook.com/lomaxmusic
Why: They have a very original sound. Truly different.
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Mike Leigh Cooper (video production)
The band: Petrol Girls
The link: https://www.facebook.com/Petrolgirls
Why: They’re loud, ruckus and hardcore. I love them.
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Steve Nash (writer) picks:
The band: Gnarwolves
The link: https://www.facebook.com/Gnarwolves
Why: Really passionate, heavy stuff.
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Max Watt (writer) picks:
The band: The Bastard Sons
The link: https://www.facebook.com/thebastardsonsuk
Why: Because they are awesome. Simple as that.
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Faye Lewis (writer) picks
The band: Samoans
The link: https://www.facebook.com/samoans
Why: Technically they’ve been billed as ones to watch since they hit up Reading main stage in 2012 but the world at large wasn’t really introduced to Samoans until this year with the release of long player ‘Rescue’. Post-rock fans will delight in the Oceansize / This Will Destroy You moments and this is one band sure to go from strength to strength in 2015 and beyond.
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Louisa Kouzapas (writer) picks
The band: Sumo Cyco
The link: https://www.facebook.com/sumocyco
Why: It’s easy to describe them as the lovechild of No Doubt and Skindred yet they have a heavy dose of theatricality which sets them in a league of their own – full-pelt, danceworthy, catchy-as-hell rock n roll.
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Paul Faller, writer
The band: Young Karin
The link: https://www.facebook.com/youngkarinmusic
Why: This new duo from Reykjavik are already demonstrating that they have what it takes to be a significant addition to the Scandi-pop canon with bittersweet gems like ‘Hearts’.
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OTHERS WE LOVED THIS YEAR…
The band: The Franceens
The link: https://www.facebook.com/TheFranceens
Why: Good fun. Great music. Punk done right.
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The band: Bull
The link: https://www.facebook.com/BullBandYork
Why: Catchy as fuck alt-rock vibes.
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The band: Counting Coins
The link: https://www.facebook.com/CountingCoins
Why: Ska-punk awesomeness. They’re such fun to listen to, and see.
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The artist: Fable (pictured)
The link: https://www.facebook.com/whoisfable
Why: She’s got those eyes, man…and that sound.
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The band: Tom Skelly And The Salty Beards
The link: https://www.facebook.com/tomskellymusic
Why: Because they make intense, beautiful mood music.
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The band: Paris XY
The link: https://www.facebook.com/ParisXy
Why: “Glitchy electronica drenched in darkness. What’s not to love?”
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The band: Roman Remains
The link: https://www.facebook.com/RomanRemains
Why: Leila Moss (The Duke Spirit) is in this band. They’re pretty much the perfect alt-pop-electro combination.
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The band: La Petite Mort
The link: https://www.facebook.com/lapetitemortx
Why: Fuzzy, spaced-out alt-rock for the absolute win.
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The band: Zoax
The link: https://www.facebook.com/zoaxbandofficial
Why: Most mental performers we’ve ever seen. INSANE.
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The band: Avalanche Party
The link: https://www.facebook.com/AvalancheParty
Why: Frenzied rock from t’ North Yorkshire Moors. Insanely cool.
The band: Kagoule
The link: https://www.facebook.com/KagouleUK
Why: Delightfully weird alt-rock from Nottingham. Ace!
