The final part of Little Indie's longlist of emerging artists who we think will be worth taking a gamble on in 2018, as well as a few who 'hatched' awhile ago but are now ready - we think - to break free.
See Part One here
See Part Two here
Our panel is made up of music writers, promoters, managers, agents, gig photographers.
ALAN WELLS
ALISON MACK
BRADEN FLETCHER
BRANDON WRIGHT
DAVE BEECH
ELLIE WARD
IZZY B
JANE DAVIES
JOHN LITHGOW
KELLY MUNRO
LEAH RAYMOND
LINN BRANSON
MIKE JONNS (THIS FEELING)
RICHARD BRABIN
RICHARD COBB
RICHARD O'HAGAN
SAM GEARY
STEVE WILLCOX
2018 Ones To Watch Part 3
TAYÁ
19-year-old R&B singer Taylor Fowlis from Liverpool was discovered at 13. Now signed to Warner/Atlantic, she released her self-titled debut EP in September and headlined her first (sell-out) gig in London the following month. (Sam Geary)
TEN TONNES
Ethan Barnett, 21-year-old Hertford indie singer-songwriter, signed to Warners, released his Hugo White (The Maccabees)-produced ‘Born To Lose’ EP, and is lined up for The Great Escape in 2018. (Alison Mack)
THE ASSIST
October saw the release of the Walsall Britrockers single 'Give It To Me' on This Feeling's new record label, and saw Radio X's Gordon Smart bestowing the love. (Ellie Ward)
THE BLINDERS
Formerly from Doncaster, now Manchester-based, possibly one of the top five bands to emerge over the last year. Signed in 2017 to new Liverpool-based label Modern Sky UK, The Blinders are set to be bloody massive. (Linn Branson)
THE BROCKLEBANK
Little Indie introduced the indie pop-rock teens from South Wales back in March, before releasing their 'Criminals' EP. Early days with a lot to offer. (Linn Branson)
THE CARESS
South East London alt-pop three-piece comprising of brothers Tom, Ben and Sam Easton. Visceral and melodic, with a quintessentially British charm, highlighted on debut single ‘Why Don’t We Take A Walk By The Sea?’. Signed to Fierce Panda for debut EP 'You Say I Kiss Like A Girl' released in September. (Linn Branson)
THE CHEAP THRILLS
This synthpop outfit finally came into their own in 2017 after a few years in the wilderness anthem follow-up single to EP 'Glare' (released through Eighties Vinyl Records back in January) could be what it takes to set the Liverpool four-piece onto bigger things, with chorus chants and explosive guitars. (Kelly Munro)
THE CLAREMONTS
Arriving in 2016 with first offering 'You're Not There', emerging Manchester indie rock quartet The Claremonts followed their jangle-driven summer 2017 single, ‘(I Don’t Wanna) Talk to You Tonight’, with ‘This Is Your Life’ released in October. (Sam Geary)
http://littleindieblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/getting-to-know-claremonts.html
THE GALLERYS
Influenced by 70s/80s rock 'n' roll, the young Kent trio starting to make waves opening for The Rifles, The Sherlocks and Louis Berry. Released debut EP ‘It’s Up To You’ in 2017. (Leah Raymond)
https://m.facebook.com/TheGallerysUK/
The K's
THE K's
The four-piece indie band from Newton-le-Willows re-emerged in 2017 with 'Sarajevo' in July. Their wiry guitar and bombastic drum sound with the scathingly raw vocals of Jamie Boyle, brought them fans both live and on record. (Sam Geary)
THE NINTH WAVE
The Glaswegian band released their debut EP, ‘Reformation’, a melancholic blend of enthralling indie rock and glistening gothic synths in 2017, which augurs well for 2018. (Sam Geary)
THE PALE WHITE
First catching Little Indie's attention in 2016 with their 'Second Place' single, the Newcastle trio released a monster of a track in 'Downer' this summer, followed by their self-titled EP which came out in September. Big alt-rock riffs and catchy, beaty choruses. (Linn Branson)
THE RPMs
Brighton band The RPMs expanded their line-up in 2017, adding to their bolder, edgier sound. They followed April's 'Oh My God, with ‘Things I Forgot To Do’, written by vocalist Jack Valero, and from their June released EP 'Agents Of Change', and closed out on 'Your Ghost'. (Steve Willcox)
THE SHIMMER BAND
Regarded as a must see live act, with frontman Tom Newman going big on vocals, superb bassline, soaring melodies, euphoric guitars and radio-friendly sound - BBC 6 Music's Steve Lamacq is a fan - Bristol's psych-rockers headlined This Feeling’s Alive Tour in 2017. (Steve Willcox)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IpXVjqxzUnQ
THE SLINGERS
We were hooked in October with these Australian alt-rockers and their five-minute-plus 'This Time', the follow-up to their debut June released EP, 'Fake Fruit'. Like The War On Drugs meets an Americana-like The Black Keys to something homeboys DMA'S could turn out. (Linn Branson)
THE SLUMDOGS
Blackpool/Leeds punk four-piece released the intense 'Nightmare', produced by Bobby Bentham from Strange Bones, in second half of 2017. Gritty, raw live energy, abrasive vocals and shredding guitars. (Izzy B)
The Sulks
THE SULKS
Swindon four-piece fusing dramatic harmonised vocal layers with energy driven guitars. Debut EP 'Silence Is Only The Start', produced by Gordon Raphael (The Strokes, Damon Albarn, The Libertines) coming in 2018. (Sam Geary)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=73&v=cZXP8c4eODo
THE VAN T'S
Winner of Little Indie's Roundtable in October with 'Bittersweet', the Glasgow quartet furthered their garage-surf-rock sound, led by twin sisters Chloe and Hannah Van Thompson’s honey-oozing harmonising vocals. (Ellie Ward)
http://littleindieblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/watch-van-ts-share-visuals-for-single.html?m=1
THE VELVET HANDS
The now London-based Cornish garage rockers - with comparisons to the early Stones - packed a punky punch on their three 2017 singles. Their debut album, 'The Party's Over', is due for release in Spring 2018. This Feeling tour in February. (Mike Jonns)
THE WHOLLS
Signed to Sony and destined for the main stages at some point. The hotly-tipped Bedford four fill a set with a barrel-load of energy, and passionately delivered lyrics over grungy guitars and thunderous drums. Pure rock 'n' roll. (Alan Wells)
THYLA
Brighton's four-piece released ‘Tell Each Other Lies’ in November, winning the approval of Huw Stephens. Driving rhythms and lilting melodies with Millie Duthie's gauzy vocals soaring over fuzzed out retro-alt-rock-pop. (Alison Mack)
https://m.soundcloud.com/thyla_music
TOM GRENNAN
The 21-year-old, Bedford-raised, now London-based pop-soul singer-songwriter with raw, emotive vocals. Released debut single, 'Something in the Water', in 2016, and honed craft over course of 2017. Debut album, 'Lighting Matches', out in March. (Ellie Ward)
https://m.facebook.com/TomGrennanMusic/
TOM MOUSE SMITH
13-year-old engaging singer/songwriter from Houghton-le-Spring, Tyne & Wear, who first came to prominence aged 10 when he performed onstage with Catfish and The Bottlemen. Youngest ever artist at The Great Escape, Festival No 6, Liverpool Sound City and Kendal Calling, he has so far released one EP. His song 'I’ve Got Scars' was written about his life limiting condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. (Richard Cobb)
TOUTS
Rising Irish punk teen band from Derry. With two EPs under their belt, Touts have supported the likes of Kasabian & Liam Gallagher and have a UK tour coming up in February before hitting up Texas in March at SXSW. (Jane Davies)
TREEBOY & ARC
Sharp, fierce and straight to the point in 122 seconds, Leeds post-punks Treeboy & Arc kicked out a winner with 'White', the second single from the four-piece following 'Merge'. Their debut EP ‘Not Yet’ came out in December. (Ellie Ward)
http://littleindieblogs.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/track-of-day-treeboy-arc-not-yet.html
TUSK
The Nottingham alt-rock five-piece made their debut in November with 'Matter of Time'. A lot of the right ingredients here, if they can build on that in 2018. (Izzy B)
http://littleindieblogs.blogspot.com/2017/09/track-of-day-tusk-matter-of-time.html
Tusk
VAGABON
New York-based Lætitia Tamko - the self-described ‘weird black girl’ of the DIY indie scene -unveiled her debut album, 'Infinite Worlds' in February. Tamko’s songs are embedded with her own story and personal history: growing up in Cameroon, her family’s move to New York and adjusting to culture shock. (Alison Mack)
VIOLET
We were feeling the debut release from this Midlands five-piece in 2017. 90s grunge-Britpop with woozy guitars and lots of appeal. (Ellie Ward)
http://littleindieblogs.blogspot.com/2017/09/track-of-day-violet-feel.html
VIOLET YOUTH
The 'dark melancholic ambience' of Blackburn four-piece Violet Youth was unleashed in September with their 'Primary Nature' debut EP, on Modern Sky UK. They also played in China and got Radio One airplay. Kicking off 2018 at Jimmy's in Manchester on January 23. (Richard Cobb)
VISTAS
Edinburgh indie-poppers Vistas released 'Strong Swimmer' in May, followed by ‘Retrospect’. The latter - bigged up by Huw Stephens - a soaring anthem with glossy synth hooks, showed them to be growing in stature with each new release. (Ellie Ward)
WE ARE PARKAS
Bath indie rock four-piece released their debut 'We Are The Gods' EP of big riffs and soaring melodies, in March. New single ‘Penny Drop’ ended a good year - to be bettered no doubt in 2018. (Alan Wells)
https://soundcloud.com/weoareoparkas/penny-drop
WULFMAN FURY
Sheffield-based garage-rockers made their October debut with single 'Nightsweats', followed by 'Draw The Line'. With a third release in the works now and a full-length later in year, plus a This Feeling Big In 2018 show in January, these are looking like ones to really watch go. (Linn Branson)
XAMVOLO
London-based vocalist, who fuses jazz and RnB with progressive pop. His recent singles 'Feels Good' and 'Old Soul' reflect his jazz-influenced vocal, laced with percussion and brass. (Alison Mack)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mfbHvm3OZSQ
Yaeji
YAEJI
BBC Music Sound of 2018 longlist nominee, Kathy Yaeji Lee, New York-born, South Korean rapper and DJ, has racked up 4,000,000+ views on YouTube with her single 'Drink I’m Sippin On', half-rapped and half-sung in either English or Korean. (Sam Geary)
https://m.facebook.com/kraejiyaeji/
YELLOW DAYS
Eighteen-year-old George van den Broek released debut album 'Is Everything Okay In Your World' in October. Lo-fi, neo-soul coupled with ragged, blues-esque vocals. (Alison Mack)
https://soundcloud.com/yellow-days
YONAKA
Brighton four-piece, whose music takes in rock, hip-hop and pop, backed up with some energetic live shows. The band signed to Atlantic Records with their debut EP 'Heavy' released in October 2017. (Ellie Ward)
YUNGBLUD
19-year-old Doncaster-based Dominic Harrison started 2017 with a striking debut, 'King Charles', and ended it with 'Tin Pan Boy'. In between, he won praise and fans at festival appearances with his catchy yet overtly sharp lyrics delivered with intensity, with break-beats and driving guitar. Starts 2018 with January/February shows. (Jane Davies)
YXNG BANE
BBC Music Sound of 2018 longlist nominee, the London rapper from the East End gained attention through a remix of Ed Sheeran’s 'Shape of You', as well as featuring on Yungen’s track, 'Bestie', and breaking into the UK Top 40 with his own debut single 'Rihanna', whose video has had over 7 million views. (Sam Geary)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1ruitsqQ34c
ZOZO - NONO
The Leeds post-punk quintet released their EP ‘A Bitter Gourd’ in November, produced by Hookworms’ MJ, with songs on "consumerism, isolation, memory and violence.” (Sam Geary)
https://m.facebook.com/zozoband
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