As I couldn’t possibly write about each and every single one of them, I decided to just concentrate on some of my favourites, but to give you some idea of the breadth of talent, here is a list of people I haven’t included:
Adele, Amy Winehouse, Badly Drawn Boy, David Gray, Dido, Eliza Doolittle, Ellie Goulding, Emeli Sande, Florence and the Machine, Jamie Cullum, James Blunt, James Morrison, Joss Stone, Norah Jones, Paloma Faith and more recently Tom Odell.
All very talented artists, but this post would go on forever if I wrote about all of them so here is a handful of my personal favourites. Enjoy J
Amy MacDonald: If you are a regular reader of my blog, you may have already realised I
am a big fan of Amy MacDonald, especially if you read my concert review of her
Brighton gig (link below) back in April. I really believe that she is one of the best things
to come of out the British music scene in recent years. Three top 5 albums,
including a number one spot for her 2007 debut, is a strong hit rate and all
three are fantastic. Her albums aren't her only asset though; as I may have
mentioned in my gig review, her live shows are brilliant. Fantastic music mixed
with a charming down to earth attitude and personality makes for a reeally
enjoyable live experience. It's just a shame she is so underrated over here in
the UK.
Ben Howard: Been Howard's stock and popularity seems to have rocketed since the release
of his debut album. After a number of EPs, Howard released 'Every Kingdom' in
2011 and hasn't looked back since. A strong legion of fans has developed
meaning sold out tours and successful festival appearances. I myself am a big
fan. Even though acoustic singer/songwriters are nothing new, Ben Howard brings
catchy and classy songs to the table which people seem to connect with. Even if
you don't think you know any of his songs, he is one of those artists where you
will recognise more than you think. If you haven't already purchased his album
, you won't be disappointed.
Ed Sheeran: When I said above that there is no shortage acoustic singer/songwriters, Ed
Sheeran is a prime example. However it would be wrong to directly compare Ben
Howard and the aforementioned Mr Sheeran. There are similarities granted; both
have had immensely successful debut albums and both are very popular live acts.
However there are differences between the two, and it's this that has helped
make Sheeran so successful. By combining elements of folk and hip hop, Sheeran
managed to give himself a popular sound, proven by the fact that his album +
hit the number spot in the album charts. With songs like 'The A Team',
'Lego House' and 'You Need Me, I Don't Need You', Sheeran has shown a real
talent as both a singer and a songwriter and deserves the plaudits he receives.
It is only one album however, so it will be interesting to see where he
progresses from here.
Frank Turner: It’s funny how things work out. With five albums
out already, you would expect Turner to be a household name. However, even
though he’s got a strong and loyal following, it took one event that made
people, including me, to sit up and take notice. It was when Turner played ‘I
Still Believe’ at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games that
made me think, “Why haven’t I listened to this guy before?” Me and a lot of
other people as his tours sell out very quickly. It’s good though, as Turner is
a fantastic musician and songwriter. If you’re looking for a happy sounding, upbeat acoustic song then you’re in
the right place. It’s one that will get your foot tapping that’s for sure. It’s
the sort of music made for belting out in sun at a summer festival.
Jake Bugg: This guy just keeps going from strength to strength. Whether you’re
listening to ‘Lightning Bolt’, ‘Two Fingers’ or ‘Taste It’, it’s another
example of Bugg’s Dylan-esque style with an upbeat folk rock sound commentating
on the state of working class life. He is a great young talent, and the more
you listen to his music, the more you realise it. The Bob Dylan comparison may
be obvious, but there is also a hint of Johnny Cash in there as well, as
evidenced by the dark lyrics in ‘Seen It All’. However it is not all upbeat
folk songs, he has shown he can slow the pace right down and showcase his
strong singing ability. A perfect example of this is on the song ‘Broken’,
recently re-recorded with veteran producer Rick Rubin with Red Hot Chili Peppers’
drummer Chad Smith appearing as a guest. Bugg writes music that is mature
beyond his teenage years, which makes it an exciting prospect to see what comes
next. Having already sold out 3 separate UK tours in just over a year, Bugg is
on the way to becoming a huge star in years to come.
KT Tunstall: It may not seem like it, but KT Tunstall has been
around for almost ten years. It was back in 2004 that she won public affection
after her performance of ‘Black Horse and the Cherry Tree’ on ‘Later…with Jools
Holland’. Her first album, ‘Eye to the Telescope’, proved to be a huge success,
hitting the number three spot in the UK charts, and with songs like ‘Other Side
of the World’, ‘Under the Weather’ and ‘Suddenly I See’, it was chock full of
radio friendly singles. Her follow up albums ‘Drastic Fantastic’ and ‘Tiger
Suit’ didn’t quite hit the same heights after slight changes in direction,
although songs such as ‘Hold On’ and ‘(Still a) Weirdo’ proved popular. 2013
though saw Tunstall return to a style closer to that of her debut. I’m a big
fan of the lead single ‘Feel It All’, I think it’s one of the strongest and
most underrated songs of the year so far, and personally think this style suits
her more. Tunstall remains a popular act on the festival circuit, and I am
looking forward to seeing her myself on her UK tour in November… so keep a look
out for a gig review coming your way around that time.
Marina and the Diamonds: Marina Lambrini Diamindis, AKA Marina and the
Diamonds, has enjoyed huge success since she was named as the runner up on the
BBC Sound of 2010 poll listing behind a certain Ellie Goulding. The thing that
I really like about her music is that it is slightly different to the
mainstream pop that is in the charts. This is something that she acknowledges
herself, calling herself a “DIY Musician” explaining “I probably have a bit of
a different sound because I don’t really know what I’m doing.” She has also
cited influences as wide reaching as Madonna and Nirvana with Blondie, Kylie
and Dolly Parton in between, which shows this is someone who is not afraid to
try something different. This was shown after the success of her first album ‘The
Family Jewells’, with slight change in musical direction for her follow up ‘Electra
Heart’. This worked wonders as it went to number one in the UK. All in all, she
is a fun and quirky artist who provides something different.
Nerina Pallot: Singer/Songwriter Nerina Pallot has been around for a few years now, and
with four albums to her name it is a real surprise that she hasn’t had more
commercial success. There is no reason why any of her singles haven’t been big
radio successes. Listening through her albums, she is obviously very talented
and has a fantastic voice, but she somehow manages to stay just out of the
mainstream media spotlight. It’s a shame because people are missing out on some
brilliant music. From reading and watching various interviews with her, she
seems quite quirky and comes across in her music. There’s a real personality
and identity in her songs that give them character. There’s also a versatility
to her music that I really like. From big Alanis Morisette-esque anthems such
as ‘Learning to Breathe’ and ‘Everybody’s Going To War’ to beautiful ballads
like ‘Dear Frustrated Superstar’, to straight forward, light hearted pop songs
such as ‘Real Late Starter’. She has a real talent for penning a catchy song,
and with her wonderful, distinctive voice she has a sound that is both modern
and classy. There are a lot of singer songwriters around at the moment, but
Nerina Pallot is still one of my favourites. Give her a listen and she’ll be
yours too.
Newton Faulkner: Perhaps the most popular ginger haired
guitar playing, singer/songwriter before Ed Sheeran came along, Newton Falkner
is a fantastically talented musician. With his debut album ‘Hand Built By
Robots’ reaching number one and going double platinum in the UK in 2007, its
fair to say that Faulkner’s brand of folk rock is immensely popular. Following
that up with a number three album, 2009’s ‘Rebuilt by Human’s, his third album ‘Write
It on Your Own Skin’ hit the number spot in the UK in the summer of 2012. With
a fourth album due out at the end of August, the odds on another number one
album are looking good. The new album, titled ‘Studio Zoo’ should be
interesting given that its recording was streamed live 24/7 for 5 weeks in the
summer of 2013 from Faulkner’s home studio. I for one am definitely looking
forward to it.
Paolo Nutini: Paolo Nutini may not have released an album since
his 2009 effort ‘Sunny Side Up’, and may even have been a bit forgotten about
given the rise of the likes of Ben Howard and Ed Sheeran in recent years.
However it is still worth remembering what a talented singer/songwriter Nutini
is. His fun, upbeat brand of folk-pop is really uplifting, and with his
distinctive gravelly tones, it is a voice that you don’t really tire of
listening to. So far Nutini has enjoyed relative success in the charts with his
2006 debut ‘These Streets’ sitting pretty at number 3 in the UK and went 4x
platinum, while his follow up did even better, debuting at number one and
achieving the same platinum status. With songs such as ‘Jenny Don’t Be Hasty’, ‘New
Shoes’, ‘10/10’ and ‘Pencil Full of Lead’, it’s not hard to see why he has
enjoyed such success. He still remains a popular figure on the festival
circuit, just needs a new album now so I can see him live myself.
Thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed it.
Until next time J
