With 8,000 entries this year with such a plethora of talent, it was a very difficult decision, but meet the 3 deserved and hugely exciting acts going through to the next stage of Glastonbury’s emerging talent competition;

1. Jack Tinner

With flawless, soulful vocals paired with innovative songwriting, Off This Train was nothing but a joy to listen to. again and again.

2. Black Balloons

Love the urgency and power of this track. I can clearly envision ‘Rascal’ exploding out over the fields of Glastonbury to a thrashing audience.

3. Blank Maps

Layered melodies and gorgeous electronic textures soar into feelings of euphoria that set Blank Maps apart in their craftsmanship.

Next week the remaining 8 acts will be announced and then invited to perform in the live finals in April.

Superbowl…Superwoman and now SuperRADIO.

The kind folks at iHeartRadio in the USA have given me my own London Station, so check out the list I’ve curated of the best current bands in the UK.

http://www.iheart.com/original/Cat-Dals-London/

If you’ve ever imagined yourself playing a main stage slot at Glastonbury 2013, then this my friend, is the competition for you!

Unsigned and new artists from all music genres from the UK and Ireland are invited to submit their entries by 5pm on Thursday 24th January for a chance to win.

Previous winners of the coveted prize include Stornoway, We Have Band, Golden Silvers, The Subways and the winners of the last contest, in 2011, Treetop Flyers. Give Beyonce a run for her hair-swaying, headlining money and blast your music out to a possible 150,000 music-lovers.

Enter here: www.bit.ly/ETC2013

Good Luck!

Meet brothers from the same mother, The Family Rain.

When they are not busy existing in their home town of Bath, they like to fuse bluesy guitars with a snarling beat and then spit gravel-throated lyrics all over it. Why? Because it sounds freakin’ sweet.

Fans of The Black Keys, White Stripes and KOL; brace yourself for a blast of aural joy.

Berlin, Germany; a city that seems to have a lot of sex and only a little bit of sleep, has very suitably born their own elusive, man-of-mystery, DJ style.

Not much is known about Theatre of Delays, other than he is a human man that has made some seriously slick and beautifully crafted remixes of tracks from bands such as The XX, Metronomy and The Rapture.

Ready to take on the big boys now, he has tackled a collaboration between Adele, the nation’s sweetheart and 007, the nation’s hero,  with his remix of Skyfall, resulting in a smooth cocktail of elegance and electronic. Its actually better than the original. But hey, don’t take my word for it, download if yourself for free, oh dubious one.

The first single from their forthcoming second album ‘Lonerism’ is the kaleidoscopic beast Elephant. A storming psychedelic feast of colour smashed across the screen, the video is as nearly rich visually, as aurally.

No.1

No.2 Beyonce. Now let me just state that this woman is a goddness, no if, buts or maybes. But even the heavenly can fall, so here she is face first..ouch.

 No.3 Axl Rose The word ‘cringe’ tends to follow him about like a lovesick teen, so no surprises then that a hefty dose of eggy-ness poured out from his shambolic Reading headline in 2010. Playing an hour later then agreed, organisers were forced to pull the plug mid set.

No.4 Michelle Williams aka Destiny Child. Oh don’t try and help her up girls, much much better to just carry on..

No.5 Ashlee Simpson I could in-fairness create an entire catalogue for this one unlucky lady, (remember the Superbowl boo-gate?) however, I thought that this one pretty much takes the cake.

Firing out words like a tennis ball machine, the band are responsible for re-igniting the punk scene with their blend of hilarious lyrics and ear battering riffs.

Combined of former members of Internet Forever, Stairs to Korea and Dananananaykroyd, they are inviting any fellow music lovers to download their 17 minute album for just 3 measly squid.

A chaotic and eyeball-capillairie-bursting track about drinking Rum and ending up in jail, check out the magnificent Dont Know..

Sixto Diaz Rodriguez, who also goes by Jesus Rodriquez, made deliriously poignant and beautiful songs. His protest folk/rock debut Cold Fact was realised in 1970, and Coming From Reality the following year. He remained completely unknown in the USA,(often even to any audiences as he enjoyed elusively performing with his back to them). He did however leave behind him a trail of awed music producers, many ecstatic to have worked with him and since bemused by the records lack of success.

Without the power of internet breaking down the international barriers, its was a pure stroke of random luck that somehow Cold Fact made its way over to Cape Town, where it spread through the country like a fever. Rumours of Rodriguez committing a dramatic suicide on stage served to whip up more interest in the mysterious man, and soon he was in platinum selling status, a hero, a legend.. bigger then Dylan, Elvis, and the Stones.

So, it feels only right that his compelling story has been told by two fans who utterly and unashamedly, worshipped him. The result; a rich, stunning, captivating music documentary, Searching For Sugar Man.

You may have seen her supporting Bombay Bicycle Club earlier in the year,  but last Monday it was all about her and the launch of her sparkling debut Is Your Love Big Enough?  Clearly beaming throughout the show, this 22 year old singer & songwriter from London had every reason to celebrate, as news surfaced she had already reached no.4 in the UK charts.

If you haven’t yet been acquainted with her ‘sound’, it is willfully difficult to categorise; flowing from layered harmonies, bare ballads, to pounding beats bursting out, the record also bleeds influences by soul divas Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott.

As she steps out on stage, the first thing that smacks you in the face is how ridiculously great her vocals are. Like velvet smothered in butter, then drenched in silk; she makes The Little Mermaid sound like a berserk sea-lion. The vocal acrobats remain astoundingly flawless throughout, which is a rare skill when playing live. (yeah, we are talking Whitney Houston good).  THEN you combine that with the fact she’s demonstrating herself as a skilled musician, playing the guitar for the majority of the set. Its a deadly, heart-and-mind seizing combination.

Adding to her charm as a live act she is incredibly endearing and playful in between songs. Bantering to us like we were mates down the pub, she asks what we make of her dress, then reveals she is s.w.e.a.t.i.n.g, which ignites a chorus of wolf whistling to her mock disgust.

After the powerful tribal edge of Forget and the delicate Parisian romance of Au cinema I can comfortably say I was not the only one who fell deliriously hard for her. Really, I only just resisted flinging myself at her and clutching on to her fawn-like leg for dear life.