Music / News
Sound of 2016: seven acts to see this year
BBC Music have revealed the first winners of the coveted top five spots on their Sound of 2016 list, an institution that has named the likes of Ellie Goulding, Sam Smith and Adele as ones to watch long before they reached international stardom.
Seven of the 15 acts chosen are planning to bring their tours to Bristol this year, and no doubt it’ll be one of the last chances to see some of the young talents in such intimate and small-scale venues before they become household names.
Here are some very important dates for this year’s musical diary:
January 16: Dua Lipa, The Louisiana
A Kosovan living in London, Dua Lipa is a self-labelled “dark pop” artist that’s reminiscent of a miniature Lana Del Rey with a surprisingly big voice.
www.thelouisiana.net/events/16-jan-16-dua-lipa-the-louisiana
February 1: Rat Boy, O2 Academy
A rebellious and confident nineteen-year-old from Essex, Jordan Cardy is fast making a name for himself as a one-of-a-kind indie hip-hop rock powerhouse.
www.academymusicgroup.com/o2academybristol/events/781227/bloc-party-drenge-rat-boy-and-bugzy-malone-nme-awards-tour-2016-austin-texas-tickets
February 15: Loyle Carner, The Exchange
Described by The Guardian as “confessional hip hop”, Loyle Carner’s steady and simple sound surrounds lyrics based on the issues closest to his heart.
www.exchangebristol.com/whats-on/events/15-feb-16-loyle-carner-exchange
February 26: Section Boyz, Thekla
A south London group that fully embodies the essence of current UK hip hop, these rappers have already got a MOBO and a handful of famous fans under their belts.
www.theklabristol.co.uk/live/600/section-boyz
April 6: Mura Masa, The Exchange
Alex Crossan’s Asian-inspired electronica is hypnotic, unique and accessible all at once, and has garnered an impressive amount of airtime since the launch of his first mixtape back in 2014.
www.exchangebristol.com/whats-on/events/6-apr-16-mura-masa-exchange
April 7: Jack Garratt, O2 Academy
Definitely one to watch for those top spots on the Sound of 2016 list, Jack Garrett is a one-man-hyper-talented-band with a sound unlike any you’ve heard before. Get a ticket before he moves on to stadiums.
www.academymusicgroup.com/o2academybristol/events/786435/jack-garratt-tickets
April 25: NAO, Thekla
Nineties-inspired production, rich vocals and piercingly simple lyrics are all to be expected from this young singer-songwriter from the capital.
www.theklabristol.co.uk/live/599/nao
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