The Fat Angel Sings

Held in the Dutch city of Groningen for the 32nd edition of Eurosonic Noorderslag. Rightly heralded as Europe’s most prestigious event for breaking new acts, this year’s festival will once again provide maximum exposure to around 400 artists from across the continent over the course of its four days. As with previous years, the festival will also host the European Border Breakers (EBBA) alongside the European Festival Awards. With so many acts to choose from, you are unsurprisingly spoiled for choice here’s the best acts you should be particularly excited about seeing.

The six-piece HMLTD, whose origins lie somewhere between the UK, Greece and France, have arrived as one of the most confounding acts to appear on the London scene in recent memory. With equally galvanizing music and visuals, stories of chaotic and incendiary live shows to packs of mosh-pitting followers and compatriots, as well as art installations where the lines between performers and audience are ever-blurred, this is not ‘just another’ band.

Blackberries (Wednesday 17th, All Round Poolcentrum @ 20:45)

Hailing from the city of Solingen in Germany, Blackberries make elegant psychedelic rock that fluctuates between melodic pop and freeform jams, often in the same pieces of music. Second album Greenwich Mean Time came out in 2016 and despite forming in 2009, they’re still relatively unknown outside of their native city. We suspect that will change very soon.

Pale Waves from Manchester are Heather (vocals, guitar), Ciara (drums), Hugo (guitar) and Charlie (bass). After spending the last couple of years touring and writing, the band released their debut single ‘There’s a Honey’ in early 2017. The foursome followed up with two more singles, reflecting their ability to write well polished indie pop songs that have left fans begging for a debut LP. Pale Waves could be the biggest band of the year

Canshaker Pi (Thursday 18th, Heerenhuis @ 23:20)

This time last year Canshaker Pi proved to be one of the highlights of Eurosonic Noorderslag. Having already enraptured none other than Stephen Malkmus who produced their debut album, they’ve gradually established themselves as one of the most exciting bands to emerge from the Dutch underground in years.

Her self-released singles have notched up millions of streams and views, and she went on the road in the fall for her first headline tour as well as supporting Tash Sultana and Lewis Capaldi. 23-year-old Londoner Freya Ridings showcased her enchanting voice and unique talent on the piano with debut single ‘Blackout’. Follow-up ‘Maps,’ a spine-tingling cover of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs classic, earned her major support from Spotify through New Music Friday and other major playlist additions.

Hater  (Thursday 18th, Huis De Beurs @ 20:00)

Malmö is becoming something of an indie rock hotbed having first unearthed Fews a couple of years ago. Following hot on their heels are Hater, a four-piece led by the inimitable Caroline Landahl whose vocal stylings fall somewhere in between Molly Rankin of Alvvays and Annelotte De Graaf, better known as the brains behind Amber Arcades. Their Red Blinders EP brightened up a somewhat cold December and we’re expecting the band’s live show here to make a similar impact.

Housewives  (Thursday 18th, Vera @ 22:15)

Arguably one of the most left field bands to grace the Eurosonic Noorderslag bill in a long while, this South London outfit create music that’s beyond genre categorisation and as a result, stand out as one of this year’s unmissable acts. Last year’s FF061116 long player heralded them as uncompromising experimentalists in a similar vein to Steve Reich, Einsturzende Neubaten, or more recently, Factory Floor. Prepare to be mesmerized.

Superorganism  (Friday 19th, Machinefabriek @ 20:00)

This London-based outfit have already appeared on the Jools Holland show, been compared to Gorillaz, and have acquired Frank Ocean and Vampire Weekend as fans. Which is pretty good going after just a couple of singles. Their self-titled debut album is out in March and while still early days in their fledgling career, it’s probably fair to say you’ll be hearing a lot more about this eight-piece as the year goes on.

Iceage  (Wednesday 17th, Vera @ 23:45)

This Copenhagen four-piece should need no introduction having released two of the decade’s finest long players in 2011’s debut New Brigade and 2014’s third offering Plowing Into The Field Of Love. With a new album said to be imminent, this opportunity to hear some of those songs alongside the older more familiar material of yore is not to be missed.

Žen  (Thursday 18th, Huis De Beurs @ 21:25)

Žen are an all female band from Zagreb who make ethereal effects-laden sounds that recall the halcyon era of 4AD and Creation Records from back in the day. Their third and latest LP Suncani Ljudi came out last month and is well worth checking out. As is their live show which bears all the hallmarks of being one of Eurosonic’s main highlights this year.

Isaac Gracie rose to prominence when a demo of ‘Last Words’ was uploaded to Soundcloud. Dusty, careworn and distant, it was a quite beautiful introduction to this now fast-rising British talent. With two lo-fi, self-produced EP’s and a live recording out there and plenty more to come, the live shows are equally as stripped back and intimate. One electric guitar, and one untouchable vocal. It’s the antidote to a busy stable of peers, and the very essence of the modern man in one striking and poetic musical talent.

Here is a refreshing new artist from Bristol who sounds like a seasoned performer. Keir is blessed with a powerhouse of a voice, a great sense for writing hooks and infectious pop rock songs, influenced by artists from Patti Smith, Gertrude Stein, Howlin’ Wolf and Edith Piaf to Aretha Franklin. Keir tries to keep it somewhat secretive but material like singles Squeeze Me and Probably and some rave live reviews will make it terribly hard to keep this huge talent from the spotlights.