As we enter the final year of this decade, we’ll take you through the most hotly tipped artists to break in 2019. From hip-hop to new wave indie, there’s plenty of fine new acts to get your teeth into.
whenyoung
The Irish trio had an incredible 2018 with huge support slots with The Vaccines on their European tour, Blossoms on their sold out UK tour and performing an incredible set at Manchester’s Sounds Of The City Festival where they supported the legendary artists Buzzcocks and Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott. Their indie hooks are sang over beautifully from the band’s lead singer Aoife Power which give them such a distinctive sound. 2019 will see Whenyoung outgrow their role of support band as they take centre stage on their own headline tour of the UK in February 2019, visiting Bristol, Manchester, Birmingham and London on the way.
Another Sky
Another Sky, another great band to look out for in 2019. Lead singer Catrin Vincent’s peculiar, androgynous, lurching and defiant voice will grab your attention immediately. Channelling the brooding atmospherics of Radiohead and The xx, but with a little more bite and political charge, Another Sky’s music is dark, cinematic and richly textured. In 2018 they played their brilliant single “Chillers” live on Later… with Jools Holland. You can see them live for yourself at Manchester’s YES (The Basement) on the 11th February.
Sports Team
Following a peculiarly meteoric 2018; a year that’s taken them from word-of-mouth unknowns, to one of the UK’s most talked about new artists in a distinctly short space of time, Sports Team ended the year by announcing a huge live run of dates for March 2019. Last year saw them have big successes with releases such as ‘Kutcher’ which was named as Annie Mac‘s ‘Hottest Record In The World’, as well as ‘Camel Crew‘ which was declared as Noisey‘s ‘Best Song of 2018 (so far)’ and ‘Beverly Rose‘ winning Steve Lamacq‘s Round Table. The BBC Introducing Stage headliners at Reading & Leeds Festival 2018 will be touring across the UK in March 2019.
Fuzzy Sun
If you thought there was only one fantastic five-piece band reigning from Stockport then you’d be wrong. Signed to neighbours Blossoms‘ very own Very Clever Records, Fuzzy Sun first started making waves with the release of their debut EP in 2018. Their lead single ‘Want Love‘ left fans craving more which saw them release their second EP of that year ‘Warm Evening / Cold Morning‘. They sold out a huge show at Manchester YES (The Pink Room) back in November and have since announced their biggest headline show to date at Manchester’s brilliant Gorilla on Saturday 23rd February.
They will also appearing at BBC Music Introducing in March, Neighbourhood Weekender in May, Blossoms at Edgeley Park in June, The Wombats – Sounds Of The City in July.
Indoor Pets
Formerly Known As ‘Get Inuit’, Indoor Pets are set for a huge 2019. They’re prepped to release their debut album ‘Hi’ which will include 14 tracks and feature the lead single ‘Hi’ (see the video above). Their tunes are full of fuzzed-out riffs and infectious melodies, which have been picked up by Annie Mac, Huw Stephens and Jack Saunders at Radio 1, Lauren Laverne at 6Music and Amazing Radio. They’ll be touring the UK in April.
Easy Life
Easy Life are a reaction to the trials and tribulations of the modern world; “a hedonistic vision” equipped with a seamless blend of jazz, funk and indie, with frontman Murray’s soft-spoken delivery offering their utopian message a gospel-like quality. 2018 saw the Leicester based 5-piece release a string of singles, receiving critical acclaim from the likes The Sunday Times and Wonderland as well as performing their single ‘Nightmares’ on Later… with Jools Holland. The band set out on their 2019 headline tour, kicking off at Manchester’s Gorilla.
Nilufer Yanya
22-year-old singer/songwriter Nilüfer Yanya is first and foremost a paragon of perseverance in the face of adversity. Rejected twice from a popular music degree, she instead pursued her vocation via the means of open mic nights, quickly finding a place on BBC Radio 6 Music’s playlist with her 2018 single ‘Baby Luv‘. Taking inspiration from the likes of Amy Winehouse, The Pixies, Nina Simone, she heads out on her April 2019 tour commencing at Manchester’s YES (The Pink Room) with support from Westerman.
Jimothy Lacoste
Championing the DIY, bedroom-pop scene, 20-year-old North London rapper Jimothy Lacoste employs Ipad synths and lo-fi beats over the kind of deadpan cockney drawl you might expect from Ian Dury; a recipe that’s currently being eaten up by music critics Dazed “North London viral musician Jimothy Lacoste is a true original” and The Guardian “North London’s viral wonderkid”. Jimothy’s headline tour begins at Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club in February.
Sea Girls
After a series of successful singles, particularly ‘Call Me Out‘ hyped in Clash as “wonderfully contagious” and NME as a “proper belter”, London via Leicester via Kent guitar-pop four-piece Sea Girls prove time and time again their aptitude for writing solid hooky choruses that seek out the indie listener. After triumphant headline performances at London’s OMEARA, and Leeds’ Brudenell Social Club, not to mention working with Larry Hibbett (Nothing But Thieves, Sundara Karma) on their track ‘Lost‘, the band talk of big plans for the year ahead. Sea Girls headline Manchester Gorilla on 5th March.
They will also appearing at Neighbourhood Weekender in May and The Kooks – Sounds Of The City in July!
MorMor
Multi-instrumentalist, psych-pop Toronto artist MorMor exists in the tension that lies between indie and RnB, although he is “wary of becoming an indie pop-star, but it’s happening anyway” he tells Pitchfork. Writing, playing and producing all of his own material, his latest single ‘Pass The Hours‘, which has already received over 750,000 streams, showcases his technical prowess whilst employing that delicate blend of falsetto over soft, transient beats – the likes of which Frank Ocean would be proud of. Ahead of his 2019 tour, MorMor will have the support of a full live band. He headlines Manchester’s YES (Pink Room) WED 3 April.
Also to look out for…
Ady Suleiman, Afro B, Alice Merton, Amy Shark, Andreya Triana, APRE, Arctic Lake, Ay Em, Babeheaven, Billie Eilish, Calva Louise, Charlotte Lawrence, Children of Zeus, CNCO, David Keenan, Declan J Donovan, FEET, FLING, Frankie Stew and Harvey Gunn, Freya Ridings, Grace Carter, IDER, Jay Rock, King No-One, Lady Bird, Lauren Aquilina, Lil Xan, Louis VI, Maggie Rogers, Maisie Peters, Mick Jenkins, Orla Gartland, Polyna, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Queen Zee, Ray BLK, Sam Fender, San Holo, SHAED, Shakka, Silent Rival, Skinny Living, SOAK, The Blinders, The Howl & The Hum, The Joy Formidable, The K’s, The Vryll Society, Tourist, YAK
Gigs & Tours’ Discover Playlist
Every month we update our Spotify playlist with the most exciting new artists who are playing across the UK in that particular month. Follow the playlist below and never miss an act!