Festivals Shura’s Top 10 new bands playing festivals

I freakin’ love these girls. I’d been listening to them for a while and strangely enough we were all sharing a hotel during Eurosonic back in January. They’re such a nice bunch and the live show has such a carefree innocent fun vibe that is infinitely infectious. They remind me of the kind of band I wanted to be in when I first ever picked up a guitar.

I’ve been lucky enough to support them on one occasion late last year. Fingers crossed we’ll cross paths again a few times this year and I can catch them again (set reminder to pray to the festival gods). I think their song ‘I Want What You’ve Got’ enters my brain on average once a week and I spend the day singing along to it in my head and sometimes out loud. It’s great.

The first time I really got to grips with her stuff was when I heard Zane Lowe play ‘Pedestrian at Best’ and I was blown away by the lyrics. They’re so smart but still super fun. I preordered the album on vinyl as soon as it was announced but I’m way way way excited about catching a live set ASAP.

I absolutely adore SOAK. I thinks she’s brilliant and I can’t wait to see her live. It’s incredibly exciting because Bridie could just turn up with only a guitar and play a show but there’s also scope to work with a band, which must feel incredibly liberating as a performer. I hope I get to catch both versions of the live set in the next year.

I know this is not a new band but I just think that maybe some people might not have seen her live and this is just a crime so go do it. I managed to catch a set at Vodafone Mexefest in Lisbon and it was one of the most badass things I’ve ever seen. Just a total no fracks given kind of performance and my god the guitar skillzzzz.

I saw Kwabs play from the side of the stage at Iceland Airwaves and was just astonished by how magnetic a performer he is. His voice is something else of course, but to see that kind of physicality in a performance is incredibly impressive. You really get the feeling you’re watching an absolute superstar. I’m really looking forward to his album!

I STILL HAVEN’T SEEN LÅPPERS PLAY. We met at Eurosonic earlier in the year and it was really nice just to have a drink and chat with someone else who’s kinda in a similar boat to you at a similar time. Holly is super nice so fingers crossed I get to see her live show soon. I saw a couple of photos from her Eurosonic set in a Planetarium which I think would have been just the perfect setting for her music. MORE PLANETARIUMS FOR LÅPSLEY PLEASE.

I’ve seen Mt. Wolf before a while back when they were a four piece. They’ve recently started releasing material again with just the boys and they have a show coming up soon at Cecil Sharp House which I’m going to try and catch. I love Bassi’s voice and can’t wait to see how they perform in the new line up. It’s going to be beautiful, of that I’m sure.

Ben Khan is kind of like Jai Paul but with a, so far, much steadier output which is obviously tantalising. I know he’s starting to play shows now so I’m 10000% gonna make sure I catch one of them. He’s one of this musicians that when they release a new song you make sure you listen to it ASAP because it’s probably going to be brilliant and you know you’re gonna rinse all your data streaming the shit out of it.

No one knows much about this band yet. There’s nothing out there in the way of music. But all I can say is that they kick butt and as and when… you’re gonna have to get yourself down to a show because it’s gonna be BOOM.

For more on this year’s festivals, pick up DIY’s Festival Guide 2015, out now alongside our May issue.

Shura will play Field Day (6th - 7th June) and Latitude (16th - 19th July), where DIY is an official media partner. Tickets are on sale now. Visit diymag.com/presents for more information.

Tags: Shura, Features