In the past year 18 year old Newcastle based singer/songwriter Beth Jeans Houghton has garnered a reputation as an antidote to the current crop of acoustic songstresses. With her alternative blend of experimental folk, Beth has been hailed by the NME as "a Joni Mitchell for the anti-folk generation". With influences ranging from Frank Zappa, Vashti Bunyan, Fourtet and Love, Beth has cultivated a sound that is truly her own.
There are two bands which go by the name 'The Universal' #1. The Universal is a psychedelic space-rock band from Boise, ID. Formed in 2004. Currently promoting their 2009 full length "Everything Is Everywhere" for sale at http://www.universalgalaxies.com #2. The Universal is a new band, rising from the musical ashes of Geelong psychedelic rock group Mystery Machine and playing music of a different variety.
Best Coast is a surf pop band which formed in Los Angeles, California, United States in 2009. The band consists of Bethany Cosentino (vocals, guitar), Bobb Bruno (bass, drums) and Ali Koehler (drums). The band released their debut album, "Crazy for You" on July 27, 2010 on Mexican Summer Records. The album debuted at #37 on the Billboard Hot 100. Beach blanket lo-fi pop from Bethany Cosentino, (formerly of Pocahaunted), inspired by Bethany’s longing for Los Angeles while spending her days in NY attending Eugene Lang College, Best Coast sprung forth during her first days back in California.
Kate Nash (b. 6 July 1987) is a singer/songwriter/pianist/guitarist from Harrow, North London, England, best known for the UK #2 hit "Foundations". Growing up in Harrow, London, Nash first became interested in music during her childhood when she learned to play the piano. She attended St. John Fisher school and moved onto the St. Joan of Arc School in Rickmansworth. Her talents were harnessed further when she wrote songs for her GCSE in Music and her time studying at the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon, South London.
Even in the urban wilds of Brooklyn, there may be no one else like Jean-Philip Grobler, aka St. Lucia. Originally from Johannesberg, St. Lucia grew up performing with the Drakensberg Boys Choir School. When the choir wasn't traveling - they toured Japan, Australia, Europe and more - they stayed in an enclave tucked in the South African mountains, learning everything from Bach to minimalist opera.
Gang of Four are a British post-punk group from Leeds, England. Original personnel were singer Jon King, guitarist Andy Gill, bass guitarist Dave Allen and drummer Hugo Burnham. They were fully active from 1977 to 1984, and then re-emerged twice in the 1990s with King and Gill. In 2005, the original lineup reunited. The group had a single in the British Top 60 with "At Home He's A Tourist" in 1979, which was blacklisted by Top Of The Pops for its use of the relatively innocuous term "rubbers".
An Horse is a two person indie pop band from Brisbane, Australia, comprising Kate Cooper of Iron On on vocals and guitar and Damon Cox of Intercooler and Mary Trembles on drums. An Horse was originally a solo project of Kate Cooper, who is the principal songwriter. In 2008 they recorded their debut EP 'Not Really Scared' with producer Magoo, and released this on Valve Records. They then released their first full length album 'Rearrange Beds' in January 2009 on Valve Records in Australia and New Zealand and in March of 2009 on Mom & Pop Records in the United States.
While the mere mention of their name often invokes raised eyebrows and amused smiles among the uninitiated, Brisbane four-piece Hungry Kids of Hungary produce music that inspires equal measures of curiosity and joy. Dressing their immaculate indie tunes with a healthy dose of 60’s pop sensibility and lashings of soul HKoH have wasted no time in carving out a name for themselves on the Australian music scene with a quartet of radio singles and their relentless touring regime.
Kurt Vile & the Violators are a rock band from Philadelphia PA, United States. The band draws influences from lo-fi, psychedelic and classic rock. Founded by frontman Kurt Vile (guitar, vocals), the band currently consists of Jesse Turbo (guitar, slide), Mike Zeng (percussion) and Adam Granduciel (guitar, bass). Kurt and Adam have played music together ever since the early 00's with each one contributing to the other's projects, most notably in The War on Drugs which is fronted by Granducial.