Glastonbury New Bands to see this year
Year after year, Glastonbury’s line up seems to get bigger and brighter. This year’s line up is not different – U2, Coldplay and Beyonce are all worldwide stars and will certainly attract the majority of Glastonbury fans to the Pyramid stage. But Glastonbury is also about emerging talents and finding the new and the unexpected.
Last year for example, a friend insisted I had to go see this band called Phoenix (which I had never even heard of before) play in the Other stage. I thought to myself, what a waste of time. Off I went anyway and, to my complete surprise, ended up having a seriously good time, Phoenix’s music was fresh and catchy. After Glastonbury, I bought their album and have been in love with them since.
So this year, I have decided I will pay more attention to the bands I do not know at all or bands I only know a song or two. You never know, one or two of these bands might be the future’s big Glastonbury headliners!
A few new talents I will be looking forward to seeing include Metronomy, Wolf Gang, Yuck and Stornoway.
The not-so-new Metronomy have been around since 2006 and their latest album, English Riviera, was released in April this year and got a 9 out of 10 stars review from NME magazine. For those wanting to listen to top tracks such as The Bay, Trouble and She Wants, Metronomy will be playing at the Pyramid stage on Friday and Oxlyers in West on Sunday.
The indie duo Wolf Gang has not yet released an album but single Lions in Cages is already a hit. They had plans to have an intimate gig in a band stand somewhere in Shoreditch yesterday but “due to the horrific weather outside”, they had to cancel it and will have it on a later day when the sun will hopefully shine. I guess I will have to wait for their gig at the Leftfield on Saturday noon.
London based Yuck, only had their first album released in February this year and are already storming out the UK’s charts. Singles Georgia and Holing Out were instant hits, with Get Away following the same steps, after their performance in Later…with Jools Holland. They are expected to play at the John Peel stage on Saturday.
Alternative indie folk band Stornoway from Oxford will open the Pyramid stage on Saturday. Big step for this band from Cowley in Oxford, who only released their debut album this week! The reviews are great and I will be looking forward to listen to I Saw You Blink.
These bands are likely to put a smile up on your face even in the most inclement weather but fingers crossed; the sun will shine this year!