This #festivalfriday is all about #onestowatch. Love the headliners? Sure, but what about must see acts from the rest of the lineup?
Here’s our pick of the best emerging acts to check out this summer before they jump up to headliner status.
Blossoms at Bilbao BBK Live
With good reason, Blossoms were tipped for big things on the highly respected BBC Sound Of list for 2016, rightly garnering a wider audience for their sublime indie pop in the process. With a debut album still to come this is just the start for these guys who will be heading to Bilbao BBK Live this summer alongside the likes of Arcade Fire, Pixies, Tame Impala, Foals, Underworld, Editors, Grimes, M83, Hot Chip, Years & Years, Junior Boys, Father John Misty, Courtney Barnett and Wolf Alice. Set against the breath-taking backdrop of the Kobetamendi Hill in culture-rich Bilbao, Bilbao BBK Live welcomes 40,000 revellers to enjoy an unparalleled musical lineup combining the biggest names with fresh talent.
Bilbao BBK Live takes place from 7-9 July 2016. To book tickets visit bilbaobbklive.com.
HVOB at Electric Elephant
Austrian electronic act Anna Müller and Paul Wallner, better known as HVOB, have been making waves on the dance scene, since the release of their sophomore LP Trialog. The duo’s atmospheric live performances, enhanced with mesmerising visuals are an absolute must-see this festival season. Catch them perform at Croatia’s Electric Elephant Festival, alongside acts including me, Andrew Weatherall, Bicep, Boo Williams, Craig Charles, Greg Wilson, Kerri Chandler, Laura Jones, Jacques Renault, Psychemagik, Steffi and Todd Terry. Beaches, beats, and boat parties. What more could you want this summer?!
Electric Elephant takes place from 7-11 July 2016. To book tickets visit electricelephant.co.uk.
Stormzy at Exit Festival
Talented London-based MC Stormzy has ignited a new generation of UK rap with his gritty neo-grime flow and his progressive attitude towards commercial music. Stormzy became the first unsigned rapper to perform on Later… With Jools Holland and has had unprecedented support from peers like Wiley, Skepta and Wretch 32. Making his mark at this years Eurosonic Noorderslag
Stormy is the second most booked festival act in the ETEP charts. Catch him on the main stage at EXIT Festival in the Petrovaradin Fortress alongside hip hop hero Wiz Khalifa, pop superstar Ellie Goulding, much loved indie rockers Bastille and The Vaccines, techno titans Dave Clarke, Marco Carola and Nina Kraviz,, drum & bass duo Sigma, as well as some of the biggest names in electronic music such as Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Solomun, Nicky Romero, Robin Schulz & James Zabeila. EXIT. Where hedonism meets activism.
Exit Festival takes place from 7-10 July 2016. To book tickets visit exitfest.org
The Japanese House at Positivus
The lush, brooding sounds of young musician Amber Bain’s debut EP as The Japanese House ‘Pools To Bathe In’ was an exercise in perfect melancholy pop. With The 1975’s Matt Healy and George Daniel on co-production duties and coming from the same camp as the recent chart toppers as well as Wolf Alice and Maricka Hackman, it was the perfect introduction to one of the UK’s brightest future stars. Having followed that up with equally-special sophomore effort ‘Clean’ she will be taking to the stage at the picturesque coastal town of Salacgriva in Latvia for the tenth anniversary of Positivus. The festival transports chart-topping headliners, underground emerging talent and exciting art and dance stages to their unspoiled atmospheric coastal setting amid stunning woodland and will see Bain join a lineup featuring Ellie Goulding, Iggy Pop, M83, Grimes, Hot Chip, Air, Years & Years, Wolf Alice, Seinabo Sey, Richard Hawley, John Newman, C Duncan, Mercury Rev and San Fermin.
Positivus takes place from 15-17 July 2016. To book tickets visit positivusfestival.com/en/.
Beach Slang at OFF Festival
Scrappy Philadelphia three-piece Beach Slang play the kind of shout along punk rock that people just can’t help moving to. Since dropping their eagerly anticipated debut album ‘The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us’ at the end of last year the band have hit the road hard showing crowds exactly why they’re likely to be the breakout band of their scene. They’ll be helping OFF celebrate the festival’s 10th birthday alongside everyone from vital hip hop crew Flatbush Zombies and grindcore legends Napalm Death through to much lauded producer Machinedrum and Oscar nominee Anohni as well as The Kills, Mudhoney, GZA, Lush, GusGus, Thundercat, Jaga Jazzist, SBB, Sleaford Mods, Lightning Bolt, Willis Earl Beal, Kaliber 44, DJ Koze, Show Me the Body, Fidlar and more! OFF is truly a festival for the discerning; staying true to itself and flying in the face of current trends the organisers and crowd have one serious finger on the pulse when it comes to music.
OFF Festival takes place from 5-7 August 2016. To book tickets visit off-festival.pl.
Kovacs at Sziget
With a powerful, raw and soulful voice, Dutch singer Sharon Kovacs creates beautiful, piercing music. Since the release of her debut EP ‘My Love’ in 2014, her star has been on the rise. Kovacs’ single (which carries the same name) became an instant hit on 3FM radio, and the station named her their Serious Talent in June of that year. Kovacs are also 2016 European Border Breakers Winners with Sharon currently working on her first full album with producer Oscar Holleman (Krezip, Within Temptation). Be one of the first to see Kovacs on the international festival circuit at on the Island of Freedom at Sziget Festival. Having just landed the award for ‘Best European Lineup’ at this year’s European festival awards this is certain to be another standout year for Sziget. Situated on the picturesque Óbuda Island, in Budapest, this is the go-to cultural event for arts and music lovers for the the ultimate festival-holiday experience with a huge lineup already announced including; Rihanna, Noel Gallagher, Muse, Sia, Jake Bugg, Bloc Party, David Guetta, Chvrches, The Last Shadow Puppets, Years & Years, Jess Glynne, Roisin Murphy, Travis Scott, MØ, Sum 41, Wilkinson and Aurora take to the stage.
Sziget takes place from 10-17 August 2016. To book tickets visit szigetfestival.com.
Barnhus at Mysteryland
Stockholm’s Studio Barnhus founders Axel Boman, Kornel Kovacs and Pedrodollar will perform together as Barnhus at this year’s Mysteryland festival in The Netherlands! Amongst them they’ve clocked up releases on Pampa, Border Community, Numbers and Smallville, winning a legion of fans along the way. The enigmatic trio behind the turntables at Mysteryland is sure to be a festival highlight. With over 346 acts, criss-crossing house, techno, disco, African beats, vinyl-only, hardstyle, hip hop and feel-good bands, there’s something for every electronic music fan at Mysteryland. This year’s line-up also boasts Diplo, Seth Troxler, Martin Garrix, Karenn and Tom Trago to name just a few, and the extensive lifestyle and culture programme also features theatre, movies, live art, interactive installation art, street performers, hidden raves in the forests and spectacular shows.
Mysteryland takes place from 27-28 August 2016. To book tickets visit mysteryland.nl.
Eli & Fur at Oasis
Since breaking on to the scene with debut hit single You’re So High in 2013, London DJ and production duo Eli & Fur continue to win admirers around the world. Their infectious, electronic melodies, catchy vocal lines and unrivalled energy behind the decks has seen the duo hotly tipped by the likes of Mixmag, XLR8R, Pete Tong and DJ Mag to name just a few. This year, Morocco’s Oasis Festival plays host to the twosome, alongside a whole host of electronic talent, including Bicep, B.Traits, David August, Dixon, Derrick May, Dubfire, Helena Hauff, Hunee, Job Jobse, Tale Of Us, The Black Madonna and Virginia. With inviting stage-side pools, spectacular views of the nearby Atlas Mountains, daily yoga, and captivating star-lit skies all capped off with the finest electronic music, this is one festival you don’t want to miss this summer.
Oasis takes place from 16-18 September 2016. To book tickets visit theoasisfest.com.
