Cassie Delaney writes.
We know how these things work. One day they’re some crappy band playing in your local GAA hall and the next they’re playing Electric Picnic and on the soundtrack to Fade Street. Then they’re the guys that your cousin used to jam with or the lads that one of your mates sisters shifted one night. Now she’s got a song written about her and you wish you’d seduced the kinda cuteish bassist when you had the chance. Don’t fret, potential groupies, he’s my shift list for 2011. Add them on facebook now, before its cool to like them.
I’ve got big hopes for this Dublin based five piece. 2010 saw the release of their EP “The Creatures Down Below” which received much deserved acclaim.
The Gorgeous Colours have spent years perfecting their sound and now with charming four-partharmonies and delectable melodies, I predict 2011 will be their defining year.
I am reluctant to name the likes of The Blizzards and The Script as predecessors to The Gorgeous Colours as these guys offer a new unique sound, incomparable to anything on the Irish scene at the moment. More importantly, they’ve rejected the clean cut boy-band like image that has become synonymous with Irish rock, and instead, are the appropriate amount of hairy looking for an up and coming Indie band.
Previously singer and guitarist of both The Marshals and Television Room, Michael John has now emerged as a captivating soloist. While I remain dubious that 2011 will be his break-through year, I reckon we’ll be hearing a lot more from Michael John. At the very least, the mesmerizing “You Are The Best Thing” will be played in the background of Raw as someone gets the shift.
I’m going to make a bold prediction and say that this band will feature in a Meteor ad in the next two years, fill a tent at Electric Picnic with people who love one of their songs and following that they’ll play a sold out show at Tripod to an audience who will abbreviate their name to Planet P.
Will suffer a similar fate to Planet P.
Talulah Does the Hula / Ham Sandwich / Kid Karate / Pocket Promise.
Basically any band that was shamelessly promoted on Fade Street. Talulah Does the Hula genuinely entertain me, largely due to the novelty name. The chorus of “Those Girls” however is infectious.
Ham Sandwich released their debut album last October and have already reached the pinnacle of Irish fame with an appearance on The Late Late Show.
Kid Karate did well to hit our TV screens on a regular basis in 2010, despite clearly having faces for radio. We know the name, perhaps in 2011 we’ll hear some of their music. From what I have heard, these guys are very good and if Stephen can concentrate on something other than trying to shift Dani then I predict it will be a good year for these two.
Pocket Promise are genuinely talented and the lead singer is a lash. Individually I don’t have much hope for any of these bands, but together I think they have the solid makings of a line-up for a few college balls.
If Fleet Foxes and Mumford & Sons somehow eloped and conceived a beautiful music love child – this is what it would sound like.
Boy & Bear are going to be big and its going to be considered really, really cool to like them.
They’re the first non-Irish band I’ve featured but I think they are going to explode here in 2011. Particularly if the snow persists. Great snow music.
King Charles
Fresh from supporting Mumford & Sons, it is time for King Charles to take the limelight. I will be deeply shocked if the precious “Love Lust” isn’t used in an ad for Extra or Match.com.
Stornoway
They’ve got people chin wagging in the UK and played Electric Picnic and Bestival. Slightly overshadowed by Two Door Cinema Club and Frightened Rabbit last year, this could be the year for this British four piece.
Lucy
January 7, 2011
I love King Charles!