First up is Marcus Foster who is a recent(ish) signing to Geffen/Polydor/Universal who fits nicely into the current Mumford/Fleet Foxes vibe that swept the country over the last 12-18 months. He has some massive hits up his sleeve and a voice to be enviable of - certainly has a bright future. Keep an ear out for his tune, 'I Was Broken'.Next, is another major label and Universal/Island signing Ben Howard who spent a long time building a fan base amongst the British surfing community before getting his deal. Having seen him live recently and having only really heard the tune 'Old Pines' before (very good track - see the beautifully shot video below) he comes across as a really sound person; his general look and demeanor make me feel as if Id like to be his mate. I guess he isn't too dissimilar to a British Jack Johnson.
If you haven't heard the name Frank Hamilton previously - you will do (again) in the next 6-12 months, guaranteed! An extremely talented lyricist and song-writer who has been played twice in a row on Radio 2 by Chris Evans before, has co-written a Top 3 hit in Holland and continues to sell (quite a few copies of) his debut EP entitled, You, Your Cat & Me he released a few years ago! He recently posted an acoustic version of a new track called 'Had Enough' from Barn On The Farm Festival - check it below! Amazing!
Finally, big mentions to Benjamin Francis-Leftwich and Josh Bray who have both had albums out this year that you should check out!
Finally, R.I.P. Amy Winehouse (1983-2011).
