Daryl, Fresh Ré:
1 | I’d like to do a track with Ty Dolla $ign.
2 | I’d love to meet up with Zara Larsson.
3 | Win awards for production.
Some of the youngest artists ever to play at youbloom – and we’re guessing most any other place they’ve played as well – five-piece pop musicians Fresh Ré play modern cover tunes with so much fun and energy they blow musicians twice their age off the stage. They’re sincere, they’re dedicated, and most of all, they’re good. For fans of: Vazquez Sounds, AJ Silva, Leeloo Love.
Siobhan, singer, songwriter, occasional keys & synths, Great White Lies:
1 | To tour the world playing my music and getting paid!!
2 | Write a stunning score for a feature film.
3 | Play a belting headline gig at Glastonbury.
Great White Lies blend jazz, 60s soul, and singer-songwriter styles so seamlessly it’s hard to tell what genre you’re helplessly bobbing your head to. Addictively groovy, captivating and skillful tunes. A true surprise. See them live at The Wiley Fox on Wed, June 1 at 11.30pm. For fans of: Natalie Merchant, Stevie Wonder, Minnie Riperton
Nicole Curry, Mo Kenny:
1 | I’ve always wanted to play Massey Hall.
2 | A Polaris Prize nomination would be neat.
3 | Have one of my songs in a movie.
Canada’s own Mo Kenny is the answer to our singer-songwriter prayers, delivering sweetly sung yet deadly lyrics in a confident, dark style that evokes the take-no-prisoners best in all of us. By turns built on driving rhythms and skulking guitars, Mo’s gives it to us straight with a crisp, clear voice and an instrumental deftness that’s hard to beat. She plays The Grand Social acoustic stage on Wed, Jun 1 at 10.40pm. For fans of: Sky Ferreira, Florence and the Machine, Oh, Land
Dolly Daggerz, vox, Tokyo Taboo:
1 | One of our goals was to be played on BBC Radio 1 and that happened this year! So TICK! Now our goal is to be playlisted and endorsed by a Radio 1 DJ.
2 | Another would be to do an arena tour supporting a well-known band. Don’t care which one! Even if we think they are boring!
3 | Write a blacklist for new musicians and name and shame pay-to-play venues and promoters along with other scamsters!
Catchy, edgy garage pop outfit Tokyo Taboo have outrageous on speed-dial. Crafting ballsy tunes with a grungy edge, the duo demand attention – whether it’s through their relentlessly hard-to-forget hooks or their videos, sun-soaked odes to avant glam fun. You won’t forget these guys. Check them out on The Workman’s Club main stage on Thu, June 2 at 10.10pm. For fans of: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Louis XIV, The Breeders.
Tom Lucey, singer-songwriter:
1 | I would love to play the main stage at Electric Picnic. I’ll be going this year again and the vibe is unreal. To be on the receiving end of that would be a dream come true.
2 | Record with Rick Rubin. The list of hits he has and the sounds he comes out with are mind-blowing at times.
3 | Sell out the INEC in my hometown. It’s been host to some of Ireland’s biggest acts and fits 3,000 people. There would be huge pride in doing that.
A true homegrown talent, both vocally and instrumentally, singer-songwriter Tom Lucey marries gentle trad and folk elements into a contemporary sound, crafting an easygoing story-telling style that will please the most avid fans of the genre. It’s soundtrack of your life type stuff. Brilliant. He plays KC Peaches on Thu, June 2 at 8pm. For fans of Tom Rosenthal, Daughter, Villagers
Jay, lead vox, The Smoking Giants: ‘When you are independent like us in this cutthroat business, it’s very hard to answer this question because you set goals to jam as much as you can, you set plans to record, to book gigs, plan release dates for singles,EPs and videos and so on. So yeah we all want to get a record deal, have the number one album, go on a world tour. That would all be amazing; what band wouldn’t want it?? The Rock N Roll Bible may say ‘Sex, Drugs & Rock’n’Roll, but in our case it’s Sex, Drugs & On The Dole!
The mains thing is to do it for the right reasons. The buzz of playing live is who cares if one person claps? We’re doing it for the love and passion of music and to be playing with lads who feel the same way. I have no goals set beyond continuing to do what I do. Music will always be a part of my life.’
Superbly crafted pop songs to accompany your next big adventure – think road trip into the great wide open – with all the elements in their right place: skillful guitar hooks, driving drums, and anthemic vocals to belt with friends at the top of your lungs. They play The Wiley Fox on Wed, Jun 1 at 10.40pm. For fans of: The Last Shadow Puppets, The Las, Muse
What’s on your list? Share your Top 3 in the comments below:
