FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Springtide Festival

Springtide Festival is a new addition to the Hampshire music scene, and takes place over part of the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend in Gosport. That's just a 15min ferry ride from Portsmouth if you didn't know. Not only is it giving local artists a huge platform and the boost they all truly deserve, but they've got some of the most exciting acts of 2014 coming down to perform as well. I'll be there on the Saturday for a whole lot of dancing, whilst mooching about the clothing stalls and hey, I may even get my face painted too! 

Here's my tips for who to check out if you're planning on coming (which you should be!)

Fickle Friends.

With only two singles, Brighton's Fickle Friends are causing quite a stir in the music industry. Their charming, upbeat melodies are winning hearts all over the UK and they'll undoubtedly bring some summer vibes with their performance. 

Eliza and the Bear. 
If you caught Paramore on their UK tour last year, then you would have caught Eliza and the Bear getting you all warmed up beforehand. Championed by Communion music and big name Radio DJs, these guys have got a big career ahead of them. And they have trumpets.


Young Kato.
Fresh off their tour supporting You Me At Six, Young Kato are going to bring a bit of a party to Springtide. They've got that perfect blend of pop-rock that'll have you up on your feet and loving life for their entire set!


Pixel Fix.
I finally caught Pixel Fix live recently and their music in completely blew my mind. Their EPs are full of hauntingly brilliant atmospheric indie sounds, with cuts and twists throughout and it just becomes something on another level live. You'd be a fool to miss their set.

Bear Cavalry.
Gosport's finest export. Tropical indie-pop music at it's finest. I've lost count of the amount of times I've seen Bear Cavalry live, but I never bore of them. Bringing a lovely dose of the seaside with them, no matter where they play.


The Boy I Used To Be.
Okay, so I maaaay be a little biased as I used to work with Mr Edward Perry, aka The Boy I Used To Be. But, he's put a lot of hard work into his new EP and always a little charmer when he gets on stage. For a little distortion with your cheery indie music, The Boy I Used To Be is perfect for a Saturday afternoon.


Nathan Newman.
Heart-melting, beautifully written songs are what Nathan Newman is so good at creating. If you like Ben Howard, Damien Rice and Benjamin Francis Leftwich then you'll fall in love with Nathan.

These are just my top picks from the weekend, but there are tons more bands playing across the two days, plus a special acoustic stage to get excited about. For more information, and to purchase tickets visit: http://www.springtidefestival.com/

TIPS FOR 2014: PART ONE

1. MMX








MMX have been one of my favourite things about 2013. They landed on the scene with a hidden mystery, no big shows or relentless self-promotion, they simply let their music do the talking. Their two EPs, 'Child' and 'Heir' are mesmerising pieces of work that make you sit down and listen. On tour in January, catch them while you can and I promise you, you won't regret it.


For Fans Of: The 1975, Costal Cities, Phoria

2. LAUREL







I first met Laurel when she was 17 and entering a local Portsmouth competition to play at Blissfields Festival. Not long after that, she was picked up by the guiding hands of Turn First Artists (Rita Ora, Ellie Goulding etc) and has a voice to make the hardest of men go weak at the knees. Think Lana Del Ray without the really annoying persona. A lovely girl that makes fantastic music and truly deserves to make it big.



For Fans Of: Ellie Goulding, Lorde, Daughter

3. LONELY THE BRAVE








Lonely The Brave are a band that have made their mark with only a handful of tracks to their name. Latest EP 'Backroads' has received critical acclaim and BBC introducing have swept them up into their palm to play some of the UKs biggest Festivals. With a full-length release on the horizon, 2014 looks set to be their year.


For Fans Of: Arcane Roots, We Are the Ocean, Pure Love

4. ELIZA AND THE BEAR







Support Paramore on their Arena Tour? Yeah, why not. Eliza and the Bear are destined to be the next big indie band in the UK, there's no stylisation, just pure up-beat, catchy anthems that will undoubtedly soundtrack many summer adventures.


For Fans Of: Two Door Cinema Club, Dog Is Dead, Bombay Bicycle Club

5. NATIVES







Natives started off 2013 well, a couple of single releases and Festival/Tour appearances saw them gain more and more fans. Then things all got a bit muddled and the long-awaited album release didn't quite happen. Dedicated to their music, 2014 will be much kinder to the Natives boys and their headline UK tour will certainly re-ignite the excitement for the band.


For Fans Of: Kids In Glass Houses, Blitz Kids, You Me At Six

6. I DIVIDE







Once winners of the Redbull Bedroom Jam, 2013 has seen I Divide's success only grow further. With their new album wrapped and ready to fly out, I'm quite sure that these Exeter lads are going to be making a lot of noise in the coming months.


For Fans Of: Lower Than Atlantis, Straight Lines, The First

7. EMPIRE







Hands up who caught Arcane Roots on tour recently? If so, then you (hopefully) would have made the effort to catch EMPIRE. Frontman Joe Green has a unique vocal that entices you into their music, whilst beefy chords and snappy drums take you on an energetic journey throughout their mini-album 'Where the World Begins'.


For Fans Of: Max Raptor, Arcane Roots, Twin Atlantic

8. AS ELEPHANTS ARE







Having first discovered AEA at Southsea Fest in 2012, I've been hooked by their catchy guitars and quirky charm ever since. They may only have a small handful of tracks available to get your teeth into, but each one is superb and leaves you with a hunger to hear more.


For Fans Of: Clock Opera, Bombay Bicycle Club, The 1975

9. ACRES







Recently signing to Smalltown Records, Acres are one of the best things to come out of Portsmouth. Their live shows are full of sweat and passion, with songs of epic proportions lead by a ferocious vocal.


For Fans Of: Architects, Bury Tomorrow, Being As An Ocean

10. SONS & LOVERS







2013 has seen Sons & Lovers gradually piece together the parts of their puzzle. Selling out their first headline London show, touring with the likes of Ellie Goulding and The National and continuously working on their music. 2014 could be the year that they finish their puzzle and spread out their music for all to see and hear.


For Fans Of: Morain, Futures, Canterbury