After two years internet hosting on-line showcases resulting from pandemic issues, Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) returns to Groningen this month (January 18-21) with a line-up packed filled with 2023’s brightest expertise to begin your yr proper. Over time, the likes of Sigrid, IDLES and Blossoms have won the ESNS Exchange program from the competition, with others to have handed by means of Eurosonic through the years together with Wet Leg, Fontaines D.C., Black Midi, Squid and lots of extra.
ESNS has historically supplied competition bookers with a complete host of contemporary new acts to ebook for his or her occasions over the summer season. After enjoying in Groningen final yr, Moist Leg went on to pack out Glastonbury’s Park Stage, safe competition bookings throughout the globe and assist slots with the reunited Pulp, play on US tv and past. Yard Act additionally started an enormous 2022 at ESNS, ending the yr by being crowned the year’s most-booked new act at festivals across Europe.
Throughout plenty of venues within the Dutch metropolis, all of 2023’s most fun new acts might be beginning their yr robust. Right here’s who NME might be speeding to catch throughout the competition…
forty ninth & Fundamental
Who: Irish pop duo making kaleidoscopic surprise out of arduous instances
When: Jan 19, 00.20, Palace
Look out for: A correct early hours knees-up. Placing this pair on after midnight is a stroke of genius, with their hovering and ecstatic beats excellent for the apex of the night time. There are shades of Fred once more.. of their sample-heavy tracks, and it’ll merely explode reside. You’ve obtained to be there.
Lady Scout
Who: Swedish quartet with melodies for days
When: Jan 20, 22.15, Praedinius Gymnasium
Look out for: Very good Swedish indie goodness. Girl Scout met whereas finding out jazz on the Royal Faculty of Music in Stockholm, however the music they make within the band simply folds outwards from there. There’s hints of Japanese Breakfast and First Aid Kit of their folk-tinged indie-pop melodies, and it’s positive to be the proper winter hotter for a chilly January in Groningen.
Heartworms
Who: A glance contained in the darkish and scrumptious thoughts of south London’s Jojo
When: Jan 18, 22.15, Mutua Fides
Look out for: An all-encompassing sonic assault. One of many latest signings to Speedy Wunderground (The Lounge Society, Honeyglaze), Heartworms is a poetry-inspired challenge that takes inspiration from the darker corners of indie historical past: The Cure, PJ Harvey, Interpol. The reside present has been getting rave opinions as nicely, and is one to place on the high of your ESNS checklist.
KhakiKid
Who: A front-runner in Eire’s burgeoning rap scene
When: Jan 19, 23.00, Der AA-Theatre
Look out for: An announcement of intent from a rising star. KhakiKid’s music has been in comparison with Tyler, the Creator, and he arrives with the identical disruptive manifesto, with an already distinctive movement and revolutionary manufacturing. His first challenge, ‘Elevator Music’, got here out final September and presents a captivating new voice set to have a large 2023.
Metteson
Who: Off-kilter and glamorous Norwegian pop star
When: Jan 19, 23.40, Praedinius Gymnasium
Look out for: Some late-night sweatiness. It appears becoming that Metteson’s ESNS set for 2023 takes place in a gymnasium, as a result of the Norwegian’s music is that which you must transfer and sweat to. With the vitality and fantastic thing about Perfume Genius set towards the pure pop ecstasy of Robyn, he’s a brand new star within the making. By the top of 2023, this might be an enormous ‘I used to be there’ second.
M(h)aol
Who: Irish punks with a fierce and unbelievable message
When: Jan 20, 23.15, Werkman Faculty
Look out for: Some righteous punk fist-pumping from a band making noise in every single place they go. On debut EP ‘Gender Research’, M(h)aol ask you to neglect what , and unlearn poisonous behaviours which were fed to you. Although it’s all fairly weighty stuff, however reside additionally it is extremely enjoyable, with vocalist Róisín Nic Ghearailt including humour and levity to the band’s cast-iron message.
Namasenda
Who: Swedish punk-turned-PC Music adjoining star
When: Jan 20, 21.45, Palace
Look out for: Sticky pop music from a star with punk rock spirit. One other Swedish act to take a look at, Namasenda began out in Stockholm’s thriving punk scene earlier than gravitating extra in the direction of pop music and assembly PC Music head honcho A.G. Cook. From there, she has began making hyper-modern, rule-breaking pop music whereas sustaining that punk ethos. Protected to say, this set might be a complete riot.
O.
Who: Sax and drums duo with rule-breaking DNA
When: Jan 20, 21.45, Palace
Look out for: An interesting new band off the Speedy Wunderground manufacturing line. Taking part in baritone sax and drums, O. – aka Joe and Tash – started in lockdown after enjoying in bands throughout the hip-hop, jazz and pop scenes of London. Since then, they’ve supported Black Midi on tour, and put their enviable musical expertise and information into making advanced however warming sounds which can be confounding but unbelievable.
Sans Soucis
Who: Fiercely impartial Italian pop star with jazz leanings
When: Jan 19, 21.45, Discussion board Rabostudio
Look out for: A mish-mash of cultures and sounds. Italo-Congolese singer Sans Soucis, who relies in London, tackles generational trauma, looking for id and extra over music that leans in the direction of jazz however is happier floating within the ether with no style tags in any respect. Although the themes she tackles are weighty, her voice floats by means of them with pure ease. It’s not arduous to see why she selected the artist title Sans Soucis, a childhood nickname translated as ‘no worries’.
The Heavy Heavy
Who: UK duo drawing from the carefree vibes of the ‘60s and ‘70s
When: Jan 18, 20.20, Huize Maas Fundamental
Look out for: A band whose sound is, in their own words, “The Rolling Stones meets The Mamas & The Papas”. ““We’re not making an attempt to create a pastiche or make one other sound that’s equivalent to one thing that exists, however to hold on what we imagine is the best period of music,” The Heavy Heavy informed NME final yr, and their music – expansive, sunny people rock – is a pleasant and much-needed distraction from fashionable maximalism.
