TIPPER OF THE WEEK – ROB BALL

We continue to shine the spotlight the biggest and best emerging acts from across the UK. Each Monday, we ask one of our esteemed tippers to select five of their hottest tips to be featured on the site throughout the week.

Next up we have Rob Ball, moderator at Fresh On The Net, festival scout and supporter of live music. Discover some of the best new artists and bands around right now with Rob’s tips below.

 

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KEIR

Keir accompanied by his band have been bubbling under for the last couple of years. He has a stunning recording voice, but he really comes alive when performing. You can’t take your eyes off him as he pours out his emotions. Everyone I have suggested they go and watch him has texted me during the set with the same words “Bloody Hell”. You are reminded of Freddie Mercury, not by his voice, but by the 120% he puts into every song. As they say “he leaves everything on the stage”.

 

KAWALA

Having started off as a folk/indie duo longtime friends Dan and Jim have added a backing band, and the bigger sound is having a great impact with sell out shows and a busy festival season ahead. The harmonies and story-telling are still as strong, but the depth of added (and talented) guitar, bass and drums has been pulling in many new fans. They have a great chemistry which really shows in their live performances, plenty of banter and a great rapport with their audiences.

 

ROE

Roe describes her music as ‘Grumpy Electro Pop’ and it is quite apt. Each week we get 180 uploads at Feshonthenet, which we whittle down a playlist of 25. Occasionally you get an artist that stops you in your tracks… Roe was such, and one of my stands out from last years’ uploads. The potential problem for a multi-instrumentalist/producer is can they play their carefully crafted tracks with impact when playing live. No problems here. In a short time, she has developed a set that can quieten a noisy crowd within 60 seconds and keep them quiet.

 

THE HOWL & THE HUM

I am a sucker for multi layered soundtracks with each instrument appearing to be going in different directions, yet the whole sound melding together to make an impact far greater than the individual parts, add great vocals and I am totally besotted. It’s cinematic indie at its best. Live they immediately draw you in and hold you, time flashes by, lead singer Tom entrances you and in no time, they finish with you eagerly yearning a repeat. Recommended listening with headphones on and eyes shut!

 

ONLY THE POETS

Indie/pop in its purest sense. OTP seem to have come from nowhere and appear to be on the ascendency very quickly. After a few very small shows and a support tour with Coasts they have already sold out most of their 1^st real headline tour in September. I caught them live last week and was amazed to hear the crowd singing back on the 1^st song. They have catchy songs a plenty and a charismatic front man in Tom, who gets the crowd going right from the start of their sets. I have heard their next single, which is released at the end of this month, it is a real ear worm and I can imagine it being sung very loud by the end of the festival season.