Main content
Hot for 2018
Andrew Marston and Danni Hunt present their 'ones to watch out for' and look back at a year's worth of success stories.
Last on
Sat 6 Jan 2018
20:00
麻豆约拍 Hereford & Worcester
Andrew Marston's Top Ten
We return with the most anticipated show of the year - where I reveal my 'ones to watch out for in 2018'. While 麻豆约拍 Music Introducing has celebrated its 10th anniversary, we've been celebrating 13 years of supporting new music from across the area. In the eight years we've had the , we've received 8,871 tracks from Herefordshire & Worcestershire in digital form - and we still insist on listening to every single one from start to finish!
#1: Riscas - Panic Like Tom
What an incredible year it鈥檚 been for this group of Midlands鈥� youngsters.
听
They sent their music into us, here at 麻豆约拍 Hereford & Worcester, and we loved it so much it became our Track of the Week and we passed it onto 麻豆约拍 Radio 1. Just a couple of weeks later, , which got them to #4 on Spotify's Most Viral in the UK.
听
According to the official stats, that track is going up by 5,000 listens a day - mainly in London, New York, Chicago, LA and Singapore - and in 2018, it looks like they鈥檒l be playing their first shows abroad.
听
They鈥檙e from all over the Midlands, including right here in Worcestershire and in the blistering heat.
听
They sent their music into us, here at 麻豆约拍 Hereford & Worcester, and we loved it so much it became our Track of the Week and we passed it onto 麻豆约拍 Radio 1. Just a couple of weeks later, , which got them to #4 on Spotify's Most Viral in the UK.
听
According to the official stats, that track is going up by 5,000 listens a day - mainly in London, New York, Chicago, LA and Singapore - and in 2018, it looks like they鈥檒l be playing their first shows abroad.
听
They鈥檙e from all over the Midlands, including right here in Worcestershire and in the blistering heat.
#2: The Americas - Something鈥檚 Gonna Happen
Bonding over a mutual appreciation for '60s/'70s rock 'n' roll, punk and gospel, the Worcester three-piece, , dropped everything in their lives and decided to chase that thin wild mercury sound that howled out from the records that they love.
听
They're influenced by acts such as Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones and have just come back from a full UK tour.
听
When they played a live session for us at the Phoenix Theatre in Ross-on-Wye, last month, their musical performance was so tight it was like listening to a CD.
听
So on that note, last week.
听
They're influenced by acts such as Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones and have just come back from a full UK tour.
听
When they played a live session for us at the Phoenix Theatre in Ross-on-Wye, last month, their musical performance was so tight it was like listening to a CD.
听
So on that note, last week.
#3: Jasper In The Company Of Others - As The Sun Rises
are a five piece folk rock, folk pop act based in Worcester and Derby.
听
In recent years, the band has shared the stage with the likes of Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ben Howard, Ed Sheeran, Cast and Toploader. Touring the UK and beyond, the band embarked on one of their biggest journeys yet, armed with a brand new album. This was their lead single - and became the much sought-after Track of the Week.
听
Because of the sheer number of bookings they were getting, Jasper decided to give up his flat and live in the tour van. However, during the recording of the album, a set of joss sticks caught fire and ended up badly damaging the vehicle. He鈥檚 now back to living in a fixed abode!
听
鈥淎 band who constantly output records to a massively high standard - with a feel-good summertime hit like this, it was a no-brainer to feature them on my in October鈥�.
听
In recent years, the band has shared the stage with the likes of Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ben Howard, Ed Sheeran, Cast and Toploader. Touring the UK and beyond, the band embarked on one of their biggest journeys yet, armed with a brand new album. This was their lead single - and became the much sought-after Track of the Week.
听
Because of the sheer number of bookings they were getting, Jasper decided to give up his flat and live in the tour van. However, during the recording of the album, a set of joss sticks caught fire and ended up badly damaging the vehicle. He鈥檚 now back to living in a fixed abode!
听
鈥淎 band who constantly output records to a massively high standard - with a feel-good summertime hit like this, it was a no-brainer to feature them on my in October鈥�.
#4. Last Ronin - Interstellar
Starting off life as Semtex, Bromsgrove producer Simon Robinson's love for music started with bands such as Green Day, Blink 182, Nirvana, Queen and Metallica - but after years of headbanging and moshing, his tastes widened to rave and drum & bass!
听
When he took liking to dubstep and started producing his own tracks, and found out it was his first-ever gig!
听
鈥淓pic, colossal, immense - there simply aren鈥檛 enough monumental words in thesaurus to describe his sound, which is why I had to include him on my 鈥� - Andrew Marston.
听
When he took liking to dubstep and started producing his own tracks, and found out it was his first-ever gig!
听
鈥淓pic, colossal, immense - there simply aren鈥檛 enough monumental words in thesaurus to describe his sound, which is why I had to include him on my 鈥� - Andrew Marston.
#5. Saint Alto - Worry
I鈥檝e seen two jaw-dropping performances from this artist in 2017 - first, , and secondly - when I was massively busy trying to edit an interview for imminent transmission at Lakefest where I found myself fixated with this stunning concert.
听
Philip Thomas Barber writes haunting, alternative folk songs about depression, flawed relationships and the games people play. He's been compared to Ben Howard and Passenger, although his influences include Arcade Fire, Kings Of Leon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Otis Redding, Rolling Stones and Joe Cocker.
听
He's recently moved from Leominster to Malvern and he's only recently put together Saint Alto. In fact, his live rendition was so flawless - it was that recording I used on my . He鈥檚 also held the Track of the Week title here on 麻豆约拍 Hereford & Worcester.
听
Philip Thomas Barber writes haunting, alternative folk songs about depression, flawed relationships and the games people play. He's been compared to Ben Howard and Passenger, although his influences include Arcade Fire, Kings Of Leon, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Otis Redding, Rolling Stones and Joe Cocker.
听
He's recently moved from Leominster to Malvern and he's only recently put together Saint Alto. In fact, his live rendition was so flawless - it was that recording I used on my . He鈥檚 also held the Track of the Week title here on 麻豆约拍 Hereford & Worcester.
#6: Teddy Matthews - Renna
Teddy Matthews has been busy gigging at our local music festivals, recording and writing since the beginning of 2017.
听
He took some of those songs along to Gavin Monaghan at Magic Garden Studios, the engineer behind The Editors and The Twang.
听
Teddy, who's from Kidderminster, is influenced by Ben Howard and Turin Brakes and it was a real pleasure to welcome him .
听
After making this song Track of the Week, I said his work deserves to be heard by a national audience. Putting my money where my mouth is, I played his live rendition of this record - about seeing his daughter, who now lives abroad - on 麻豆约拍 6 Music to critical acclaim.
听
He took some of those songs along to Gavin Monaghan at Magic Garden Studios, the engineer behind The Editors and The Twang.
听
Teddy, who's from Kidderminster, is influenced by Ben Howard and Turin Brakes and it was a real pleasure to welcome him .
听
After making this song Track of the Week, I said his work deserves to be heard by a national audience. Putting my money where my mouth is, I played his live rendition of this record - about seeing his daughter, who now lives abroad - on 麻豆约拍 6 Music to critical acclaim.
#7: Xcursion ft Bethany Joy & R.A.B. - Dirty Lips
This is the very sort of song you鈥檒l think you鈥檝e heard on national radio before鈥ut you haven鈥檛!
听
"Mind/speaker-blowing production from a consistently top-notch producer. Redditch's Christopher Whitehouse doesn鈥檛 always write dirty RnB, having had his dance songs featured on my Radio 1 pieces and his mellower tunes achieving the prestige Track of the Week status."
听
"Mind/speaker-blowing production from a consistently top-notch producer. Redditch's Christopher Whitehouse doesn鈥檛 always write dirty RnB, having had his dance songs featured on my Radio 1 pieces and his mellower tunes achieving the prestige Track of the Week status."
#8: The Roving Crows - New York Love Song
I had the honour of sitting in on the final mix of this album after a 10-year relationship with the band!
听
The group has been a firm fixture on the local music scene after moving to Colwall from Gloucestershire. But it all began for main songwriter Paul O'Neill in Kildare, Ireland, before attending a performing arts college in New York City.
听
, and now run their own! and, wanting to return the favour, they gave us our very own 麻豆约拍 Music tent.
听
Early support from Introducing included playing support to Jamie Cullum at Colston Hall in Bristol and regular features as Track of the Week. They're now full time musicians and tour the continent with their Irish upbeat sounds.
听
The group has been a firm fixture on the local music scene after moving to Colwall from Gloucestershire. But it all began for main songwriter Paul O'Neill in Kildare, Ireland, before attending a performing arts college in New York City.
听
, and now run their own! and, wanting to return the favour, they gave us our very own 麻豆约拍 Music tent.
听
Early support from Introducing included playing support to Jamie Cullum at Colston Hall in Bristol and regular features as Track of the Week. They're now full time musicians and tour the continent with their Irish upbeat sounds.
#9: Drew Darcy - We鈥檝e Got Forever
Drew Darcy is an artist and singer/songwriter from Kidderminster.
听
With a number of international dance singles now under his belt, including tracks with Ian Van Dahl, he is now embarking on this new vocal project with rock/pop guitar sounds.
听
With soaring vocal melodies over spacey guitars, Drew has taken influence from bands like U2, Keane and Nine Inch Nails with vocal ranges somewhere between Cobain, Springsteen and Bono.
听
- performance which landed him the coveted 麻豆约拍 Introducing Track of the Week.
听
With a number of international dance singles now under his belt, including tracks with Ian Van Dahl, he is now embarking on this new vocal project with rock/pop guitar sounds.
听
With soaring vocal melodies over spacey guitars, Drew has taken influence from bands like U2, Keane and Nine Inch Nails with vocal ranges somewhere between Cobain, Springsteen and Bono.
听
- performance which landed him the coveted 麻豆约拍 Introducing Track of the Week.
#10: KIM - Private
18-year-old Kim, from Bromsgrove, started her singing career recording covers on YouTube and Facebook, which started to get her noticed.
听
She's now concentrating on writing her own songs and has started performing live and has twice been awarded the coveted 麻豆约拍 Introducing Track of the Week.
听
This led me to booking her to switch on the Christmas Lights in Worcester.
听
鈥淏eautiful songwriting, with one of the most soulful voices around - which is why she鈥檚 now been featured twice in my 鈥�.
听
She's now concentrating on writing her own songs and has started performing live and has twice been awarded the coveted 麻豆约拍 Introducing Track of the Week.
听
This led me to booking her to switch on the Christmas Lights in Worcester.
听
鈥淏eautiful songwriting, with one of the most soulful voices around - which is why she鈥檚 now been featured twice in my 鈥�.
Danni Hunt's Top Ten
While Andrew counts down his top ten tunes for 2018, I look back at the biggest success stories of the last 12 months.
#1: Harry Styles - Sign Of The Times
Redditch-born Harry Styles has continued to climb dizzying heights this year.
听
He broke a major record with the launch of his eponymous debut album, Harry Styles, achieving the number-one spot in the UK charts. However, it's his success in America that is the one worth noting. Harry broke the record for best-selling first week by a solo British male artist's debut album with 230,000 total copies. A big deal. Previously, the record belonged to Sam Smith's In The Lonely Hour which sold 166,000 copies in its first week.
听
Harry made his acting debut this year too in the cinema smash Dunkirk. Add to that, having his own , taking home another armful of music industry awards and currently being in the middle of a ten month world tour with Herefordshire drummer Sarah Jones in the band. It鈥檚 all added up to a number one spot in our list.
听
He broke a major record with the launch of his eponymous debut album, Harry Styles, achieving the number-one spot in the UK charts. However, it's his success in America that is the one worth noting. Harry broke the record for best-selling first week by a solo British male artist's debut album with 230,000 total copies. A big deal. Previously, the record belonged to Sam Smith's In The Lonely Hour which sold 166,000 copies in its first week.
听
Harry made his acting debut this year too in the cinema smash Dunkirk. Add to that, having his own , taking home another armful of music industry awards and currently being in the middle of a ten month world tour with Herefordshire drummer Sarah Jones in the band. It鈥檚 all added up to a number one spot in our list.
#2: S艙ur - No Fire
Last year, .
听
They did, in a way, as frontwoman Tina Maynard from Worcester, who鈥檚 been known for her solo music as Tina V and also fronted the band This Wicked Tongue (both have also been in previous Top Tens), now heads up S艙ur听alongside Anya Pulver, from Droitwich group Mansize 鈥� and together as a trio they have had an amazing 2017.
听
This year, they鈥檝e played and also been .
听
They did, in a way, as frontwoman Tina Maynard from Worcester, who鈥檚 been known for her solo music as Tina V and also fronted the band This Wicked Tongue (both have also been in previous Top Tens), now heads up S艙ur听alongside Anya Pulver, from Droitwich group Mansize 鈥� and together as a trio they have had an amazing 2017.
听
This year, they鈥檝e played and also been .
#3: Superfood - I Can鈥檛 See
It鈥檚 been a super year for Kidderminster鈥檚 Superfood.
听
They made the trip up to the UK City of Culture this year to play .
听
They also played at Reading & Leeds, sessioned at Maida Vale and release their latest album complete with an accompanying tour in the autumn.
听
They made the trip up to the UK City of Culture this year to play .
听
They also played at Reading & Leeds, sessioned at Maida Vale and release their latest album complete with an accompanying tour in the autumn.
#4: OMYO - Mysterious Girl
OMYO is made up of William Edward from Weobley in Herefordshire and Tom McCorkell from Oxfordshire.
听
The pair wrote their first song together on New Year鈥檚 Eve 2015. They鈥檝e been working hard all year to get their music out there including embarking听on a 12-date tour in the summer.
听
This year, their tracks have been played on radio stations across the world 鈥� including of course on this show, and also . William and Tom have also been to New York this year to film the video for their debut single.
听
They鈥檝e done all of this without a record deal 鈥� remaining independent artists for the time being 鈥� but we don鈥檛 think it will be long until a label or two come knocking on the duo鈥檚 door.
听
The pair wrote their first song together on New Year鈥檚 Eve 2015. They鈥檝e been working hard all year to get their music out there including embarking听on a 12-date tour in the summer.
听
This year, their tracks have been played on radio stations across the world 鈥� including of course on this show, and also . William and Tom have also been to New York this year to film the video for their debut single.
听
They鈥檝e done all of this without a record deal 鈥� remaining independent artists for the time being 鈥� but we don鈥檛 think it will be long until a label or two come knocking on the duo鈥檚 door.
#5: Pete Tong ft Becky Hill - Sing It Back
Bewdley鈥檚 Becky Hill's been working hard ever since launching herself as a solo artist through The Voice 鈥� a fair few years ago now.
听
We first met her as the vocalist with , who we played lots on the radio.
听
This year, Becky has continued ploughing away in the music industry with both her own tracks and also continuing her massive success appearing on tracks with other artists including a recent collaboration with DJ Pete Tong.
听
We first met her as the vocalist with , who we played lots on the radio.
听
This year, Becky has continued ploughing away in the music industry with both her own tracks and also continuing her massive success appearing on tracks with other artists including a recent collaboration with DJ Pete Tong.
#6: Tom Forbes - Alpha Male
We first came across Evesham鈥檚 as a 15-year-old singer/songwriter at SnodFest - playing the guitar...over his head!
听
By building up layers of sound on the spot with his loop pedal, Tom adds harmonies, beat boxing, percussion, acoustic guitar and vocals over the top.
听
Tom played on the Croissant Neif bandstand a couple of times before joining another band on drums at this year鈥檚 Glastonbury festival.
听
Elsewhere this year, he鈥檚 played support slots in London and Bristol and also played a Headline Show at the Islington Academy. A job well done.
听
By building up layers of sound on the spot with his loop pedal, Tom adds harmonies, beat boxing, percussion, acoustic guitar and vocals over the top.
听
Tom played on the Croissant Neif bandstand a couple of times before joining another band on drums at this year鈥檚 Glastonbury festival.
听
Elsewhere this year, he鈥檚 played support slots in London and Bristol and also played a Headline Show at the Islington Academy. A job well done.
#7: Arcadia Roots - Primal Rhythm
Playing for Mr Glastonbury himself a bad year does not make.
听
, who hail from Bewdley and Kidderminster, won a host of new fans possibly including Michael Eavis himself when they performed at the festival after show party at Pilton Working Men鈥檚 Club in the middle of July.
听
But the biggest praise came from Mr Eavis who joined the band on stage and announced: 鈥淲hat a great band they are鈥�.听This successful show has put Arcadia Roots 鈥� made up of lead vocalist and percussionist Dave Small, bassist Joshua Terry and guitarists Danny Gauden and Tom Callinswood - in line for a potential appearance at the full Glastonbury Festival when it returns.
听
They were also on 鈥� also being favoured by organisers, there, as one of their favourite bands of the weekend.
听
, who hail from Bewdley and Kidderminster, won a host of new fans possibly including Michael Eavis himself when they performed at the festival after show party at Pilton Working Men鈥檚 Club in the middle of July.
听
But the biggest praise came from Mr Eavis who joined the band on stage and announced: 鈥淲hat a great band they are鈥�.听This successful show has put Arcadia Roots 鈥� made up of lead vocalist and percussionist Dave Small, bassist Joshua Terry and guitarists Danny Gauden and Tom Callinswood - in line for a potential appearance at the full Glastonbury Festival when it returns.
听
They were also on 鈥� also being favoured by organisers, there, as one of their favourite bands of the weekend.
#8: Vanadian Avenue
A wildcard entry this year as a nod to those who support the local music scene without being an artists in it.
听
The 鈥檚 sole purpose is to get column inches and airtime for local bands.
听
A good year for this Worcester feature and a better year for the bands they have supported in 2017 for the fact the blog exists.
听
The 鈥檚 sole purpose is to get column inches and airtime for local bands.
听
A good year for this Worcester feature and a better year for the bands they have supported in 2017 for the fact the blog exists.
#9: Advocate - Atlas
At this year鈥檚 Glastonbury, Hereford's was helping the 麻豆约拍 with outside broadcast rigging when he suddenly got asked to DJ in the silent disco.
听
He goes by the name of Advocate on stage and released single Freefall on Samurai Records in April.
听
His fascination with producing originated in his hometown of Hereford, studying Music at Hereford College of Arts; he then took up a place on the Music Production course at Southampton Solent University, only helping to push his music further. He鈥檚 now setting up broadcast rigs at festivals across the country and dj'ing the festivals he鈥檚 working at.
听
He goes by the name of Advocate on stage and released single Freefall on Samurai Records in April.
听
His fascination with producing originated in his hometown of Hereford, studying Music at Hereford College of Arts; he then took up a place on the Music Production course at Southampton Solent University, only helping to push his music further. He鈥檚 now setting up broadcast rigs at festivals across the country and dj'ing the festivals he鈥檚 working at.
#10: Institutes - Not Alone
Lead singer Gareth Griffiths played two sets at the Glastonbury festival this summer 鈥� one being on a solar powered stage.
听
After a trip to Pilton farm Gareth rejoined his bandmates for a trip to Eastnor Deer Park for a set on our .
听
After a trip to Pilton farm Gareth rejoined his bandmates for a trip to Eastnor Deer Park for a set on our .
Broadcast
- Sat 6 Jan 2018 20:00麻豆约拍 Hereford & Worcester
Gigs
Chloe Mogg's daily list of live music.
History
Tales of epic gigs and local legends.
Masterclass
Top tips for new musicians.
Sessions
The best live performances since 2005.