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Listen to tracks from the artists playing the HMV Next Big Thing season in one handy Spotify playlist
February 2012 sees the return of the HMV Next Big Thing season, and we at Time Out are proud to call ourselves media partners (we think it means ‘best friends’, but for brands). With more than 100 artists on the bill, playing more than 50 gigs over the course of ten days, working out which proto-Big Thing to see can be a daunting task.
To give you a starting point, we’ve compiled a list of our favourites, largely acts that we feel will soon be graduating to bigger venues where the likelihood of eye-contact with your idols will be considerably diminished. But with this year’s festival having expanded its stylistic remit into previously unexplored worlds of metal, grime and roots music, there’s a lot more out there to choose from.
Check out listings for all the shows and pick up your tickets here.
Previously recording the kind of wispy alt.folk beloved of John Lewis adverts, Houghton's second album sees her working with a new band (The Hooves Of Destiny) on a new sound. ‘Yours Truly, Cellophane Noise’ is a more theatrical set with lots of light and shade that is – heresy alert – more inventive than the latest slab of Florence Welch bombast. View gig information
Domino is, without doubt, one of the most lovingly managed record labels in the world. They’re certainly one of very few who would remain calm as one of their roster – already established as a popular folkish acoustician – took a left turn into self-proclaimed ‘Abba/Bowie’ territory, as McGuinness did on his third album. View gig information
Far less hysterical and helium-pumped than a hook-up with Xenomania suggests, singer-songwriter Florrie has been drumming since she was seven and also plays the guitar. It's probably this that gives her glossy girl-pop the musical edge – and helped her notch up three million YouTube views of 'Begging Me'. View gig information
He's a Californian former skate professional and fashion creative director, signed to the subsidiary of a leftfield hip hop label. Which may sound like a recipe for hipster disaster, but El Khatib’s innovative mix of garage rock and doo wop is distinguished by his visceral delivery and taut live presence. Here he supports The Heavy, who peddle a bad-assed blend of garage punk, ska, voodoo funk, swamp rock, dub, blues and classic R&B/soul. View gig information
The Malian singer-songwriter ruled the roots music scene last year, but deserves to reach, and convert, a much broader audience. Mixing music of her native Wassoulou region with heavy Afro-funk and elements of jazz, all topped by a voice like a molasses Molotov, Diawara could be the crossover sensation of 2012. View gig information
We've already nailed our own colours to this mast by picking Toy as ones to watch in 2012, and are happy to do so again. Sheltering under a similar umbrella as their mates The Horrors, they take the darkly driving, psychedelic drone business pretty damn seriously. View gig information
This 22-year-old south Londoner made a splash on 'Later…' and earned herself a place in the BBC Sound of 2012 poll, but that's not why we rate her. It's because of her elegantly dusky vocal tones and her way with a refreshingly skeletal nu-soul acoustic melody. View gig information
We don’t like to brag, but Time Out spotted Sandé’s talent back in 2009, when we asked her to play the Royal Opera House with Wiley. Now she’s on the verge of genuine pop stardom and writing songs for the reformation of the original Sugababes. And if that isn’t a sign of impending glory, we don’t know what is. View gig information
Psychedelic electronic producer Gang Colours mixes the sub-bass frequencies and choppy nature of dubstep with the ethereal beauty of house, the lackadaisical pace of dub, the unassuming composition of shoegaze and the two-kitchen-sinks maximalism of Dan Deacon. Here he opens for Warp-signed indie-soulster cum MC cum poptronicist Kwes. View gig information
If we had to make a bet on who the biggest pop act of 2012 would be, we’d put the family Bakelite on Stooshe. They may, in the end, prove to be a bit too raw for the mainstream, with lyrics about teen pregnancy and the occasional swear word. But the trio have songs, voices and personalities as big as all outdoors. Here the gals play in support of Labrinth, the Tinie Tempah- and Professor Green-collaborating, Simon Cowell-mentored singer-songwriter, remixer and producer. View gig information
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