Esser + Danimal Kingdom + Duologue + Gold Teeth + The Beat!

When:
20:00 Fri May 1

Where:
The Barfly, 49 Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8AN

Fuelling London’s unquenchable thirst for gleeful leftfield pop, indie and electro music, Time Out On The Up is back for another springtime instalment of stellar, fresh new talent helping you to get messy till late. What’s more, it’s still free till three!

On first listen, the immaculately flat-topped (Ben) Esser might sound like he's from the Jamie T and Jack Peñate school of street-smart, confessional troubadourism, but the former drummer with indie-punk hopefuls Ladyfuzz – who toured Butlins when he was just 11 – has far more yank in his tank than that. Oddly, it's his budget beats and intriguing mix of interests (American R&B, ska, grime, Britpop, electro-rap) – combined with his lyrical nous – that make tracks like 'Headlock' such a winner. This is the perfect chance to hear cuts from his debut album, 'Braveface', released May 4 on Transgressive.

In support comes three acts who do a splendid job attacking pop from every angle. Danimal Kingdom, aka Dan Murtha, who also sings in his cousin’s act Kissy Sell Out (who is both a Radio 1 DJ and an original music project), works a John Waters micro-tache and touts zippy, ’80-inflected art-pop. Elsewhere South London’s Gold Teeth come on like a wonky Blur trapped on a desert island with a battery powered Casio keyboard, while unsigned Londoners Duologue’s ‘Talkshop’ featured on the last series of ‘Skins’. Like a more optimistic, ‘Kid A’-era Radiohead.

As always, don’t forget to stick around after Esser to continue your shape-throwing to the fresh electro bass sounds of hot producer Mumdance, dancehall filthpot Smutlee, Superfilth!!!’s Oli DAB v Robin and electro vixen MMMelanie.