In no particular order…22 bands I’m looking forward to hearing more from, albums I’m looking forward to getting my grubby mitts on, and gigs or tours I’m looking forward to attending (fingers and toes crossed) in 2022
1. The Courettes
The band that never rests is already looking ahead to what’s next. Not one’s to rest on their laurels or take a well earned break after an ecstatically received album in Back in Mono, supported by 71 dates across 9 countries, Martin and Flavia have already been in the studio laying down tracks for their follow up. Let’s hope for some more UK dates this year, Back in Mono (live in Mono!) was next level stuff.
2. Run Into the Night/Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something
Unfortunately the planned dates for this double headliner have already fallen victim to COVID/Omicron, having been rescheduled until later in the year. However, this is one to look forward to, with Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something providing me with one of my favourite albums of 2019, and Run Into the Night never failing to impress on stage. These will be the first outings of the new Run Into the Night line up of Christina and Andrew who, like The Courettes, haven’t been wasting any time and have already been in the studio recording some new songs.
Run Into the Night Facebook
Jemma Freeman and the Cosmic Something Facebook
3. Brontes
Arriving on the Glasgow live scene last year and making a massive splash Glasgow’s Brontes are already picking up massive plaudits for their handful of live dates and sessions. 2021 promises to be a breakthrough year for them with their first official release due on Last Night From Glasgow.
4. Bob Vylan
Talking of making a splash, Bob Vylan exploded onto the UK punk scene in 2020 with his visceral debut mini album and song of the year, the no prisoners take, no words minced attack on racism in the UK that is We Live Here. This year will see the pair release their follow up album, The Price of Life, and I’ll finally get to see them perform live (pandemic permitting!) as they bring their no holds barred show to Glasgow.
5. Tulsaqueen
At the start of 2021 I’m pretty sure I included Tulsaqueen, the solo project of Curdle/Dorothy Hale guitarist Wiggy in my round up of things I was looking forward to, with a few teased suggestions that an album may be forthcoming. The album didn’t materialise but having seen the lady in question playing with Curdle last year, and Tulsaqueen releasing a new song and playing her first gig supporting Bobby Lee in Mono, I am taking a roll of the dice on the album seeing the light of day this year. Fingers crossed.
6. Los Bitchos
With a new album, Let the Festivities Commence coming in February (I’ve been fortunate to have received an advance copy and it’s a belter) and a gig in Glasgow’s Stereo on the 18th of February to look forward to, things are looking rosy for this fascinatingly unconventional surf guitar quartet.
7. St Dukes
Having seen them play a glorious set supporting Lola in Slacks at the Moon Moth album launch in the CCA, the limelight will be well and truly theirs this year with the release of their debut album on Last Night From Glasgow. For a taster, here is their single from last year Animal Glue.
8. Keeley
Having released my two favourite EPs of last year, Keeley is on the up and up. The band played their debut UK gig in The Lexington in London to rave reviews in 2021, I’m hoping for at least a Glasgow date in 2022. And it appears there are new songs on the way too…
9. Monica Queen
Quite literally the Queen of the Scottish music scene,Monica Queen was one half of a duo who released one of my top ten albums of last year, the magnificent Birthday Poems with Chris Connelly. Alongside her partner in crime Johnny Smillie, they also had a hand in some of my other favourite albums of last year including Daniel Wylie’s Atoms and Energy and The Gracious Losers Six Road Ends. This year should see the release of a new solo album for which I’m very excited about.
10. Earl of Hell
On the heavier end of things, Earl of Hell released a monster of song last year in Blood Disco, and despite me not managing to catch them live, I have heard from more than one reliable source that they can translate that sound into a cracking live show too. I hope to hear more from them and get to witness them live for myself.
11. The Bluebells/Sister John
The very last gig I saw in 2021 before Omicron led to further gig cancellations was the double header of The Bluebells and Sister John, and it was up there with the best. They were supposed to play again the following week, switching sets around, and I believe, slightly different setlists planned. Selfish I know, but in a way, I was glad that gig couldn’t go ahead, as I couldn’t make it anyway… it’ll take wild horses (or another peak in the pandemic…) to keep me away this time…
Sister John Facebook
The Bluebells Facebook
12. Self Esteem
Rebecca Lucy Taylor absolutely nailed it with her second solo album Prioritise Pleasure, packed full of inspirational perfect pop songs and appearing at or near the top of just about every best of list of 2021. I’m looking forward to seeing these songs performed live at the already upgraded gig in the QMU in March.
13. Poster Paints
A collaboration between Carla J Easton of Teen Canteen and Simon Liddell of Frightened Rabbit, Poster Paints managed to squeeze in debut headline gig in The Poetry Club between lockdowns as well as unveiling a couple of songs in the shape of Number 1 and Never Saw It Coming. Headline gigs beckon on Glasgow and Edinburgh in February as well as a Belle & Sebastian support. An album is in the offing too…
14. Jill Lorean
Having released two wonderful singles last year in the form of Kneading and more recently the cathartic Walls. A highly anticipated album is due in April this year…
15. Katherine Aly
I hope to see the continued rise of Katherine Aly in 2022. Having released one of my favourite songs of last year in the powerful lyrical beauty of Pariah, and following it up with another cracking single in Rules, the world is her oyster and there for the taking.
16. Pinkfiz
I fell in love with the music of Pinkfiz earlier this year when I heard Did I Ask? (actually her third single) when she didn’t have much of a social media presence. Since Did I Ask? and its follow up Pleaser, which were later brought together with two other songs on The World of Pinkfiz came out she has been gradually building up quite an online following. he EP together with earlier songs, The Birthday Song and Your Girl there is a maturity to her songwriting and playing that belies her 19 years. Izzy (Pinkfiz) has a bright future ahead of her
17. Sacred Noise
Another band who released their debut single in 2021, but who I’ve been following on social media for some time, having been drawn in by snippets of songs and demos, desperately hoping for a release of some music or some gigs. Thankfully their debut single Taste in men arrived and didn’t disappoint. I will continue to click on that website looking for the debut live date…
18. Pizza Crunch
Another band who have impressed me with their back catalogue of six singles to date from their first single Fraud released at the early stages of COVID in 2020 through to Motivational Substances at the end of last year. I even don’t mind the name now which almost put me off listening to them in the first place… More of the same in ‘22 please.
19. Spyres
Their reputation already garnering plaudits and securing them a support slot with Jesus and Mary Chain in the iconic Barrowland venue, ad selling out their December headline show in Stereo, Spyres look ready to take on the world and build on their already impressive small but perfectly formed back catalogue of singles.
20. Turning Black Like Lizards
A band I’ve been following for a while now, and ave recently been fortunate to get a preview of 24, a dark and edgy goth tinged psyche track from their album, now due in 2022 after COVID related delays… Hopefully things return to some sort of normality this year and they can get out on the road and tour the album too.
21. Wet Leg
Wet Leg caused quite a stir in 2021 despite only releasing two singles. The fortunate few got to see them play an intimate gig in McChuills in Glasgow creating one of those “I was there” moments (I unfortunately wasn’t there) arranged before they started to go stratospheric. Hoping for great things from their debut album this year.
22. Big Girl’s Blouse
Similar to Brontes, this band have played just a handful of gigs and also recorded a Crowded Flat live session in 2021, but unlike Brontes, did release one single, the superb Rock n Roll Hit of September. Hoping for lots more in 2022.