T in the Park has produced a stellar line up for their first festival at Strathallan Castle. The likes of Kasabian, the Libertines & Noel Gallagher need no introduction. Further down the line up though, there are some real hidden gems.

Here’s our list of bands you might not know about yet, but you really shouldn’t miss.

Friday

War On Drugs

This American band have been around for a while, but it feels like they finally arrived last year. Their third album “Lost In the Dream” received critical acclaim and was listed in both the Guardian and Pitchforks album of the year lists.

Their brand of ambient space rock with a slight Bruce Springsteen vibe would be perfect to chill out to with a pint in hand on a sunny afternoon. Let’s hope they bring the weather with them.

The War On Drugs – Under Pressure

Sigma

It demonstrates how strong this year’s T in the Park line up is when Sigma are half way down the poster, despite having 2 consecutive number ones in 2014. The drum ‘n’ bass duo first hit the top of the charts with “Nobody to Love”, which borrows the piano riff from the intro to Kanye West’s “Bound 2”.  They followed up this success with “Changes” featuring Paloma Faith on vocals.

If you fancy bouncing around to catchy dance music, but can’t wait for David Guetta, then Sigma are the act for you.

Sigma – “Nobody to Love”


 

Slaves

Royal Blood paved the way, proving that a 2 piece rock band can have a number one album. Now Slaves are hot on their coat tails.

Nominated for BBC Sound of 2015 and with an appearance on Jools Holland under their belt, it’s Slave’s turn to demonstrate how big a noise 2 angry young men can produce.

Slaves perform Hey on Jools Holland

 

Saturday

Jungle
Not only do this band know how to write an infectious tune, they are masters of the viral video too.  
You may remember them from their video for Platoon, which featured the unbelievable break dancing of 6 year old B-Girl Terra. Or perhaps you saw the video for the Heat and the impressive roller skating dance moves of Icky and Silence.

The real star though, is the music, which I can only describe as sumptuous disco funk. A real must see.

Jungle – Busy earnin’

 

The Strypes

Often bands meet at high school or college. Not the Strypes, their first gig was their primary school show. By the time they were old enough to drink they’d already signed a record deal, released an album and played Glastonbury.

The Strypes sound is steeped in the blues & it could easily belong in a different era. Like Alabama Shakes and the Black Keys, the Strypes are taking rock music back to its roots. Having grown up together it’s not surprising the band’s playing is very tight, whilst as individuals they all have complete mastery of their instruments. If you like the 60s rock music, check out this band, whose music belies their age.

The Strypes – Blue Collar Jane

 

Palma Violets

Palma Violets share the same record label (Rough Trade) as the Strokes and the Libertines. All 3 bands also manage to combine energetic indie rock with a melodic quality. Palma Violets stand apart with the addition of keyboards and a disregard for traditional song structures. At times they could be describes as punk with a soothing organ to take the edge off.

The band announced themselves to the world with their anthemic  debut single “Best of Friends” in 2012. The following year they won NME’s best new band award. Since then they’ve release the difficult second album, Danger in the Club. Whilst it sounds disjointed in places there also some real highlights on the record and live it all comes together.  Palma Violets are a band whose enthusiasm is infectious; to truly appreciate their music you must see them first hand.

Palma Violets  - Best of Friends

Sunday

Years & Years

At the start of the year BBC named Years & Years as their “Sound of 2015”. By March they were top of the charts with “King”. It’s easy to get the impression they’ve had an overnight journey to success, but their first single came out in 2012. Featuring jangling guitar alongside uplifting keyboards, “I wish I knew” never charted, despite being a gem of a song.

Since then Years & Years have lost two members and changed record label twice. The guitars gone, but the energising synths & melodic singing remain.  The base of their sound could easily be compared to Disclosure, but Years & Years have managed to build another layer of complexity and polish on top.
Having finally earned their well deserved recognition, Years & Years could easily find themselves at number one for their T in the Park performance, with the infectious new single “Shine”.

Years & Years – Shine

 

Wolf Alice

When Reading and Leeds released their line up poster one blogger recreated it, only missing out all the acts that didn’t contain any females. To say the new image was sparse would be an understatement. It spread like wild fire and started a fierce debate.

Beleaguered festival booking agents will therefore be relieved there is a brilliant new band on the scene, and they have a female singer.

It’s hard to describe Wolf Alice as there is a lot of range to their music. Some of their songs have a grunge feel to them featuring thundering guitars and driving bass, whilst other songs sound a bit like the 1975, with a more produced pop type guitar song.

They formed as a two piece in 2010 and became a quartet in 2012. In that time they’ve released 2 EP’s, but they’ve only just released their first album, “My Love is Cool”. The band has certainly paid their dues and is more than ready to take their place in the spot light.

Wolf Alice – Moaning Lisa

Catfish and the Bottlemen

Audiences love them, reviewers seem less convinced. Playing to sold out venues everywhere they go, Catfish &  The Bottlemen have certainly built a loyal fan base. Yet their album has mainly received negative reviews. Most complaints focus on a lack of originality. They may have a point, the songs do sound a bit generic indie and most could easily feature on a Razorlight or Courteneers album. However, they also have a quality where on first hearing you feel you instantly know them like an old friend.

The Welsh band already has one big fan in Scotland. Actor Ewan MacGregor stars in the video to their song “Hourglass”.

Catfish and the Bottlemen – Kathleen