The Indie Guide: Top 5 Breakout Artists to Watch Out for in 2024!

So far this term, industry scouts have been trawling the United Kingdom and Ireland's small venues, bursting with fresh talent who are keen to put their amps to the floor and send waves to reach followers of indie. Some rising stars have hit the ground running through modes of innovation, intrinsic stage presence from front men, and channeling their identity as unsigned artists. Join my personal pursuit of new, unattended tracks of 2024, with the charts being dominated by already well established artists like Charlie XCX, with her revolutionary pop record brat, or Beyonce's switch to country music. Whether you're an indie nut, or you're simply seeking to expand your scope, this guide will introduce you to the voices of talent that deserve more recognition.

1) Basht

Basht first started garnering recognition last year while supporting Wunderhorse's tour for their debut album Cub, the instant classic on the lips of every indie gig-going enthusiast across the nation. Alike the headline act, the Dublin originated group are synonymous with their high energy performances. The live experience they have created is hailed for it's intensity, embellishing an electrifying vibe a crowd can lose their self with.

Musically, Basht sit somewhere between the mid-2000's indie disco scene and the latest post-punk revival across Ireland; perhaps a testament to the politically charged locality of the band, they seem to uphold this identity as a badge of honour in their debut EP. The urgency portrayed by the lyrics in their lead hit "Gone Girl" is propped up by the aggressive down-picked riff, building tension to personify a headbanging effect. This, along with dry signal sounds in "Dirty White" indeed drive this almost Bloc Party rhetoric to their sound. Lead singer, Jack Leavey also draws comparison's with how Julian Casablancas manipulates the microphone to muffle the sound of his low toned vocals, which only reinforces this turbulent concept Basht have built.

2) Junodream

Junodream’s meteoric rise to stardom was always going to be inevitable, and they have certainly taken 2024 in their stride. The Hampshire born sensations are renound for their space infused originality and their reflective lyrics. Their debut album Pools of Colour forgoes a cohesion we seldom see in modern LP’s, which puts Junodream in a category of choreographed innovation.

Pools of Colour can only be described as a melting pot of layers. A range engineered drum beats, acoustic riffs, reverse delay pedel effects Thom Yorke would sign off his nod of approval for in the opener Fever Dream. If you are looking for something different to bring you from the abyss to the skies and everything in between, then Junodream are a must see band this year!

3) The Jack Fletcher Band

While The Jack Fletcher Band may no longer be the new kids on the block, the Wolverhampton born set have steadily built themselves up to the release of their debut album World of Colour, due out this year. The quartet have already compiled a string of strong support tours with notable names such as Primal Scream, The Coral, and McFly; they have also appeared at multiple festivals, with their slot times allowing the music to speak for itself.

Their discography is defined by Fletcher's husky vocals, paired with noodly rock guitars, notably the cherry-red Gibson SG, a likely nod to the sonic influence of Kelly Jones' Stereophonics. Harmonic backing vocals from bassist Henry Bradley complement the stripped-back sound, especially in standout tracks like "Blue," which concludes with a signature solo followed by a fading hook. Conversely, the band also reveals their emotional depth with clean keyboard sounds, not as an experiment but as a prominent feature in their more tender songs, such as 'Has It All Gone Wrong' and their latest single featuring CiCi Howell. What stands out most about this group is their unwavering commitment to soul and youthful energy.

The Jack Fletcher Band have a few upcoming gigs and have plenty more music ready to release!

4) Charm

A genius, memorable and ’charm’ing alias gives the next newcomer the commercial value of any great music act. The scene in the Black Country is continuing to blossom and is increasingly gathering pace, with more emerging local artists than ever before within this discourse; Charm are the epitome of this. Over the last year, their vibrant performances and throwback dedications to the Britpop period has steadily bought attention to the Bloxwich four-piece with a small but doubting fanbase travelling to see their performances.

Charm's music echo the Britpop extravaganza of the nineties, with a sprinkle of psychedelic elements to add character to their sound. Their driving melodies and dreamy open chord structures generate a contemporary scape, once pioneered by a little known band from Liverpool. Lyricist, Ky Taundry explores themes of youth, relationships, the British landscape, and the band's most recent single, championing peace in a quintessentially hippy fashion. Critics have radiated positivity about their experiences with Charm and how their trajectory is destined; their first headline show at Dead Wax in Birmingham may have just kickstarted a prosperous 2024 for the foursome.

5) The Notion

The Notion formed in Manchester in 2019 and wasted no time in releasing music, with a distorted and stomping double single to burst onto the indie scene; rather than burning the brakes off this rampant yet, if we're fair, generic 'notion', the band has seemed to drift away from traditional North-Western styles and have matured their sound in the lead up to the present day. Caught in the Same Two Minds is the title of their first extended play. Released in February, we hear a blend of clean guitar sounds, while guitarist, Dylan, maintains this litter of energy in the highlight track Still in the Dark. The tune's interlude is judiciously overdubbed by philosophic ramblings to reveal the song's message about it being impossible to eradicate your roots, but you can always 'fall forward'.

Despite their limited catalogue of songs, The Notion continue to sell out local headline shows and have also merged with bigger names within the area which is a testament to their quality performances and buys into the quality, not quantity saying all fresh bands should be striving for.