HMV is delighted to confirm the final artists to sign up to its hmv Next Big Thing annual new music festival, which, with the valued support of Red Stripe Lager Beer and media partners Time Out and Xfm, showcases the very best in new and emerging talent drawn from all genres across the music spectrum – tipped to make it big or to break-through in 2012.
Alongside the likes of – Emeli Sande, Spector, Modestep, Delilah, Lianne Le Havas, Stooshe and Dry the River, who are already signed up, Labrinth, Frightened Rabbit, Lucy Rose, Dog Is Dead, Gemma Ray, Conor Maynard, New Look, Florrie, Kwes, Gang Colours, AWOLNATION, Starboy Nathan, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. and Blitz Kids are the latest exciting names to be added to the bill – ensuring that the festival now has an impressive total line-up of 200 artists.
Featuring five artists recently shortlisted by both the BBC Sound of 2012 and MTV’s Brand New for 2012 respectively, the hmv Next Big Thing festival – which last time out successfully showcased the likes of Jessie J, Anna Calvi, Wretch 32, The Pierces, Ed Sheeran, Rizzle Kicks and James Blake, and the year before brought us Ellie Goulding, Two Door Cinema Club, Marina & The Diamonds and Professor Green, is now firmly established as one of the main curtain-raisers to the UK festival season. It’s also become a credible barometer of all that’s fresh and exciting in new music at the very point it’s on the verge of making it big or bursting through to achieve mainstream chart success.
The third hmv Next Big Thing festival will run for over 11 days between 2nd – 12th February 2012 at nine venues around the UK: six in London – the Borderline, Camden Barfly, Heaven, the Jazz Café, the Garage and Upstairs at the Garage, and also outside of the capital at Birmingham’s hmv Institute, the hmv Picture House in Edinburgh and, for the first time, Manchester’s hmv Ritz.
Each venue will host up to three acts per night and, in keeping with the remit of introducing new music to the wider public, entry to gigs remains at the bargain price of a flat £10 (incl. booking fee), whoever the artist and whichever the venue.
Tickets to all the events are selling fast and are available to purchase via hmvtickets at hmvnextbigthing.com. There are 3 ways to buy: Online at www.hmvnextbigthing.com; by phone to the hmvtickets call centre on 0844 822 2603; or in person at hmvtickets box offices at selected HMV stores nationwide.
The festival will also feature specially curated and label nights from the likes of Domino Records, Moshi Moshi and DJ Target presents. See list attached for confirmed details of full line up.
HMV is also pleased to announce that the hmv Next Big Thing’s charity partner this year is Teenage Cancer Trust.
Each year-end there is feverish debate speculating on which new artists are likely to make it big in the twelve months that follow. Previously the gig-going public has often had to wait to catch a glimpse of these new stars-in-the-making, but the hmv Next Big Thing now provides an early platform for fans to see these new faces perform live – in great locations and at accessible prices.
HMV has always supported new and breakthrough artists, recognising that they represent the future lifeblood of the Music Industry, but the hmv Next Big Thing takes this encouragement to a new level, especially as artists can also expect promotional support instore and online for their new releases as part of the initiative.
Jessica Lace of Red Stripe Lager Beer, says: “Red Stripe is proud to be supporting hmv Next Big Thing. The brand has always been associated with up-and-coming talent, and we’re looking forward to discovering something new and original for 2012.”
Ryan Dooley of Warners act All The Young, comments: “We’re very happy that we’ve been invited to play the hmv Next Big Thing alongside other bands tipped for breakthrough success. I have fond memories of Saturday afternoons spent in our local HMV in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, when we’d check out all the latest albums, though nothing will top listening to Oasis and Blur singles in a packed store. If you’d have told us that we’d be one of HMV’s tips for 2012 all those years ago, I don’t think any of us would have believed it, so this is a really exciting show for us to do.”
Raoul Chatterjee, SVP, Commercial, Warner Music UK, adds: “We’re excited that our artists are set to perform at this year’s hmv Next Big Thing festival, which in just a short time has grown into an important platform for new talent. What also helps to make our involvement worthwhile is the knowledge that HMV will get fully behind our priority artists for 2012 with vital support instore and across other channels.”
Jason Legg, hmvlive Manager and co-promoter of the hmv Next Big Thing, comments: “To have Jessie J play live at the Barfly the day she secured her first No.1 summed up what hmv Next Big Thing is all about – supporting new talent on a platform that delivers amazing engagement for fans and artists alike. Predicting which new acts will break through has become a bit of a national past-time, so we’re really pleased to be giving fans an early opportunity to see some of the fresh new faces they’ll have heard so much about. And we’re happy to do so for just a tenner a gig and in great, intimate venues in London and around the country. Our aim is to further extend the scope of the hmv Next Big Thing as we continue to open new venues around the UK.”
Lucy Ward, Corporate Account Manager of the event’s nominated charity partner, Teenage Cancer Trust, adds: It’s wonderful to build on our existing relationship with HMV and, indeed, on our own live music credentials, by taking part in this great festival for new artists. A lot of the young adults we work with are very passionate about music – often attending gigs and festivals and with their own aspirations to be in a band and perform live. So this is a great platform for us to connect with a wide audience of young adults who may not be aware of the work that we do.”
