Here is our list of Ones to Watch from Scotland. See below for an eclectic selection of emerging artists to explore in 2024. And the majority of these artists I have seen live in support slots. The gems here demonstrate that getting to the gig early to see the support band is definitely worth the effort.
Becky Sikasa
The musician, singer, producer, instrumentalist and lyricist Becky Sikasa released her debut EP Twelve Wooden Boxes in 2023. Splitting her time between Glasgow and Cologne the myriad of influences seep into her breath-taking neo-soul music. The EP was nominated for a SAY (Scottish Album of the Year) award, and with accolades already from the likes of BBC Introducing, it is only a matter of time before this talent reaches a wider audience.
Bikini Body
Edinburgh based Bikini Body are a 5-piece full of quirky off kilter fun-fuelled vibes. Their songs are forthright and pointed but also have a tongue in cheek quality which has seen them gather a bundle of loyal fans locally. Rumours of more new music in 2024 have been bolstered by their biggest headline gig at the Mash House in Edinburgh in February. Possibly an album in 2024? Let’s hope so.
Brat Coven
Brat Coven are a 3 piece riot grrrl punk band from Glasgow. Their self-proclaimed aim is to help create a safer and more inclusive music scene. They mix catchy choruses and energetic instrumentals with strong intersectional feminist values. Brat Coven want to update the riot grrrl revolution and bring it to a newer, 21st century audience. Just listen to those wild guitars.
Brògeal
2023 has been a breakthrough year for Falkirk band Brògeal: releasing their debut EP, headlining a sold-out show at King Tut’s, and attracting the attention of Scottish music legends along the way. Part Irish folk-punk and part Scottish indie trad, Brògeal are reminiscent of The Pogues and I suspect it’s an influence they revel in. Their live shows are exhilarating and you just have to dance with a grin on your face. They began a monthly residency at McChuills in Glasgow, called the Vicar Street Social, and have already played their untamed music further afield. Let the party continue.
Casual Drag
Glasgow garage punk trio Casual Drag released their debut EP Revolution Will Eat Itself in 2023 and immediately gained wider attention. It’s a body of work that encapsulates their raucous live shows. There is a drive and energy embedded within their music, raw and edgy with wicked riffs and crashing drums. No wonder they are in demand live and with the promise of new music to come in 2024 Casual Drag will continue to grow their fanbase.
Chef the Rapper
Born and raised out of Aberdeen, rapper Ola Akinsanya aka Chef spent much of his childhood in London, Nigeria and the US (mainly Baltimore and Atlanta). His music draws from inspirations from all these areas and takes listeners on a journey through Southern US rap, UK Grime, Afrobeat and Jazz. He spent his childhood learning violin, before embracing hip-hop and setting up his first studio in his kitchen, which perhaps inevitably led to him being named Chef. Since then, along with producer and long-time collaborator Louis Seivwright, he has gone on to become a lynchpin of Aberdeen’s thriving hip-hop and RnB community, following in the footsteps of local hero Ransom FA.
Cowboy Hunters
“Punk rock settles down and has a daughter. The daughter runs away and has a son with a robot. This hellish cyborg offspring is an exile. Sick riffs and spite are his only solace. This is the story of our ancestors.”
You first time you see Cowboy Hunters live you instantly think “WTF?“. A male and female duo who switch between drums and guitar mid-set plus share the vocals, Cowboys Hunters set contains punk-infused tracks with their own twist. With new music out in January plus a gig at King Tuts in Glasgow, 2024 has got off to a flyer for Cowboy Hunters.
Day Sleeper
Edinburgh based 6-piece Day Sleeper released their debut EP ‘Everything There Is’ in March 2023. Full of rich soundscapes and ethereal instrumentation from hypnotic drum beats to rich guitar riffs, their music envelopes the listener. Such is the growing reputation of this band they will be supporting Callum Easter and the Roulettes at his Glasgow Celtic Connections gig at the end of January. Led by the vocals of Leo Bargery their inspiration comes from various musical baskets including indie and dance music but Day Sleeper are absolutely their own thing, comfortable to move effortlessly between the genres.
Dead Pony
Dead Pony will be releasing their debut album Ignore This on 5th April via LAB/Seeker Records, with guitarist and lead composer Blair Crichton saying of the title: “As a band, we’ve experienced an awful lot of being ignored. We really don’t like that. So we set about making a debut LP so good that people had to pay attention. It’s a record that literally dares people to, ‘Ignore this…’”
The irony of course is that it will be impossible to ignore Ignore This. The indie rockers are a blast as anyone who has seen them live can testify. Breakthrough single ‘23, Never Me‘ has now had over 2 million views on that streaming service. Vocalist Anna Shields says that the band’s music is for: “the misfits who struggle to fit in anywhere else”, with their growing fanbase consisting of “people who like good music, who aren’t in too much of a hurry to pigeonhole bands into categories, who don’t give a fuck about following trends”.
Megan Black
Megan Black, is an award-winning musician, vocalist, and songwriter. Her music holds nothing back. Writing “sad, yet funky, feminist anthems“, she explores themes of gender, sexuality, and mental health through music, creating a sonic bridge between a ‘70’s inspired sound with a contemporary view on feminism and the LGBTQ+ community. She ended the year by releasing her EP Full Circle Part 1 and continues to break down barriers in order to celebrate diversity and create a more inclusive space through her music. Megan fuses rock and queer pop all delivered with a powerhouse of a vocal, just listen to her reimagining of single ‘Sweet Bisexual‘. Megan’s individual sound has garnered praise from fans and professionals alike, with widespread recognition including from across the pond in the form of awards in LA and San Francisco.
National Playboys
There is nothing better than seeing a band for the first time and being blown away. That’s exactly what happened when I saw Edinburgh band National Playboys in the city’s iconic independent venue Sneaky Pete’s. Charismatic vocalist Kyle McFarlane leads this band of brothers who were let loose in the venue. On their second single ‘Scarlett’ they approach the theme of using material things in an attempt to fill the void that may exist in life. Searching for happiness in material things that are void of human substance is only a temporary solution. The band share: “We have sought to bring these themes together in this dynamic, atmospheric and lively new song.”
Onstage there is an untamed energy to National Playboys and with further live dates already announced for 2024 no doubt there is more to come from the 4-piece.
rEDOLENT
Edinburgh-based, experimental five-piece rEDOLENT will release their debut album in 2024. The band operate as sole creators of their artistry; writing, recording, producing and mixing their work independently and releasing the results via Scottish label & artist house Post Electric (home to Hamish Hawk, Humour, Iona Zajac & Voka Gentle). They create a hybrid of indie and electronica, producing a thrilling soundscape. Their combination of synths, ambient loops, guitars and drums provide the perfect platform for singer Robin Herbert’s distinctly evocative vocal and idiosyncratic lyrics, delivered in his Edinburgh brogue brimming full of local colloquialisms. The news of a debut album on its way is good news indeed.
Rénovations
Rénovations are an electro-grunge band based in Edinburgh. They formed in October 2019 and started writing during the first lockdown, inspired by Brexit, self-isolation, the media and social distancing. The 4-piece continue to produce club inspired guitar and drums music, with their exhilarating mix creating a live experience not to be missed.
The Runaway Models
Another band first seen in Sneaky Petes is The Runaway Models. Without a name going into their first gig they heard the lyric “Runaway Model” on ‘Boys In the Better Land‘ from Fontaine D.C.‘s debut album Dogrel. This Glasgow-based 4-piece are another band who look like they are having the time of their lives onstage. Stating influences such as The Clash, Ramones, Idles and Shame, you know they are not going to be quiet. Unashamedly loud and angsty they have their first headline gig in Glasgow’s Hug and Pint on 1st March. I’ll see you down the front.
San Jose
Yes their name is pinched from a Dionne Warwick song, but that is where the overlap ends! San Jose like to blur the lines between performance art and concert, indeed the band members are probably more likely to spend more time in the crowd than on the stage. With people in bear costumes, auctions, fine dining, plumbing and pantomime levels of audience interaction all to be expected from their shows, the five piece paint a picture of the inherent absurdism that lies within Scottish culture. Their live performances have been described as “the ideal descent into hell”. However this unpredictability is thrilling for the crowd, especially as the music matches the chaos! To be clear San Jose are raucous, forthright and punk, to the extent that the 5-piece, originally from Kilmarnock, will often incorporate unexpected instrumentation into their sets such as brass and accordion. This is a band who want to avoid being put in a box. I think they’re quite safe because there’s no box that could contain San Jose.
