By The ICM Awards have returned once more after another game-changing year of incredible Indie music. Here at ICM, we’re all about giving the spotlight to the artists that we think you should be listening too. In the past four years, we’ve given the likes of Tom Grennan, Tom Walker, Sundara Karma and even Rag ‘n’ Bone Man the chance to shine on our platform and they’ve gone on to be some of the most successful artists the UK has to offer. Now that we come close to the end of 2018, it’s time for you guys to let us know the greatest discovery we’ve found via the voting links below.
GAFFA TAPE SANDY
Hailing from Bury St Edmunds, a town not usually known for its music scene, Gaffa Tape Sandy have been bursting at the seams of the music industry with acknowledgement from some of the biggest names in the industry like BBC Introducing, NME, and now the ever coveted ICM Artist Spotlight. Gaffa Tape Sandy have had a relatively busy time since their inception back in 2015, sitting on three singles and an EP there’s plenty to sink your teeth into with them.
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SOPHIE AND THE GIANTS
The self-described practitioners of forward-looking, left-leaning emotional pop Sophie and The Giants formed at music college in the spring of 2017, moving to their adopted hometown of Sheffield shortly afterwards; more recently they’ve been taking their intense, life-affirming and rapidly expanding set of songs on tour with the likes of Tom Grennan, Yonaka and Reverend and The Makers. After starting the year playing a show at an NME Awards party with Pretty Vicious, Sophie and The Giants have been on our constant radar with their high velocity, pop-laden rock.
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LAURAN HIBBERD
Lauran Hibberd brings a beautiful nostalgic taste to the modern indie scene. There’s a reminiscence of acts like Lily Allen, Kate Nash, and Lisa Mitchell in not only her voice but her style. Yet being engrossed in our modern world Hibberd’s music is not by any stretch a carbon copy of these acts. After a successful year of releases, securing support from Clash Magazine, Crack in the Road and Line of Best Fit. Lauran’s latest single ‘Call Shotgun’ has been championed by Spotify, landing it a place on the New Music Friday UK, The Indie List and All New All Now and the Hot New Bands playlist.
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WOOZE
Created by Theo Spark and Jamie She, WOOZE is a rough phonetic translation of ‘space’ in Korean (우주). Describing themselves as Pansori for the 21st Century, a traditional Korean music genre that consists of a drummer and singer storytelling through music. The much-hyped outfit have seriously hit the ground running in the UK with their funky electronic pop beats. Their debut track, ‘Hello Can You Go’ saw support flooding in from radio giants BBC Radio 1, Radio X and Triple J.
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WHENYOUNG
Hailing from Ireland and currently residing in London, whenyoung are the answer with lyrical depth and a social conscience backing up the band’s undoubted knack for penning hook-filled jams. Having toured alongside Dream Wife and Declan McKenna, whenyoung are easily up there with some of this year’s most exciting new guitar bands. Just ask Bono and Shane McGowan.
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ICM AWARDS 2018
As 2018 draws to a close, IndieCentralMusic looks back at the greatest new guitar bands, right through some of the best live performances and even the most jaw-dropping films! With an array of categories, we want to hear from you. What has stood out to you this year? Cast your votes throughout this week for all of our awards; Greatest Discovery, Best International Act, ICM Film of the Year, Best Live Performance, Album of the Year, and the highly-anticipated, Track of the Year.
Find us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date on when voting opens and closes, and more importantly, the winner announcements!
