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 five years, we’ve given the likes of Tom Grennan, Tom Walker, Sundara Karma and Lauran Hibberd 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 2019, it’s time to see the Greatest Discovery Nominees.
APRE
The Ones To Watch 2019 artist APRE has smashed it this year. From supporting Friendly Fires, Sea Girls and Sam Fender, to the release of their debut EP ‘The Guns Down’, the London duo has impressed the critics with their anthemic indie pop – they have indie lovers at their heels wanting more. They already have so many great tunes in their locker, including ‘Without Your Love’, ‘5 To 5’ and ‘Dreamworld’ and more can be expected along with a huge February 2020 tour.
Sea Girls
Another Ones To Watch 2019 artist Sea Girls have also stepped up the mark this year with serious BBC Radio 1 support and have released a stream of new music over the past 12 months. Frontman Henry Camamile said last month the band has worked “so hard” to get where they are; at the forefront of everyone’s eyes and ears as one of the most exciting new bands in the next century. Having just come off at US tour and with European one kicking off in January, 2020 is a big year ahead.
Abbie Ozard
ICM only discovered Abbie Ozard in October thanks to CLOSEUP’s Artist Spotlight feature and we were instantly hooked. She’s already released a four-track EP Growing Pains, which includes ‘Heartbreak Radio’; a polished and silky pop song with dynamic and versatile reverb-driven guitars. Abbie already has more than 50,000 monthly listeners and the EP has been streamed over half a million times within her first 18 months. It’s safe to say that this girl is going to go places in 2020.
AVNT GARDS
Leicester quartet AVNT GARDS came out onto the scene towards the end of 2018 with their debut single ‘Run and Hide‘ and from then on, the new wave/indie pop band has charmed their way into the music scene. The band continue to innovate lurching bravely from indie and rock staples into experimental alternative compositions and post-Brit Pop crowd pleasers. The future does look bright for AVNT GARDS.
Harlequin Gold
Canadian sisters Elle and Avery O’Brien started their singing careers from a young and then decided to set up Harlequin Gold in 2018. The pop/rock musicians have developed a unique sound that blends their two voices together as if they were one which has worked wonders on their single ‘Take Me Home’ a personal favourite. The band released their debut EP in September this year the sisters are currently working on some new content which we should expect in the new year.
ICM AWARDS 2019
As 2019 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 videos! With an array of categories; Greatest Discovery, Best International Act, Best Music Video, 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 all of the award category nominees, and more importantly, the winner announcements on Saturday, December 21st!
