Glastonbury 2016 - The Ones To Watch - T-22 Days: Oddisee

You don't have to go very far in the pages of this blog to find me singing the praises of Oddisee. One of my favourite rappers ever, he's as brilliant live as he is recorded, as you can see in the live video below.



If you were expecting raps about drive-bys and bitches hopefully that's put you straight. Oddisse is much better than, with an intelligent, lyrical flow that deals with weighty subject matter without ever resorting to cheap shots.




Prodigious in output, he's already released a free EP and a full-length instrumental album this year, and I've no doubt there's more on the way from him too.



I love so much of his stuff it was hard to know what to put on this page, but hopefully there's more than enough here to get you into him. Wherever he's playing (I suspect West Holts or John Peel) I'll see you down the front.

Glastonbury 2016 - The Ones To Watch - T-23 Days: Floating Points

When Sam Shepherd's debut album 'Elaenia' was released towards the end of last year it received massive critical acclaim. Its mix of electronica, jazz and ambient styles took on the kind of atmospheres created by the likes of Caribou and Four Tet and weaved new magic with them.

Having created this expansive world on record, he's since developed it into a live act which is likely to go down a treat on the West Holts stage. With a live band and great visuals he's definitely one to chill out with as the sun sets.

Glastonbury 2016 - The Ones To Watch - T-24 Days: Years & Years

This is undoubtedly the most 'pop' and/or 'popular' act I'm going to recommend in the countdown to Glastonbury. I make no apologies for that - there's always been a place on my shelf got the sort of top quality synth-pop that these guys make, from Bronski Beat and Erasure to Royksopp, Robyn and beyond, I've always been a sucker for a great melody with an electronic background.

On top of that I've got a lot of time and respect for frontman Olly Alexander. he's outspoken 9for the right reasons), good to his fans, and seems like a genuinely decent human being.

Just imagine some of these hits being pumped out in the sunshine on the Pyramid stage - it's going to be one of those feel-good Glastonbury moment that you remember for years (& years).

Glastonbury 2016 - The Ones To Watch - T-25: Mik Artistik

Everyone who goes to Glastonbury seems to have their own traditions - a bar you always go to, a special place to camp, the thing that always makes you feel that Glastonbury has properly started. For the group that I go with that tradition is a trip to see the marvellous Mik Artistik. And since he plays every day from Wednesday onwards, and more than once on most of those days, it's pretty easy to catch him!

He's definitely one of those acts that you have to see live to appreciate him properly - the wonder of 'Plastic Fox' comes alive when everyone is singing along. His songs are the proper Shakespearean mix of comedy and tragedy, and if it's your first time at Glasto then I can't think of a better way to lose your virginity and experience the proper spirit of the place!

Glastonbury 2016 - The Ones To Watch - T-26: Maribou State

Maribou State have been around for some five years now, but it was last year's album 'Portraits' that brought them to a lot of people's attention (including mine).


They're playing on one of the stages in Silver Hayes on Sunday, which is great as this morning when I was playing this record I was thinking what a great Sunday morning album it is. It's relaxed but not too laid back, and will ease you into the last day of this year's Glastonbury perfectly.

Glastonbury 2016 - The Ones To Watch - T-27 Days: John Grant

If you've listened to BBC 6music at all in the past few years then you can't fail to have heard John Grant. Former lead singer of The Czars, he's now had 3 solo albums out, and although these may have been patchy in places, he's a tour de force live. The songs from all of the albums seem to have more power and more emotion, and they fit together in a way that you wouldn't necessarily expect.

He's a brilliant performer who really engages with the audience and having met him a couple of times I can also say he's a thoroughly decent bloke. There's some videos below that span his records, so see which version of him you like the best - they'll all show up at Glastonbury!

Glastonbury 2016 - The Ones To Watch - T-28 Days: Unknown Mortal Orchestra

One of my favorite 'indie' bands of recent years, Unknown Mortal Orchestra's third album really showed off Ruban Neilson's ear for a melody, while at the same time developing them as a band rather than just Neilson's bedroom one-man effort.

Live they're a bundle of energy and fun, really bringing the songs to life and showing Ruban's character. Make sure you see them if you get the chance.