It's that time of week again, new music fans. Emerging Icons are here to let you know which nights you need to get marked out on your personal gig calendar, stat.
We're quite happy to reveal that we were completely spoilt for choice with this week's live listings... we've got gigs coming out of our ears over here. But as ever, we can only choose five to put on a music-loving pedestal in order to convince the world to attend.
When you like the sound of a show, click on the links to go visit that artist's Emerging Icons profile. You can let them know that you're planning on going to their gig by logging in and clicking 'YES'- and your attendance will be registered. It really is as easy as that- just ask The Gents...
So here they are... our Top Five Emerging Icons Live, ready to be stuffed in your music-hungry ears...
Tuesday 12th March
If your Tuesday night is currently lacking in wistful folk, how about checking this gig out? Yorkshire-based Jacobean Ruff are set to battle it out for a recording contract in the final round of Undiscovered: Leeds; and your support would be much obliged. Having heard them in the Emerging Icons Chart Show a few weeks back, we fell for their charming country-tinged acoustic vibe almost straight away. Echoing the sound of Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling, it's impossibly sweet on the ear- which is probably why they've been picked up for radio play by the likes of BBC6 Music and Radio 1. That's prime recording material if ever we heard it... so let's hope they triumph at Operto.
Wednesday 13th March
You think you've seen Tankus The Henge throw a party before? Well, buddy- you ain't seen nothing yet. As the Tankus circus rolls up in towns across the land for the Rotten Boots Tour, this is the big one to look out for... it marks something very special. Yes, the London date at The Lexington is the day that the new album gets introduced to the world. It's been a long time coming which makes it an even better reason to wet the record's head, so you can guarantee that everyone's favourite carnival rock n' rollers are going to be on form. Anyone who has experienced the manic mayhem of a Tankus show will know that this is one not to be missed... so you really should take our word for it. The legend of this show will be shared amongst music-lovers everywhere and passed down for generations to come...
Thursday 14th March
Post-hardcore scousers Surrender April are heading to Manchester in support of Follow You Home next Thursday, and it's promising to be a belting show. The lads have been teasing us more than we can bear with the tiniest snippets of what's to come on their imminent EP, 'The Lesson'. By going along to the show tonight you're sure to get a more filling morsel of the material in store for 2013- and what we've heard so far is epic. With influences including Young Guns, Memphis May Fire and Bury Tomorrow we're twitching in anticipation of a record that's going to be stuffed full of furious riffs, deeply dark melodies and a heavy dose of adrenaline. They're supposed to have a stage presence to match this sound of theirs too, so go head along for some good old-fashioned face melting.
Saturday 16th March
You've spent enough of your life sat watching hysterical injuries on YouTube and You've Been Framed. Now's the time to go and witness something much more appealing. The Hysterical Injury are a killer brother-sister combination that churn out tunes so meaty that they risk being subject to national scandal. However, the only ingredients in this musical dish are bass, drums and vox... and it don't half taste good. The colossal, noisy melodies of the pair's ruggedly dirty pop rhythms are sublime- and we can only imagine how good it'll be served up fresh on that live stage. They've had the seal of approval from Steve Lamacq, Tom Robinson, Amazing Radio... and now it's your turn. If you're near Bristol next week, don't miss this one.
Saturday 16th March
Brace yourselves for this next one, ladies and gents. We have a double whammy of Emerging Icons titans coming your way. On a single bill we have two of BBC Introducing London's hotly-tipped acts... those brass-loving Familiar Creatures; and your Emerging Icons Absolute Radio Champs of 2012, Gentlemen Duke. It's the gigging combo you've only ever pondered in your wildest dreams- and it'll be coming at you, live and extremely loose from the belly of The George Tavern in Whitechapel. This night will provide a fiery folk blend of foot-stompin' beats, rustic country charm and the tempo of a runaway train- as well as an opportunity to do something brilliant for those in need. Exceptional talent and opportunity to grab a partner aside, the evening is all about raising funds for the fantastic mental health charity, CALM. Go along, support live music AND those people that need our help.
Can't make it to any of these dates? No worries! There's loads more gigs just waiting to be discovered- including tasty shows from Gymnast, Passport To Stockholm and Alice Amelia. To find Emerging Icons in a town near you, click the GIGS tab at the top of the Emerging Icons homepage. Or, you can always try here...
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