This year's must-see band?

[seadragon]

Last year I think it was undoubtedly Other Lives that won the 'most anticipated band' award leading up the EOTR, even warranting their own thread and a whole host of converts from the comments on here.

So who is going to take that title this year? Maybe I'm biased having been a fan for so long and one of their albums being in my top 10 favourite albums ever, but today's Grandaddy announcement (well if I'm honest, more that they're going to be playing together again than headlining EOTR) has really made my week and I hope it leads to a whole new group of people discovering them.

Any other nominations from the line up so far? I see Deep Dark Woods getting quite a lot of positive comments?

[thespiral]

Last year I think it was undoubtedly Other Lives that won the 'most anticipated band' award leading up the EOTR, even warranting their own thread and a whole host of converts from the comments on here.

So who is going to take that title this year? Maybe I'm biased having been a fan for so long and one of their albums being in my top 10 favourite albums ever, but today's Grandaddy announcement (well if I'm honest, more that they're going to be playing together again than headlining EOTR) has really made my week and I hope it leads to a whole new group of people discovering them.

Any other nominations from the line up so far? I see Deep Dark Woods getting quite a lot of positive comments?

[ljsawyer]

I was only 6 years old when The Sophtware Slump came out so obviously I never saw Grandaddy at their peak. But if they're as good as Jason Lytle's set was as a 2nd support for Midlake in Oxford in 2010, it'll be an amazing show. Apart from that I'm most looking forward to Tindersticks, simply because they're my favourite band and the new album is their best since Simple Pleasure.

I'm quite surprised to see a lot of people disappointed with the line-up this year, I think there are lot of inspired bookings. Last year was great but we did seem to have quite a few acts high up the bill who tend to do the rounds at virtually every festival (I'm looking at you, Wild Beasts)

[shoebox]

I really don't get the comments regarding disappointedness. I know it's a question of personal taste, and there's been words on how they're repeating themselves a bit. But I'm sorry, for me, the following all make that £145 (or whatever it was) being money well spent:

Grizzly Bear

Grandaddy

Midlake

Beach House

The Low Anthem

John Grant

The Antlers

First Aid Kit

The Deep Dark Woods

Delicate Steve

Lanterns On The Lake

Veronica Falls

And these are just my "must sees". The big names that I won't want to miss. There's loads that I'm gradually starting to discover and will probably make that list in a couple of months.

But the Grandaddy announcement is the one that's got me all excited. I did see them twice back in the day and was pretty much a fan from the moment I heard Summer Here Kids on The Evening Session. Big, big announcement for me.

[ElGanzo]

I think the lineup is excellent although the one area it might be lacking is bands who are great fun for some late night dancing - can only really see me getting my groove on to Grandaddy and Veronica Falls and Grandaddy have some pretty low-key tracks! Two years ago was great for this with bands like New Pornographers, Modest Mouse and Caribou playing later on in the evening.

Can anyone recommend any I might be missing from the lineup?

Probably looking forward to Grandaddy the most, though also Tindersticks, Beach House, The Antlers, Grizzly Bear and The Dirty Three. All fairly high up the bill but think that's where this years lineup is really excellent.

Edited March 3, 2012 by ElGanzo

[Tom_Tom]

looking forward to seeing Grizzly Bear, The Low Anthem, Midlake, Villages, Alessi's Ark and of course Grandaddy, be interesting to see how the rest of the lineup pans out as i've not heard many of them

[geofelgie]

If the rest of their stuff is as good as their first single (Two Islands) then it'll be Outfit, other than that Cashier No 9 is the absolute top of my list at the moment.

I actually already have more "must sees" this year than I had last! Those two plus:

Grandaddy

John Grant

Jonathan Wilson

The Antlers

Anna Calvi

Sleep Party People

Villagers

Dark Dark Dark

The deep dark woods

Beach House

Doug Paisley

Driver drive faster

Lanterns on the Lake

First Aid Kit

and still got quite a few to investigate......about to give Porcelain Raft a listen

Edited March 3, 2012 by geofelgie

[riverlodge]

plenty to choose from for must see!

firstly i love grizzly bear but have had both ends of the spectrum from them - the fantastic (roundhouse supported by beach house) and pretty average (latitude sunday night) so will be fascinated to see how special their set is.

then willis earl beal and francois & atlas mts are very of the moment i guess.

then how to ignore grandaddy and dirty three?

however personally i'm going to go for mike hadreas - if eotr get it right and give him the right quiet spot on the garden stage it could be pretty magical.

[riverlodge]

on reflection, ignore (mostly) what i said above, surely in the scheme of things the OP is right and it really has to be Grandaddy thats the standout booking?

[shoebox]

Aw man, I love "Laughing Stock" so, so, so much. If they play that, and as well as in the Glaso performance, I will seriously lose my shit.

I did see them a couple of times back in the day, and whilst I remember them being good live, I don't remember them being THAT good. It's going to be a very special show.

Roll on September!

[RedRockRick]

http://www.npr.org/event/music/148530119/alabama-shakes-live-in-concert-sxsw-2012

[Nigey_boy]

http://www.npr.org/e...ncert-sxsw-2012

[GeordieMartin]

THE must see band this year for me is The Deep Dark Woods. I recently had them down here to play in Brighton and they lifted the roof off the place. The whole band are great but the hammond organ player (Geoff Hilhorst) kills it every time.One of the best live bands i've ever seen. See them if you can.

Other bands i will most likely see are....

Midlake

John Grant

Alabama Shakes

Dark Dark Dark

Doug Paisley

Justin Townes Earle

William Elliot Whitmore

Richard Buckner

[RedRockRick]

Edited March 17, 2012 by RedRockRick

[ljsawyer]

Definitely think these guys are worth a look in:

[perfectpassion]

THE must see band this year for me is The Deep Dark Woods. I recently had them down here to play in Brighton and they lifted the roof off the place. The whole band are great but the hammond organ player (Geoff Hilhorst) kills it every time.One of the best live bands i've ever seen. See them if you can.

Other bands i will most likely see are....

Midlake

John Grant

Alabama Shakes

Dark Dark Dark

Doug Paisley

Justin Townes Earle

William Elliot Whitmore

Richard Buckner

[killyourtv]

My money is on the ex X factor Willis Earl Beal