Shout-outs to artists / bands who should be bigger than they are

[Scout2016]

After being blessed with learning about Paverotti's singing with Skunk Anansie on another thread, along with other great tracks.... can I ask for recommendations of artists or groups you love and can't understand why they aren't much better loved... trying to widen my music loves without listening to the radio.
I'll start with Natty - reggae- albums "Man Like I" and "Release The Fear"
Teddy Thompson- folk/pop/country/bit Everly brothers- albums "Separate Ways" , "Piece Of What You Need" and several others.

Shingai Shoniwa (formerly of the Noisettes) - she's amazing. I was supposed to see her live in May, now November, but on the original date she live streamed a phenomenal concert, apparently form her back garden. Her voice is astounding.

Poets of the Fall - I only discovered them a couple of years ago myself, and now think they're awesome, and have no idea why they're not bigger. Admittedly, they're not an English band - Finnish, I think? But their lyrics are in English (and beautiful) and they cover all bases - rockier, romantic - they do all styles. I love that you never know what to expect next. The lead singer has the most gorgeous velvet voice. And their videos are brilliant - they are really well thought out, with lots of hidden meanings - you can spend ages connecting them to past songs/albums, etc - or just enjoy them as they are.

A few of my favourite songs:

A rockier one - Daze -

Carnival of Rust -

More romantic & slower -

And possibly my all time favorite - very slow & beautiful - Sleep -

@AragornsManlyStubble

Luke Combs.

I want him to sing every song ever made. His voice is heaven to me.

I have seen him live in Glasgow, flew there from Southampton to see him and his is exceptional.

As was Ashley McBryde who was his support act and played for a whole hour, just her and her guitar; a completely kick ass woman, with kick ass lyrics, a beautiful voice and generally heaps of talent.
Girl Goin Nowhere is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard and the lyrics... “It took a whole lot of yes I wills and I don’t care’s. A whole lot of basement dives and county fairs, to this show right now and you sure look good out there. Not bad for a girl goin nowhere”.

Also completely underrated is Sara Bareilles as an artist in her own right. She’s huge for writing Waitress but before that she was a singer songwriter and pianist. I think Elton John actually came to one of her very first shows in New York and was so impressed he asked to play with her. Again, beautiful voice, beautiful meaningful lyrics.

Public Service Broadcasting ( check out The Race For Space)
Goat
The Young Fathers
The National (who play the big venues but inexplicably nobody seems to have heard of them)

And a big thumbs up to whoever mentioned Shriekback up thread

Public Service Broadcasting ( check out The Race For Space)
Goat
The Young Fathers
The National (who play the big venues but inexplicably nobody seems to have heard of them)

And a big thumbs up to whoever mentioned Shriekback up thread

LION. I've been listening to her on repeat for about 3 weeks now

Great thread op!

Within Temptation is my absolute favourite band. Very popular in the Netherlands, but not quite so well known here. Lyrics aren't necessarily deep but I always find them meaningful and the singer's voice, particularly on the acoustic tracks, is beautiful. Along those same lines, My Indigo which was Sharon's (the lead singer) solo album, much softer and more gentle.
Delain, also very good Dutch band.

Forgot Ladyhawke, her 2008 album especially

Darren Hayes too. He's not doing much anymore but some of his solo stuff is superb.

Gene Vincent. Everyone knows be bop a Lula but he recorded some amazing stuff. Ballard were brilliant.

Daughtry are my favourite band. Big in America but not so much here. Their songs have helped me through many a bad time and they are ridiculously underrated

Love this thread! Going to listen to ALL OF THEM tomorrow. Can’t beat new music.

I second Pearl Handled Revolver - trippy blues goodness.
Blythpower - Folk punk grammairians.
The Men Who Will Not Be Blamed For Nothing - serious thrash meets Horrible Histories.
Alestorm - pirate metal and a million extra points for the use of the word "Banjaxed".
The Hawklords - space rock, such a good night out!

David Ford
Jarrod Dickenson

Both are doing some awesome lockdown gigs at the moment

https://www.youtube.com/user/davidfordmusic

https://www.youtube.com/user/jdickenson

Nerina Pallot

@slug I mentioned Shriekback, I've been a fan since the 80s. Agree with you about PSB, fantastic live, much funkier than on record and very danceable Young Fathers are great too.

I love the American band Parquet Courts also.

Darren Hayes, have seen him live quite a few times, amazing voice and talent. Don’t know why he isn’t more well known.

@AdaStarkadder Do you like Pop Will Eat Itself or Carter USM?

The Sunday’s should’ve been huge. Harriet Wheeler’s voice is sublime.

@PaquitaVariation

Slow Readers Club First Aid Kit Kodaline

Slow Readers Club. Yeah, they're good.

If you want to hear something completely different: Postmodern Jukebox - a musical collective who do 1920s/30s/40s jazz/swing versions of contemporary hits - pure genius and a lot of fun to listen to. Check out their version of 'All about that bass' or their cover of Justin Bieber's 'Sorry'. Love it. They've had big success on youtube but don't seem to cross over into mainstream.

Enjoying Shriekback

Dreadzone are a band who have good albums but really come into their own live.

Benjamin Zephaniah has a band and album called Revolutionary Minds which is excellent but quite heavy musically and politically so I can see why they aren't bigger, but they still deserve a shout-out.

Serious Sam Barrett is just phenomenal.
His playing is sublime.

The Gaslight Anthem.

All of their songs are stunning but “Here comes my man” is an amazing song. It’s sang by their male lead singer but is written from the perspective of a woman during a horrible break up where she’s regaining her power and self worth.
It got me through an awful break up with an abusive ex. Honestly it’s such a stunning song.

There a lyric in it where “she” says

“And all my life I never had a chance
Don't you think I knew about all your pretty girlfriends
But I waited for you, gave you time to decide
But you never saw it from anybody else's side
So I packed up my things and I faced up my doubts
You know I think I will grow my hair back out
Nevermind what you think
Nevermind what you like
I'll take it out to the streets for somebody else to admire”

It’s such a powerful song for me and is such a beautifully written representation of what it feels like to leave an abusive relationship

Walk the moon. Saw them as a support act, bright their album whilst they were still singing.
Kodaline
Noah and the whale
Fun