Spring King: Recently seen on tour with Courtney Barnett, Spring King are rush of lo-fi punk fun and sweet pop turned inside out. Check out the blistering 'City' and be prepared to fall in love with the sound of summer 2015. Catch them at Live At Leeds, Blissfields and many, many more.
Allusondrugs: A kaleidoscope of quiet-LOUD-quiet-LOUD Pixies-esque alt-rock, hazy shoegaze and a timeless, teenage sense of pop abandon. Catchy enough to pull you in, but mental enough to take you to the edge. Miss them at Hit The Deck, The Great Escape, Download, 2000 Trees and Y Not at your very peril.
Kagoule: Nottingham has been far too kind to us with mindblowing alt-rock exports in recent years, and now we have Kagoule - an unapologetic, snarling stream of thick, bubbling lava. Timeless, intelligent, post-punk grunge that demands to be heard with such an immense force.
Blossoms: An aching cool from an age gone by matched with a universally loveable blend of psychedelia played within the realm of classic pop, rock and mod sounds. Catch them on our stage at The Stylus Leeds University at Live At Leeds festival in May.
Gengahr: For fans of Alt-J, Of Montreal and Animal Collective, but comfortably living in a world of their own, Gengahr are the the ultimate summer band with a bedrock of tight rhythms beneath a haze of sleepy sounds, quirky melodies and escapist, witty words. Their debut album A Dream Outside will be released on 15 June. Fortunately, they're playing pretty much everywhere this summer so you can't miss them.
Prides: It could be any festival in the world, you've a cider in your hand, and are waiting to dance your face off to synth-pop to the pop of total life-affirmation. Cue Prides. If there's any justice, they'll follow in the footsteps of Chvrches and Bastille, own the summer, and the future. Catch them at Dot To Dot, T In The Park, Latitude, Standon Calling and Boardmasters.
Leon Bridges: Sheer class in the form of 1960s soul, blues and ever-ascending gospel, this chap could have come about in any age and been no considered no less great. Luckily for us, 2015 belongs to him. His debut Coming Home is released on 23 June, and will certainly soundtrack those lingering sunny afternoons, and beyond. He's certain to be a highlight at Latitude among others.
All We Are: Having signed to Domino, they've been dominating the airwaves of 6 Music and are often heard here in the Gigwise office. If you love infectious funk rhythms, with layer upon layer of earworm guitar melody and one hell of a chorus, then this is the band for you. Make sure you pick up their astounding self-titled debut album, and catch them on our Cavern Stage at Liverpool Sound City.
Hinds: Last summer may have been when the buzz began to gather, but now is when the Spanish Hinds (aka Deers) turn into real, widespread, worldwide love. We have no doubt that their warped, punky, youthful exuberance will be soundtracking those mental afteroons will into summer 2015. Catch them at Dot To Dot festival, British Summer Time and many more to be announced.
Years & Years: True, we said the same thing last summer and since then they've caught the heart of the mainstream with their slick and loveable electro-pop after being named the BBC Sound Of 2015, but now is their chance to become exactly that. Their debut LP Communion drops in June and is as close to a perfect summer soundtrack as we can imagine, so let this be the season of Years & Years. The summer is theirs as they bring a little magic to Ibiza Rocks, T In The Park, Latitude, Reading & Leeds and loads more.
Wolf Alice: They've already owned 2014 with their blistering live shows and with their Creature Songs and Blush EPs being on heavy rotation on ours and everyone else's speakers. Now, they're at the peak of their powers with the towering debut My Love Is Cool coming on 22 June - expect it to be one of the best British rock LPs of the year and for them to rival Royal Blood for the rising Brit Rock throne. See for yourself when they play pretty much everywhere this summer.
Girpool: Heading to End Of The Road and Bestival, we can't think of a better way to spend our summer than drifting off to these hazy slacker-folk sounds.
Fraser A Gorman: Another touring partner of Courtney Barnett, and kindred spirit in that he's an idiosyncratic wit and personality to his laissez-faire open road folk rock. Beautiful stuff.
Viet Cong: They've caused a stir and split opinion with their name, but one can't help but get carried away on the synth-tinged, runaway, post rock ghost train of their menacing sound.
Courtney Barnett: She already experienced a degree of breakthrough success in 2014 with her Sea Of Split Peas double EP winning hearts around the world as her dry-witted, high energy, lo-fi grunge-folk roadshow won hearts at countless European festivals, but recent release of the truly awesome debut album proper Sometimes I Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit marks this as the year she truly MADE IT, and this summer as her victory lap - taking in Glastonbury and Green Man.
Natalie Prass: Seemingly coming out of nowhere to stun the world with her astoundingly charming self-titled debut album, Prass has a knack of making the elements of her music swoon and weep along with her. She's brilliant, and you can find out for yourself and countless dates throughout the summer, including End Of The Road and Green Man.
Jack Garratt: Tipped to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Hozier, George Ezra, Ed Sheeran and Ben Howard, make way for another singer songwriter destined to blow the roof off an arena near you soon - but with an urban, electro and danceable edge. Certainly one to watch, and you can do so at The Great Escape, Field Day, Reading & Leeds and plenty of others.
Kate Boy: With rumbling bass, pounding electro and menacing but bone-shaking vocals, the balance they've found now is the sound of Kate Boy well and truly arriving. Clear the scene, this is the band for you. If you like The Knife and larger than life techno-pop Odyssey's, then make Kate Boy your ones to watch this summer.
Tove Lo: Sweden has been very kind to us when it comes to powerful pop personas, and this latest export has been causing an incredible storm in Europe and the US her brutally honest alt-pop about sex and triumphs and tribulations of being young and free. Her debut album Queen Of The Clouds is scheduled for a May release in the UK. We await her conquering our hearts over here too.
Marika Hackman: You may have seen her supporting Alt-J on recent UK dates, but her days as opening act are certain to end soon. There's a richness, chill and beauty to the folk songstress' sound, and she really spread her wings even more when her debut album We Slept At Last dropped in February. It's being released by Dirty Hit, home to Wolf Alice and The 1975, who clearly know what they're doing.
Say Lou Lou: We've been telling you to check our Gigwise Say Lou Lou every summer for a couple of years now, but this is the first year with a debut album beneath them - the flawless and shimmering pop gem of Lucid Dream. Now they've the catalogue to back the hype, and we love them all the more. Shimmy, dance and weep along to their sheer majesty whenever you can this summer.
Seinabo Sey: A diverse and colourful collage of influences come together for this soulful and dramatic take on electro-pop. For fans of The Weeknd, The xx, Jessie Ware and Ella Eyre.
Ibeyi: One XL Recordings' latest, brilliant signing Ibeyi are a French/Cuban duo, whose fondness for eclectic percussion surely stems from their Buena Vista Social Club father. They released their debut album earlier this year - a hypnotic and sparse affair that soon descends into beautiful Yoruban chanting. Let them enchant you in 2015.
Ryn Weaver: The 21-year-old singer put her debut single 'OctaHate' online back in July 2014, and the internet went into meltdown. The artist no one had heard of managed to wrack up 1.3 million views in under a month. She did have something of an impressive crack-team behind the scenes, including Charli XCX and Passion Pit's Michael Angelakos, so it's not exactly surprising she's gained such rapid success. Now, it's on her own terms. Hyped by Jessie Ware, this girl knows how to produce a helluva catchy pop hook, as the US falls in love with her and boosts her ascent to a true pop superstar. She releases debut album The Fool on 7 August, and it's going to be massive.
Eaves: In a world of increasingly beige yoghurt advert folk, it's refreshing and invigorating to hear an artist with an original, poetic and haunting sound as this. A summer of love awaits.
Shura: Born in Moscow to a Russian actress and an English documentary filmmaker, her propulsive and subtle take on classic pop and R&B is every bit as original as you'd expect. We can't wait to see she does next, as she takes to the stage at Ibiza Rocks, Latitude, Festival No.6, Electric Picnic, Bestival and plenty more.
Lapsley: No one has taken the music world by surprise quite like Lapsley. Recently signed to XL and sure to follow in the footsteps of The xx and FKA Twigs, Lapsley creates twitchy electronica that somehow manages to be both minimal and yet still deep, human and packed with character. She's destined to sweep the world - and she's only 17. See her shine with a grace far beyond her years at Parklife, Love Saves The Day and plenty more.
Novelist: Aged just 17, South London's Kojo Kankam is leading the way in bringing real grime with bite and integrity back to the very cutting edge of British music. A bright future awaits - just listen to 'Shook', his collaboration with Mumdance for proof. Catch him at Parklife and Wireless.
George The Poet: Slick and inventive British hip-hop with a youthful energy and refreshingly fresh take on the troubles and strifes of growing up in modern Britain.
Hannah Lou Clark: Aching reality and a pained relatable experience bleed through the sound of a pure soul and grunge-tinged grace of this rising singer-songwriter. It's early days, but they're followed by a bright sunrise. Catch her before she explodes at The Great Escape, 2000 Trees and Tramlines.
Stormzy: With the support of Wiley, Skepta and Lethal B behind him, all signs point to Stormzy's relentless race into the future as leader of the neo-grime movement to prove revolutionary in 2015.
SOAK: Originally coming the world's attention after dropping 'Blud' on Chvrches' singles label Goodbye Records, she's now signed to Rough Trade at just 18-years-old. With vivid and dreamy tales of adolescence and the everyday, she's been compared to Laura Marling and Beach House for making the ordinary seem oh so very extraordinary. She'll be charming her way around the festival run this summer, when Rough Trade drop her promising debut album Before We Forgot How to Dream in June.
James Bay: Already winner of the BRITs Critics' Choice Award and having bagged a No.1 album with Chaos And The Calm, Bay has a universal charm in his heartfelt folk to win over the hearts of millions. Watch your throne, Sam Smith. Watch them grow ever more massive with a string of huge headline dates this summer, as well as playing Festival No.6, V Festival The Isle Of Wight and loads more.
Circa Waves: Good, shameless indie, done properly. What more do you want? Sounds like the perfect summer companion. Enjoy the runaway fun of new debut album Young Chasers at Glastonbury, T In The Park, Reading & Leeds and plenty more.
Charlotte OC: With her debut album penned for release after summer 2015, this sultry songstress has already clocked up millions of hits on Youtube and Soundcloud with her electro-noir, seductive R&B. Check out 'Hangover' and 'Colour My Heart' and try not to fall in love just a little bit. She's sure to be a highlight of Secret Garden Party.
Laura Doggett: For the track 'Moonshine' alone, Laura Doggett deserves your undivided attention. With an enchanting stage presence and an utterly beguiling voice, Doggett is already writing songs with the passion and compulsion of an artist thrice her age. If there's any justice in this world, she'll reach Adele levels of fame. Make sure you find out for yourself at Live At Leeds, The Great Escape, Dot To Dot and Somersault Festival.
Brawlers: A Frankenstein's monster made up of members of Castrovalva, Dinosaur Pile-Up, Leftover Crack and Old Romantic Killer Band, this is one hell of a beast. What do they sound like? Fast and furious pop-driven punk from a band with a love of hardcore and their tongues firmly in their cheeks. That's not to say this isn't to be taken seriously, mind - while singing about 'all things rad', this is a sound that immediately grabs by the throat. Check out 'Mothers And Fathers' and 'Instagram Famous' if you don't believe us - or better still, pick up their ace debut album, Romantic Errors Of Our Youth. Get your face melted off by them at Hit The Deck, Camden Rocks and a whole bunch of headline shows.
The Bohihcas: Snarling, sharp call-to-arms indie that packs the bravado of the most fearless gang. Get your leather on and lose your shit to them at Liverpool Sound City, Festival No.6, Primavera Longitude and beyond.
Lacey: With only a couple of EPs behind them, Lacey had already supported some pretty big names, attracted a legion of screaming teenage girls, appeared as ThisIsPulp's Unsigned Band of the Week and featured in Front Magazine being described as 'arguably the best thing to come out of Nottingham since Kevin Costners' mullet'. With the same balance of power-pop prowess, adrenaline and sentiment that calls to mind the sound of Static Prevails era Jimmy Eat World, Lacey offer refreshingly cliche-free set of solid emo mastery. Their debut album Under The Brightest Lights is a monumental accomplishment, and out on 20 April - paving the way for them to become a household name.
Jennifer Davies: Pull off proper pop with credibility and imagination and you're off to a winner. Enter Jennifer Davies - a new artist with personality and attitude by the bowlful and an unreal knack for earworms that send you dancing back to your most prized childhood cassettes, but with a very modern edge. A clear artistic and aesthetic vision that paints her as pretty much the perfect pop star. Watch her blossom in the year ahead.