The 2012 Camden Crawl draws ever closer, kicking off this Friday with a party at Koko, headlined by Death In Vegas but also featuring the likes of Funeral Suits. The real party begins on Saturday however, as a mass of bands play across dozens of venues in the NW1 area, along with other events such as comedy and spoken word. We've compiled ten of our suggested highlights of the festival below.
I've obviously had to leave off numerous other highlights, considering the sheer number of bands and events such as hip hop karaoke and pop quizzes and the like. A whole host of previously Surfaced acts on FG are playing, each well worth your time, including Alpines, Antlered Man, Cymbals, FOE, Hymns, NZCA/Lines, Peace, Stealing Sheep, Team Me, Trophy Wife etc. Top ten things to see and do as follows...
BASTILLE
Dan Smith's outfit have a boat-load of brilliant pop songs, and with their continuing steady rise, this is an excellent opportunity to see them before they explode.
Crawlternative Media Expo (C.A.M.E)
Rather than simply suggesting band after band, I figure it'd worth pointing out something different that the Crawl offers. This event is a collaboration between Alternative Press, Poster Roast and Lexington Record Fair and actually totally free, so even if you are lacking in a ticket, you can pop along. It also features spoken word and live performances, including from the likes of Dutch Uncles and the hotly tipped Toy.
Chew Lips
We last heard from this electro-pop three piece around a year ago, with a new demo entitled 'Eagle', but it looks like 2012 will finally see the follow up to debut record, 'Unicorn'. In the meantime, this is your chance to get a feel some of their new material.
Clock Opera
Recently unveiling their debut album, 'Ways To Forget', as well as completing a headline tour, this is the time to catch the masterful chop-pop of Clock Opera at their peak.
Dog Is Dead
One of the first acts I saw at the 2011 Crawl, and they sparkled on the sun-laden Roundhouse Terrace with their joyous indie-pop. Hoping for more of the same this year too.
The Futureheads
The only headliner I'm really interested in seeing, aside from Spector, who I saw in an unannounced appearance in a bus at last year's Crawl. Having seen them triumphantly headline Offset Festival in the past, I have no doubt they will put on another terrifically entertaining performance, chock full of indie hits.
Johnny Foreigner
It's been many a year since I last saw the Midlands premier Kinsella-core group but I can't imagine they are anything but even better live than they were before. Their most recent album was a disappointment, barring the fantastic (Don't) Show Us Your Fangs (download a cute instrumental version below), but the band come into their own live.
Micachu & The Shapes
Mica Levi and pals made a startling impression in 2009, with their experimental pop, and the gang returned last year in collaboration with the London Sinfonietta. A new album is out in July and this live appearance will tide you over till then.
St Lucia
One of the more buzzed bands to come from America for some time, releasing their debut EP on Neon Gold, this is our chance to see if St Lucia are actually any good. We're quietly confident that they'll be bringing over glorious synth-pop and deliver it as triumphantly as label mates The Sound Of Arrows have managed to do so live.
Swiss Lips
One of our favourite bands for quite some time, they have signed a four album record deal with Sony Epic, which is both flabbergasting and excellent news. With bonafide electro-pop hits 'U Got The Power' and 'Grow' in their short set, you'll be hard-pressed not to enjoy their efforts.
Find more info at thecamdencrawl.com.
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