Predictions for 2004: A World of Possibilities

Ever since the beginning of time, muppets and men alike have been trying to predict the future. Obviously people get it wrong, a quick career check on Michael Fish will almost certainly reveal a string of inaccurate weather reports even Nostrodamus couldn’t have forecast.

So in age old tradition we'll be giving you some top tips for hot bands to check out in 2004. Afterall we are in the know.

After plugging the bollocks off of Neil’s Children - a fantastically entertaining trio of noisiness  from London’s East End - last year it looks like they’re finally about to hit the big time. Camden Barfly’s Queens of Noize, whose fingers are synonymous with pulses have just had them onstage with Camberwell’s Ludes. The Queens have helped launch and support some of the best acts of 2003. Lets hope that 2004 is the year of The Children.

Ludes were another top tip from the ol’ Gigwise crew, we gave them the thumbs up for their single “She Was Just A Girl” released on Sony subsidiary Double Dragon and their live gigs proved them to be such good entertainment that we booked the buggers for our annual awards bash and they rocked our socks off. With some high profile tours already under their belts, Ludes are definite contenders for bigger things this year.

It'd be rude for us not to mention the other two great acts that played at last year's Gigwise awards, the fantastic 28 Costumes will certainly gain more ground in the coming year, their recent single "Hurricane" will be a suitable theme tune to their meteoric rise. Also winners of Best Unsigned Band 2003 Day With Mary are set to make the UK's gig-going crowd cry with their noisy rockin' as they set out on a tour this February.

Another band that need shouting about are Liverpool act The Open. Managing to take The Man’s money (they’re signed to ex-NME editor label Loog part of Polydor) without playing a single Bandwagon, The Open are on par for a double eagle this year. Their recent single was spun to death by various in the know radio stations, so with radio-friendliness an obvious character-trait things could be good for a long career. Their penchant for a well penned tune, Radiohead, The Verve and XTC might also point to great things. Word is they’ll be teeing up for a Bandwagon in February this year anyway, it seems it’s impossible to avoid if you’re Scouse and proud nowadays (or Manc, same difference). See you on the putting green, hwah hwah.

Also tipped for the big time this year is the return of Rockabilly. We’ve had Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster pushing back the boundaries at the Psychobilly end for a couple of years now and it looks like music makers have sat up and taken notice of their distinct blend of hardcore rock ‘n’ roll. With the rise of Blue Demon, another excellently scary, but talented Rockabilly punkster outfit we can expect the kidz will want to make a similar noise of their own. On top of that, style makers in the capital are looking to push the trend into the mainstream.

We’ve slagged them and worshipped them all the same at Gigwise, but Pink Grease’s desperate stab at superstardom means they won’t be taking no for an answer. The Sheffield fivesome are making big noises in New York and drumming up a suitable following. Is it possible we’ll be buying one of our own bands back? We’ve been gobbling up whatever the Big Apple can throw at us the last couple of years (literally for some groupies), so maybe these tykes are worthy of big-time success at home after all.

And finally, you know this already, Franz Ferdinand are ready to make the leap from cool underground act to meganess and sold out large venue tours. Offering hope for all late twenty-somethings hankering after stardom in tired old bands; the Franz are fronted by 27 year old Alex whose perfect blonde side-fringe flicks effortlessly in and out of his eyes as he leads his fellow befringed friends into disco-Devo heaven. FF are no doubt about to lead a deluge of other fine Glasgow acts into the venues of the UK in 2004. Keep your ear to the ground.

Wanna brawl about this in the forum?