Hot on the heels of celebrating our eighth birthday on 15/12/24 and yet another year of music is on its way out, Music Republic Magazine announces our “Best Of 2024” round-up….For new music, live music, established bands/artists and exciting new finds, we think it has been a very good year.
Music Republic Magazine’s contributors – a great bunch of talented writers and photographers – each came up with a definitive list of their personal “Best Of 2024”, before the editor’s own choices and the final list was decided upon…
The categories are: Best Album, Best EP, Best Live Act, Best Festival, Best Male Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Band, Best New Artist, Best Live Album, Best Guitarist, Best Acoustic Artist, Best Book, Best Music Video, Best Producer, Best Song/Songwriters, Best interviewees…. Plus the “Hot Contenders” in each category…
Our “Lifetime Achievement” accolade goes posthumously to a truly unique UK singer and songwriter who sadly left us suddenly in July 2011 at the age of 27, but whose talents made a global impact and whose fabulous music lives on. A gifted and much-missed female artist whose short life and career was celebrated this year in the acclaimed biopic film “Back To Black” [which features in our ‘Best Film Or TV Series’ category].
BEST ALBUM:
JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN: “LEMONS, LIMES & ORCHIDS”
This is a stunning album by this respected US artist which deservedly got a 5 star review – and was our album of the month September. On the PIAS label, her 12th studio album. Joan Wasser aka Joan As Police Woman was born in Maine USA in July 1970. “Lemons, Limes and Orchids” shines the spotlight on Joan’s spine-tingling and innate vocal skills and on her beautiful touch on piano and the gorgeous string arrangements. All of which serve probably the best songs she has given birth to so far in her career.
The album features production and instrumentation from an impressive list of collaborators. The accomplished personnel includes Grammy-winning Meshell Ndegeocello on bass, Chris Bruce (Seal, Trevor Horn, Alanis Morisette) on guitar, Daniel Mintseris (St. Vincent, David Byrne, Elvis Costello & The Imposters) on keys, and Parker Kindred (Jeff Buckley, Liam Gallagher) and Otto Hauser alternating on drums.
HOT CONTENDERS
BODY COUNT: “MERCILESS”
Ice T and Body Count dropped this superb work in November via Century Media Records. Not for the faint of heart or easily offended, it’s been a history of being both respected and feared for BODY COUNT – a barbed-wire thread that stretches back to the band’s origins as a project between Ice-T and Crenshaw High friend, Ernie C. Their first shot fired, the song, Body Count, was a mission statement on Ice-T’s 1991 “O.G. – Original Gangster.”
That’s the blueprint they’ve been running on for 35+ years. They touched a nerve with their first, self-titled 1991 album and its divisive track, “Cop Killer”, which inspired generations of bands to follow. What they took from growing up with Black Sabbath and being inspired by fellow L.A. legends like Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies has only upped the ante for generations of hardcore fans. Live they tore Hell Fest in France a new one in the summer.
GANAVYA: “LIKE THE SKY I’VE BEEN TOO QUIET”
(Native Rebel) Released: March 15th 2024. The mesmerising South-Asian multi-instrumentalist and vocalist released also released a second album this year, when “Daughter of a Temple” dropped in November via Nils Frahm’s LEITER label. Both are gorgeous. Ganvaya appeared on BBC TV’s “Later…with Jools Holland” this year.
ROSIE FRATER-TAYLOR: “FEATHERWEIGHT”
Released in February – and the Deluxe version in November – Rosie is a talented UK guitarist, singer and songwriter this magazine has championed for some time, treading her own path stylistically, seamlessly weaving rock, alt-pop, neo-soul, new-school jazz, and folk into her distinctively contemporary jazz sound. The new Deluxe album features all the album’s original tracks, new original tracks, a cover of the Kate Bush classic “Running Up That Hill”, and reworked demo and live versions of some of her standout album tracks. The future is rosy for Rosie…
J SWISS: “YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW”
An exciting find. New York’s J Swiss dropped a cracking album in September via Awthentic Records, and a lovely single we covered, “Make Space” which featured London-born, New York-based vocalist Demi Grace. The LP follows acclaimed collaborative projects “Bona Fide” with Michael Leonhart and “Somebody’s Gotta Do It” with Sly5thAve. Previous singles “Slow Down” and “Superman” featuring Eric Roberson” won strong radio support.
HATTIE WHITEHEAD: “BLOOM“
Impressive debut album from rising UK singer-songwriter Hattie in October. Hues of the 60s and 70s folk and jazz greats she was raised on, such as Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake, coupled with a direct style with unflinchingly honest lyrics, which can be attributed to her more modern tastes in artists such as Wolf Alice, Kurt Vile and Angel Olson.
JAMES: YUMMY
The evergreen band’s 18th studio album since they formed in Manchester in 1982, dropping debut album “Stutter” in ’86. Their smash hit “Sit Down” and the likes of “Come Home”, “Laid” and “She’s A Star” rocketed them to stardom and global touring to huge audiences. James packed it in 2001 and took a hiatus until 2007, and have been back doing their thing ever since.
Still filling arenas after four decades and still selling plenty of units, having retained their loyal fanbase by never compromising on quality or class of what they put out on record – and there will not be a dent in that standing in any way, with the release of this well crafted new album. It is up there with the best of their back catalogue. Tim’s lyrical content across these dozen cuts is as on point and as credible as anything he has put his name to across his career, and his voice sounds the same as it did back in the day.
BEST EP
WATERSMEET: “CARRIED AWAY”
Watersmeet, a Newcastle-based acoustic duo of Jessie Howard and Anna Hughes – partners in life and music – who have crafted a sparkling gem of a debut EP in “Carried Away”, released in November. The vocal harmonies are lush and they create a magical sound on the four originals which showcase Watersmeet’s signature sound of slow-burning, heartfelt songs with lofty melodies and close-knit harmonies. Ones to watch and a shoo-in for major festival stages in 2025, we’d bet.
HOT CONTENDERS
CON THE ARTIST: “BEST DAYS”
Emerging South African/Canadian multi-disciplinary artist who scores films, produces records, crafts sound design and video direction, and recently a 34 piece orchestra in Greece, he has his hands in every aspect of his art. A “deeply personal EP capturing moments of heartbreak, healing and transformation.” Spanning alternative, indie, and alt-pop genres, the record is both explosive and introspective, blending dynamic production with raw, emotional storytelling. Great job and well worth checking out.
BEST MALE ARTIST
PAUL WELLER
One word. Legend. Five decades of glistening and unique work, from The Jam and Style Council to his own glorious solo stuff, especially his seminal album “Stanley Road”, The Mod Father has aged like a fine wine and whether it is on record, live or via collaborations, he never seems to put a foot wrong. We caught him live on stage in Brighton in October and his performance – with his crack band- was simply magic. Pauls’ latest album, “66”, his 17th solo LP came out in May and made # 4 in the UK chart and just under Top 40 in the US is among his best work and hit the charts in eight countries.
His recent 17-date UK tour was sold out and was a celebration of Paul’s rich musical legacy and influence on many, many musicians and artists over the years – and his genuine connection with his fans made the shows feel intimate. Our review in October sums it up nicely: “Overall, Paul Weller’s performance at the Brighton Centre was a brilliant showcase of – and we use the word very rarely – his genius.”
HOT CONTENDERS
MASTER PEACE
A future star we predict and could be as big as Stormzy…he has released 10 singles, four EPs and his debut album “How To Make A Master Peace” dropped in March. Peace Okezie is from a Nigerian family and born in London. Okezie initially was part of a rap group. In 2018, Okezie released “The Lift”, which involved him rapping over a-ha’s “Take On Me”.[5] In 2019 he released “Night Time”,[2] which featured Jme.[5] The song was praised by Skepta.[7] The Streets released a single featuring Okezie, “Wrong Answers Only”, on 14 January 2022. His album is probably the strongest debut release of any artist in 2024. In May 2024, Okezie won the Ivor Novello Award for Rising Star. He performed “Wrong Answers Only” with The Streets at Glastonbury Festival 2024. A big future awaits this guy…
FRANK CARTER
He has a great year. His own sizzling shows around the world with his band The Rattlesnakes, including smashing it at Download and Hell Fest. Then a dream project teaming up with Glen Matlock, Steve Jones and Paul Cooke of The Sex Pistols fronting the band for a run of shows that Mr Lydon declined to be involved in. Frank was an inspired choice and will be back with the Pistols in 2025. He has recently announced he and The Rattlesnakes are parting company.
J SWISS
Fabulous New York artist with instant star quality who gave us his wonderful album “You Never Really Know” in September.
CALUM SCOTT
Being an X Factor or BGT [Britain’s Got Talent] contestant seen by millions and not winning it, may well still have a bit of a stigma attached for many viewers. But for UK artist Calum Scott, his drink at the BGT fountain in 2015 when he came sixth, was far from a rejection or a propellant to obscurity. Today he is a bonafide global star; a very respected songwriter and a masterful singer. His one-night only London gig at Eventim Apollo in March was one of the gigs of the year, flying back from selling out big venues around Asia for the UK show – a faultless masterclass of pop vocals.
BEST FEMALE ARTIST
PALOMA FAITH
Ms Faith doesn’t get the praise and recognition she deserves as one of the finest vocalists the UK has produced in decades. Her 26-date UK tour in 2024 was a sell out and she was simply magnificent. Her latest album, “The Glorification Of Sadness”, [her sixth studio album] was released in February via RCA, and peaked at # two in the UK album chart and and features 17 tracks – a stunning piece of work.
The songs on the record and the pages of her super book “MILF”, both centre around the split with her long-term partner and father of her kids, and her now being a single mother. We say: Paloma’s raw soul-baring proves she is the real deal and the total package as an artist, who really, really, really does earn that often-abused status of SUPERSTAR.
HOT CONTENDERS
CMAT
CMAT is 28-year-old Irish singer and songwriter Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson. Her debut album “If My Wife New I’d Be Dead”, [‘New’ is correct spelling] was a big success after release in Feb 2022, #1 in the Irish chart. Her second album “Crazymad, for Me” was released in October 2023, also topped the Irish chart and was nominated for 2024’s Mercury Prize and for the Best Album Ivor Novello Award 2024.
Her live set is unique and dynamic – and for us, probably the best act of the entire festival at Latitude in Suffolk, UK this summer. Certainly gave our ace snapper Mr Battersby some great visuals to capture. CMAT has dropped 16 singles. She was nominated for International Artist of the Year in the 2024 Brit awards. Her music style is a broad church but can loosley be described as pop-folk-country. Watch her star ascend higher in 2025 and beyond…
BECKY HILL
This artist can do no wrong for us and we have been big admirers from day one of the magazine. Great voice, fabulous songwriter and brill’ performer. The 18-year-old semi-finalist on the first series of The Voice TV talent show 12 years ago – she should have won it – from the West Midlands, has had a busy year touring in support of her excellent second album, 2024’s “Do You Believe Me Now?”, [our album of the month for May].
The tour included her first shows in New Zealand and Australia. While on tour, she released the single “Never Be Alone”, which features Australian-born DJ Sonny Fodera. She was nominated in the Best Dance Act category in the 2024 Brit awards. We covered her superb arena show in Birmingham in October, rammed with 14,000 fans – her first arena tour and all nine dates sold out. [The photo of her here taken at that show by our super snapper Jason Sheldon].
BEABADOOBEE
One of our favourite artists for some years. Bea aka Beatrice Laus was born in the Philippines and raised in London, and she began recording music as beabadoobee in 2017. At just 23 years old, beabadoobee already has three acclaimed albums – 2020’s “Fake It Flowers”, 2022’s “Beatopia” and August 2024’s cracking LP “This Is How Tomorrow Moves” produced by Rick Rubin and topping the UK album chart – and all three released via Dirty Hit. She has dropped six EPs and a slew of singles; with four in 2024.
She opened for Taylor Swift on The Eras tour in 2024 and in 2025 she will tour with Olivia Rodrigo on her Guts world tour. Nominated for 10 major awards and winning four of them since 2021. Bea’s music has accumulated more than five billion streams worldwide and has a huge social media reach with a dedicated Gen Z fanbase. Her star still on the ascent
GRIFF
The 23-year-old artist, born Sarah Faith Griffiths is an English singer-songwriter. In 2019, she released her debut single, “Mirror Talk” followed by her debut extended play of the same name, released later that year. Griff was named the Rising Star at the 2021 Brit Awards, becoming one of the youngest winners in the category at 20. Later that year, she released her debut mixtape, One Foot in Front of the Other, to commercial success and critical acclaim. On 12 July 2024, Griff released her debut studio album, “Vertigo” – # 3 in the UK chart.
She was in very fine form in Birmingham, at the sold out 1,500 capacity 02 Institute in March where our photographer Andrea Bottino snapped this sot of her. In jher live set she plays the brilliant “Vertigo” – a song which Taylor Swift told her 271 million followers on Instagram that she “loved”. In 2024 she toured in her own right and opened for Taylor Swift and for Sabrina Carpeneter on their tours. A lot more to come from this talented young star in 2025 and beyond…
CHAKA KHAN
Legendary US artist who shot to fame with Rufus and then as a solo star, Chaka Khan toured in the UK in 2024 for the first time for many years, including a sensational headline appearance at Love Supreme festival in East Sussex in the summer – where our fab photographer Manja Williams captured this lovely shot of her. At 71-years-old. Chaka, born Yvette Marie Stevens is still in superb voice, has released 13 solo albums, and she has 10 Grammy awards and 22 nominations to her name in a 54-year career. She was a cousin to late singer Lou Rawls.
BEST BAND
THE K’S
2024 has been a breakthrough year for The K’s. Their debut album ‘I Wonder If The World Knows?’ saw them raise the bar, their efforts rewards by a #3 chart position, while dedicated touring has included a sold-out headline tour, gigs with Liam Gallagher, Blossoms and Lottery Winners, plus festivals such as Reading, Leeds, Truck and This Feeling By The Sea. Their rise was capped with the prestigious Best Breakthrough Act accolade at the Northern Music Awards. Now The K’s commemorate a phenomenal year with the news that they will release the new album “Live At Victoria Warehouse” in January 2025 via Lab Records.
As their first ever live record, it represents a landmark moment for the Warrington quartet. “Live At Victoria Warehouse” captures ten tracks recorded at their electrifying sold-out show at the Manchester venue early in 2024. The photo below was shot by our man Liam when the band headlined This Feeling By The Sea in Bridlington in September. Belting set and a belting festival.
HOT CONTENDERS
STONE
Liverpool four-piece STONE had a great 2024 – sold out UK and European headline tour, celebrating the release of their acclaimed debut album “Fear Life For A Lifetime”, which dropped in July 2024 via Polydor Records. A most glorious noise across 11 tracks which clocks in at just 33 minutes duration, but it really packs a punch with their own brand of sizzling pop-punk.
The record scored an array of strong chart positions, including top 10 spots on the vinyl sales and record store charts. We caught them in Nottingham in October, and that gig was rammed and fabulous. They then toured as opening act for Jake Bugg. Photo below from Nottingham by Andrea Bottino.
THE LOTTERY WINNERS
Triumphant live set at Latitude this summer. They also went down well at SXSW in Texas with several showcase sets. Formed in Leigh, Manchester in 2008, fronted by Thom Rylance, the band has released three studio albums on Modern Sky and their next one, “KOKO” is due in February 2025.
ALT BLK ERA
Sisters from Nottingham and their band, who this magazine raved about and tipped for stardom on their first ever live performance back in 2022 at the Splendour Festival, when they opened the main stage in their home city. Since then they landed a record deal and have recently released their debut album. Ones to watch.
DEAD PONY
We have championed this Glasgow four-piece since their debut single in May 2020 – the deliciously energetic “Everything Is Easy” on LAB records. Dead Pony is singer and guitarist Anna Shields, Blair Crichton on lead guitar and backing vocals, Liam Adams on bass and drummer Euan Aidan Lyons. Their debut album “Ignore This” came out in April. In 20325 they will support You Me at Six on their The Final Nights of Six tour.
DOLORES FOREVER
We have said that Dolores Forever are future stars…and we stand by that statement. Dolores Forever are from London, fronted by Hannah Wilson from Yorkshire and Julia Fabrin, who was born to Danish parents in Indonesia, but lived in Cape Town before a move to Copenhagen. They met at a house party in 2018 and became friends. Maybe a wee bit of a similar vibe to the wonderful Wet Leg, in the indie meets folk style. Fab harmonies.
Hannah and Julia are both individually accomplished songwriters across K-pop hits, Scandipop bops and Eurovision winners. After a handful of their own shows and opening on the 2023 Spacey Jane tour, Dolores Forever’s first headline show was at Omeara in London. They were booked for Live At Leeds In The Park and Neighbourhood Weekender in Warrington, and triumphed with two spots at Glastonbury Festival. They have dropped three EPs and their debut album “It’s Nothing” dropped in September.
BEST NEW BAND
LAMBRINI GIRLS
Lambrini Girls debut album “Who Let The Dogs Out” will be released 10th Jan via City Slang. The Brighton-based duo of Phoebe Lunny (vocals/guitar) and Lilly Macieira (bass) have spent the last few years making a reputation for themselves as one of the best live bands to come out of the UK this side of Idles – their combination of blunt-force punk, scathing social commentary and barbed humour has garnered comparisons to Bikini Kill and Huggy Bear, and seen them share bills with Gilla Band, Shame, Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Iggy Pop and more.
“Who Let The Dogs Out” was recorded with Gilla Band’s Daniel Fox with mixing by Seth Manchester (Mdou Moctar / Battles / Model/Actriz), and the record bottles everything wrong with the modern world and shakes it up. Destined for full arenas in their own right, one day…
HOT CONTENDERS
REALLY GOOD TIME
One of our fave bands, Irish chaps Really Good Time. We said a good while back this band could be the next big thing to come out of Ireland and their sets at The Great Escape in Brighton did nothing to erase that prediction. We loved their August 2024 track “Pension Fund”. They pulled good numbers for their Autumn UK and Ireland tour and have just finished a bunch of UK and overseas festivals. Well worth catching live.
BILK
Bilk have been building a cult-like grassroots following for a while now, but 2025 will be the year they break into far bigger things with the January 24th release of their second album “Essex, Drugs and Rock and Roll” and a major tour in February and March. Current single “Tommy'” delivers bouncy hip-hop-meets-indie-rock verses setting the tone before unleashing the raw punk rush of the hook – with a killer elastic bassline and a searing hard rock solo thrown in for good measure.
Vocalist/guitarist Sol Abrahams delivers every line with venom, with the song’s story – a young woman whose life is wanted by falling in love with a waster – inspired by their local Essex heartlands. From debuting in 2018 to releasing their self-titled debut album in 2023, Bilk’s ethos has always been about delivering gritty, authentic rock ‘n’ roll that lives in the moment and provides an escape from the mundanity of daily life. Bilk end 2024 by headlining a special fundraising show at Guildford’s Boileroom to benefit the mental health charity CALM.
2025 then gets underway with their most expansive headline tour to date, which includes their biggest London show at the Electric Ballroom and then continues across Europe.
WATERSMEET
Really superb UK duo from Newcastle with fab harmonies and lovely songs. Their debut EP “Carried Away” is sublime. Ripe for a major label record deal if the A&R folk have decent ears…
TESSIO
Tessio are Jude McCandless and Callum Feeney, a singer-songwriter duo from Derry, Northern Ireland indicative of the Everly Brothers. Their song writing, described as “beyond their years,” has allowed them to support acts such as Muireann Bradley, Hothouse Flowers and The 4 of Us. Their debut self-titled was written, recorded and produced by the pair, who say they are “really proud of it.” AS they should be. It is a fabulous listen. Must be a shoo-in for major festival stages in 2025. A real find.
BEST NEW ARTIST
LOLA MOXOM
Lola Moxom. What a talent. Soulful r&b vocals and with power and range. This young artist’s voice is a traffic stopper and her innate vocal runs will have you pressing rewind. A child star on the West End stage and on CBBC on TV, Lola has come of age at 19 – Our hot tip for big things…
The UK’s rapidly-rising r&b artist unveiled a sunning live version of her fantastic debut track “Cool With It”, recorded and filmed at Mount Pleasant Studios in London. The track is a killer, as is her follow-up single, the lovely ballad “Turn Down The Lights”. The London-based singer, songwriter, producer and performer draws influence from traditional and contemporary r&b, with music reflecting her deep appreciation for the genre’s roots while pushing the boundaries of its modern form. With a strong ear for producing music, Lola brings a fresh perspective to her craft, combining the essence of an old soul with a modern twist. Huge future ahead for Ms Moxom, for sure.
HOT CONTENDERS
MADELEINE MERLO
Multi-platinum, #1 hit songwriter Madeline Merlo and rising star solo artist released her latest project in October, a superb six-track EP, “One House Down From The Girl Next Door”. Madeline co-wrote all six tracks on the project with a who’s who of top end Nashville songwriters, all of which were produced by Zach Crowell. This year she was named to CMT’s 2024 Next Women of Country, been out on the road with Jelly Roll, Dustin Lynch, Jordan Davis, Riley Green, Scotty McCreery and Dylan Scott as well as expanded her creative horizons, having just released her exclusive jewellery collection.
Nashville-based, Canada-born, Madeline is a two-time CCMA winner and 2024 CCMA Female Artist of the Year nominee, and she signed a record deal at 18. She wrote “Champagne Night,” a Platinum-certified three-week No. 1 for Lady A [a group previously called Lady Antebellum], opening the door for Merlo’s artistic dreams. Her sassy country/funk and soul single “It Didn’t” has racked up more than 10 million Spotify streams to date, and Merlo followed with the gravel-road pop of her “Slide” EP.
TALIA RAE
J SWISS
New York artist who we tip for big things. We liked his single “Make Space” featuring Demi Grace, released via Awthentic Records. It features London-born, New York-based vocalist Demi Grace and is taken from JSWISS’s album “You Never Really Know”, released in September. The LP follows acclaimed collaborative projects “Bona Fide” with Michael Leonhart and “Somebody’s Gotta Do It” with Sly5thAve. Previous singles “Slow Down” and “Superman” featuring Eric Roberson” gained strong radio support.
NAOMI CAMPBELL
Naomi Campbell is an acoustic folk songwriter inspired by classic female soul, country and r&b singers. Originally from a small town in rural Ireland, Naomi has primarily written from her more traditional roots, now based in Liverpool with a full band backing her, Naomi is exploring inspirations from a hybrid of genres combining softer Americana influences with the earthy, grittier vocalists of the 60s and 70s. Over the past year Naomi has been busy honing her live sound with shows across the UK supporting artists such as Chris Helme (The Seahorses), John Calvin Abney, Blue Goose, Campbell/Jensen and Muireann Bradley.
In March 2024 Naomi self-produced and released her debut single “Tuesday’s News” inspired by the West Coast sounds of Laurel Canyon. Naomi’s second independent release “This Is Gold” was released in July. While performing across Nashville and Memphis, Naomi visited the world renowned Sun Studio where she recorded the single “Don’t You Mind”.
BEST LIVE ACT
SEX PISTOLS [ COOK, JONES AND MATLOCK] WITH FRANK CARTER
Incredibly powerful live set from three Pistols and Frank Carter, in for the absent John Lydon who declined an invite to participate. Feedback and critical response was uber-positive for the shows, and there are more throughout 2025 around the world. Read a super interview with Glen Matlock we ran recently where he reveals how Frank became frontman for the shows. Here: https://musicrepublicmagazine.com/2024/11/sex-pistol-glen-matlock-never-mind-the-horlicks/
Read our review of their sizzling Birmingham show, here: https://musicrepublicmagazine.com/2024/09/35003/
HOT CONTENDERS
CMAT
We are very big fans of this unique Irish artist. Her live show is a blast and her recorded work is unique. Seek her out soon…
THE DARKNESS
Justin Hawkins and his band are a must-see live on tour or on a big festival stage. This summer’s shows were superb, and Justin’s acrobatics are something to behold. High jumps and standing on his head among his bag of tricks. Musically they are always on-point and their 2003 smash hit, “I Believe In A Thing Called Love” is the highlight of the set.
PALOMA FAITH
Paloma is one of the best singers the UK has produced. Her 26-ate spring tour of the UK plugged her most recent album, “The Glorification Of Sadness”, which was released in February this year via RCA, peaked at # two in the UK album chart and and features 17 tracks – a stunning piece of work. It is Paloma’s sixth studio album. Her debut dropped in 2009, “Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?” on Epic Records, after which she moved to RCA. “Infinite Things”, her previous album before this latest one, came out in November 2020.
HANNAH WICKLUND
US artist Hannah Wicklund’s album “Live At The Troubador” out in January 2024, showcases her awesome guitar skills and her fab voice. Brilliant live performer.
THE LOTTERY WINNERS
Manchester band who really pack a punch live…Fabulous at Latitude in the summer…
LAMBRINI GIRLS
Our pick for Best New Band 2024. Live they are explosive with raw punk power and remind us of the brilliant IDLES in many ways.
BEST LIVE ALBUM
PP ARNOLD LIVE IN LIVERPOOL
Always nice to get positive feedback about our coverage, especially when it is direct from the artist. Legendary PP “Pat” Arnold told us she loved the “Track Record” feature we did with her recently to promote her excellent new live album. Read that here with all the info about the live record: https://musicrepublicmagazine.com/2024/11/pp-arnold-track-record/
HOT CONTENDERS
MIDGE URE: ROYAL ALBERT HALL 04.10.23
To celebrate his 70th birthday and seven decades in music, Midge Ure took to the stage of London’s prestigious Royal Albert Hall in October 2023 to perform songs from nearly every aspect of his career. These included songs by Visage (‘Fade To Grey’), Phil Lynott (‘Yellow Pearl’), Ultravox and his past 30 years as a solo artist.
Joined by his long-time Band Electronica and special guests, cellist Caroline Dale (London Metropolitan Orchestra, Peter Gabriel, David Gilmour, Sinéad O’Connor), and composer Ty Unwin who worked with Midge on his 2017 “Orchestrated” album. The centrepiece of the show was a performance of Ultravox’s classic album “Vienna.”
Available on 3CD or 3LP, both sets include the full concert split into four sets: acoustic, electric, the “Vienna” album and a host of greatest hits for the encores. The 3CD set is housed in a mediabook, and the 3LP set is a limited edition, recycled Eco-Jazz vinyl with a wide spin and a 12″ art print. Both formats feature unseen photos from the concert. “Royal Albert Hall 04.10.23” has been mixed by Richard Whittaker (Ultravox, Thin Lizzy, The Who) and Midge himself. Released in November 2024.
THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
Music legends They Might Be Giants have returned with the release of a new live album “Beast of Horns”, out in October. Culled from recent touring, this new 13 track set of horn-oriented tracks captures the musical glory of TMBG’s expanded live format. Long celebrated for their electrifying shows, here we find the band joined by a virtual murderers row of horn talent with Stan Harrison on sax, Dan Levine on trombone and euphonium, and trumpet superstar Mark Pender (familiar to all from Conan O’Brien’s band). The band returned to the UK in November 2024 with their ‘An Evening With They Might Be Giants: Flood, BOOK and Beyond’ sold out UK tour.
BEST FESTIVAL
THIS FEELING BY THE SEA
Really great addition to UK festivals in a stunning location and venue – The second This Feeling By The Sea Festival, which was launched in 2023 at Bridlington Spa with headliners Red Rum Club and The Lathums. 2024 it was back in the same stunning Art Deco 3,800 capacity venue on the sea front, with The Royston Club headlining day one, and The K’s topping the bill on day two. Below is the poster and you can see the mouth watering array of bands and artists lined up. Both days were cracking. We’ll be there again in 2025 to cover both days, for sure. Check out our two day coverage in our “Live Zone”.
BEST GUITARIST
HANNAH WICKLUND
This US artist is a triple threat: The voice, the song writing and most definitely, her guitar playing. A really skilled and exciting guitarist. Her new record, “Live At The Troubador” is an essential listen.
HOT CONTENDERS
TOBY LEE
A child star on the West End stage in School Of Rock and having appeared on US TV shows such as “Ellen”, we have been championing UK wonderkid Toby for some years. Currently touring as a guest of Jools Holland and his orchestra. Toby will be 20 in January 2025. Well worth catching live with his own band.
MATTEO MANCUSO
Italian virtuoso who is blowing away every guitarist who see him live or on social media, including some big stars. Check him out on-line and see him live in the UK in the new year. Astounding player…
QUINN SULLIVAN
Young US protege taken under the wing of blues legend Buddy Guy.
ROSIE FRATER-TAYLOR
If someone such as Led Zep legend Jimmy Page raves about your guitar playing, it’s a given you must be decent… UK artist Rosie Frater-Taylor is far more than decent, she is awesome. Her voice is up there too, as are her songs.
STEVE CROPPER
The guvnor when it comes to Stax soul and r&b, Steve Cropper is a living legend with his CV a who’s who of the history of music – a member of Stax house band Booker T & The MG’s, The Mar-Keys, The Blues Brothers Band and playing on a slew of global hits such as Sam and Dave’s “Soul Man” [where Sam Moore says ‘Play It Steve’ ahead of the guitar solo] and co-writer of Otis Redding’s “Dock Of The Bay”, Eddie Floyd’s “Knock On Wood” and Wilson Pickett’s “Midnight Hour” among others.
At the age of 83 and still playing like a demon after a 66-year career, “The Colonel” Steve’s latest solo album “Friendly Town” came out in August via the Mascot Label Group/Provogue, with guests Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top, Brian May of Queen, and country-rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Tim Montana making an appearance. Producer’s credits go to the same dream team of Jon Tiven, ace session multi-instrumentalist and veteran hit songwriter – and a Music Republic Magazine columnist – and Mr Cropper himself. Same team as on the Grammy-nominated album, “Fire It Up”, the previous Cropper solo record back in 2021.
BEST ACOUSTIC ARTIST/BAND
WATERSMEET
Fabulous find: Newcastle duo with a smashing debut EP, “Carried Away”. Adorable sound and songs. If we had our own record label, they’d be first to be signed….Maybe one day.
HOT CONTENDERS
SHOWHAWK DUO
Got to be seen live to be believed. Two guys on guitars with an instrumental set of banging dance tunes. Quite something. Blew the crowd away at Latitude this summer. On paper, loud Ibiza vibes played on acoustic guitars by two blokes may look bonkers, but in the flesh, it is effing awesome. Mikhail Asanovic and Jake Wright take a bow.
HATTIE WHITEHEAD
Hattie Whitehead, rising UK singer-songwriter dropped her lovely debut album Bloom in October. Her Folk-infused acoustic guitar and Hattie’s nods to Joni Mitchell vocally make this a special debut. Hattie’s sound encompasses hues of the 60s and 70s folk and jazz greats she was raised on, such as Joni and Nick Drake, coupled with a direct style with unflinchingly honest lyrics which can be attributed to her more modern tastes in artists such as Wolf Alice, Kurt Vile and Angel Olson. Hattie has released three critically acclaimed solo EPs to date and has also received much acclaim for fronting Hejira band.
TESSIO
Classy 2024 album from Tessio who are Jude McCandless and Callum Feeney, a singer-songwriter duo from Derry, Northern Ireland indicative of the Everly Brothers. a fabulous listen.
BEST BOOK [Music-related]
“AND THE ROOTS OF RHYTHM REMAIN” BY JOE BOYD
HOT CONTENDERS
The Hacienda Threads by Rebecca Hook, which was launched at a star-studded party at Manchester New Century in October. The book documents the music, the fashion, the nights, the people and the love that made The Hacienda great, curated by Rebecca Hook and told through evocative photography and the eye-witness accounts of the people who were there. Including John Cooper Clarke, Bez, Noel Gallagher, Rowetta, Irvine Welsh, Andrew O’Hagan, Mike Pickering and Mani, with a foreword by Rebecca’s husband, Joy Division/New Order legend Peter Hook.
A THOUSAND THREADS BY NENEH CHERRY
MILF BY PALOMA FAITH
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
BRUNO MARS & LADY GAGA: DIE WITH A SMILE”
BEST FILM OR TV SERIES [Music-related]
RHYTHM & FLOW SEASON 2 [Netflix]
HOT CONTENDERS
BACK TO BLACK- AMY WINEHOUSE BIOPIC [May 2024]
“64″ – THE BEATLES DOCUMENTARY ON DISNEY+ PRODUCED BY MARTIN SCORSESE
BEST PRODUCER
JAMES FORD: PET SHOP BOYS ALBUM: “nonetheless”
HOT CONTENDERS
RICK RUBIN FOR BEADOOBEE ALBUM: “THIS IS HOW TOMORROW MOVES” [Dirty Hit – August 2024]
STEVE CROPPER AND JON TIVEN FOR “FRIENDLY TOWN” ALBUM BY STEVE CROPPER & THE MIDNIGHT HOUR [Nominated for a Grammy in Feb’ 2025 awards]
JUDE McCANDLESS AND CALLUM FEENEY FOR “TESSIO” SELF-TITLED ALBUM
CALUM HOWARD, JOHN MARTINDALE & WATERSMEET (ANNA HUGHES & JESSIE HOWARD) – FOR WATERSMEET “CARRIED AWAY” EP .
LEO ABRAHAMS FOR JAMES’ ALBUM: “YUMMY”
BEST SONG & SONG WRITERS
LOLA MOXOM:
“COOL WITH IT”
&
“TURN DOWN THE LIGHTS”
ADULT LEISURE: “KISS ME LIKE YOU MISS HER”
One of our fave bands. The UK’s Adult Leisure get better and we have been showing the Bristol four-piece some love for a good while now. In November, the band released the music video to the single “Kiss Me Like You Miss Her” – filmed and edited entirely by the band themselves, on their phones, keeping true to the track’s subject matter, highlighting the everyday anxieties for someone living on the breadline.
Formed in 2020, the band released a string of celebrated singles before unveiling their debut critically acclaimed EP “The Weekend Ritual” in December 2022. Their second studio EP “Present State of Joy and Grief” was released in November 2023, picked by producer Jake Gosling (Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, One Direction, Paloma Faith) to be played in Hotel Chocolat stores worldwide. 2025 could be their breakthrough year. Major labels should pay attention…
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT RECOGNITION
AMY WINEHOUSE [Posthumous]
Greatly missed. A true one-off and the subject of the superb biopic film this year, “Back To Black”. Amy Jade Winehouse very sadly left us suddenly at her Camden home in London on 23rd July 2011 at the tender age of 27, but her timeless music lives on as her legacy and as inspiration to many, many artists since. Amy’s 2006 second album, “Back To Black” was a huge international success and one of the best-selling albums of all time, as well as one of the best-selling albums in UK history. It is still in the UK album chart after more than 587 weeks.
At the 2007 Brit Awards, it was nominated for British Album of the Year and Winehouse received the award for British Female Solo Artist. The song “Rehab” won her a second Ivor Novello Award. At the 50th Grammy Awards in 2008, she won five awards, tying the then record for the most wins by a female artist in a single night and becoming the first British woman to win five Grammys. These included three of the General Field “Big Four” Grammy Awards: Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year (for “Rehab”), as well as Best Pop Vocal Album.
Back in July 2020 we published an emotionally-charged and frank exclusive interview with Amy’s father, headlined: “The Real Amy Winehouse By Her Dad Mitch Winehouse”, including some never-seen-before photographs of Amy. You can read that interview here: https://musicrepublicmagazine.com/2020/07/exclusive-the-real-amy-winehouse-by-her-dad-mitch-winehouse/
BEST COMEDY
Adam Rowe: What’s Wrong With Me? Stand-up special released on 8th November 2024, and Adam has made it free to view in full on YouTube. It is more than an hour of very funny stuff. This young Liverpool comedian is in his own lane and heading for mainstream stardom. WARNING: X-Rated language and material.
HOT CONTENDERS
DAVE ATTELL
Dave Attell “Hot Cross Buns” Netflix special. [Amy Schumer’s all-time favourite comedian.] If you lime roasts where comedians slag people off, this is the man for you. He has a grumpy persona and trades on stuff about his scruffy appearance. X-rated language and topics. Also check out his work with Jeff Ross called “Bumping Mics”. Outrageous one liners and funny as heck.
CHRIS McCAUSLAND
Funny man and scouser Chris is a national hero after winning Strictly, the prime time TV dance contest. It will not do ticket sales any harm for his mammoth 2025 tour. A superb comedian and seemingly a really nice bloke…
INTERVIEWEE OF THE YEAR [Editor’s choice]
Judie Tzuke by Lucy Boulter. A soul-baring and emotional account of Judie’s battle with cancer and Covid…
HOT CONTENDERS
Midge Ure by Lucy Boulter
Glen Matlock by Steve Best
Our thanks to the many music publicists, record labels, music management, concert and festival promoters and the bands and artists themselves who help us to to bring you the latest news, gig and festival reviews and photographs, interviews, album and EP reviews, music videos…with the stars and future stars…
Big thanks to all of the writers and photographers who contribute their considerable talents – and of course, to our readers worldwide…We love to hear from you with feedback of our content and your requests of who we should be covering next, via the ‘Contact Form’ on the site or via the editor’s direct email (which can be found in the ‘Contact Zone.’
We will be back on the case in 2025, just as eager to bring you yet more FREE and FRESH news, reviews, big exclusives and much more. Watch out for a few brand new Zones on the site next year, launching soon.
Make sure you Stay in the Zone!
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Check out our 15 [as chosen by the editor] “Best Live Photos Of The Year” which we published in 2024, here:
https://musicrepublicmagazine.com/2024/12/music-republic-magazine-our-live-photos-of-the-year-2024/
PHOTO CREDITS:
Jason Sheldon: Frank Carter @ Download, Frank Carter & The Sex Pistols, Beabadoobee, Becky Hill, Alt Blk Era.
Liam Battersby: Calum Scott, Paloma Faith, CMAT, The K’s, The Lottery Winners, Talia Rae, The Darkness – Justin Hawkins, Hannah Wicklund, Showhawk Duo.
Manja Williams: Chaka Khan.
Andrea Bottino: Griff, Stone.
Stacie Huckeba: Steve Cropper, Steve Cropper with Billy F Gibbons and Jon Tiven.
Alex Asprey: Dolores Forever, Really Good Time.
Steve Best: Toby Lee.
Steve Thorne: Joe Boyd.
Harv Frost: Lambrini Girls.
Liam Maxwell: Bilk
Carolina Farulo: Hattie Whitehead
Courtesy of Mitch Winehouse: Amy on stage with her dad Mitch.
Other images: PR-supplied
