This week's new music gig guide hopefully comes to you after your chilled-out and possibly boozy Bank Holiday. Even though topping up your social calendar may not be high on your agenda right now, we reckon that you should certainly start planning your gigs for the week ahead. It's always good to be organised, right?
Below, we've picked out five of the most unmissable shows that are going on in the UK. They come from five of our most awesomely talented Emerging Icons, and we reckon you'll be pretty pleased to get them into your life. If you find a show that you like the sound of, click on the links to visit the artist's profile. While you're there, you can click on the star to become their superfan, big up their talent by commenting on the tracks you like... and most importantly- you can let them know that you're planning on going to their gig by clicking 'YES' on their listing. It's dead easy...
So let's get cracking! Behold, the five shows from the Emerging Icons you really don't want to miss...
Thursday 16th May
Tottenham's finest (and admittedly only) yumcore outfit Cocoafutures are venturing slightly East tonight as they hit The Victoria in Dalston. Their brightly synth-infused sound got them longlisted for an appearance on Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage this year- but who needs that when you can rock out in one of London's most splendid new music nooks? The chirpy sounds you'll hear by going along to this show will not only make you feel all nice and warm inside- it'll also get you dancing irrespective of whether you've had a few or not. It's a pretty potent power they possess- and one that must be used wisely...
Friday 17th May
'Felix Hagan & The Family are a seven-piece beast made of makeup, hairspray, lovely ladies and staggering musicianship.' We could leave this preview at that really and most people would want to go check it out. However, there are probably a few more things we could mention. You can expect an uplifting night of fresh and impossibly quirky new music- fusing classic rock n' roll with touches of Vaudeville amongst other unusual influences. This is a band that have an extremely impressive reputation when it comes to putting on a live show- and it'll give you the musical theatre experience at a fraction of the price. Don't miss out on this truly unique talent...
Friday 17th May
Acoustic punk rocker Sean McGowan may only have featured on our Top Five listings a couple of weeks ago- but this is too huge an event to overlook. The acclaimed singer-songwriter has bagged what is quite literally a dream support slot for anyone involved in his genre... taking to the stage of The Brighton Dome to open for Billy effing Bragg. We couldn't be more excited for Sean, who has certainly worked his nuts off sufficiently to be involved with an opportunity at this level. It'll be a show to rival any of the others taking place at The Great Escape festival that weekend- and we're sure our Emerging Icons star will be leaving the stage with many more new fans. Go on, lad!
Saturday 18th May
The Clash-inspired rockers Brightlight City are giving their fans plenty to look forward to this coming week. It kicks off with the release of their new single 'Start At The End' on the 13th before culminating in one heavy-duty knees up at The Hobgoblin come the weekend. This is a band that likes to make a lot of noise to live audiences as often as they can- but even they have this night earmarked as a big one. 2013 is looking better and better for this lot, with a recording date set for a new EP this June, and festival appearances already plotted out in their busy calendar. We highly recommend that you go check them out as quickly as humanly possible.
Saturday 18th May
Neotropics at The Scene Club: Swansea, Wales
Last week's Webstival-featured act Neotropics are gigging at Swansea's wicked Pili Pala Festival today- and they're in pretty good company. With Pili Pala being Welsh for 'butterfly', you can expect the entertainment to be new, emerging and 100% gorgeous. Celebrating talent in both music and literature, the eclectic electro-meets-alt rock style of the Bristol-based trio will glitter gloriously on a line-up that also includes Cut Ribbons, The Adelines and Emerging Icons' very own Fjords. If you can make it there for the weekend, expect to be very impressed by a bold, boundary-pushing performance from Neotropics.
If you can't make it down to any of these shows, don't panic! There are plenty more just waiting to be discovered. All you have to do is click on the GIGS tab at the top of our homepage where you can find listings from loads more amazing artists!