The Big V- Glastonbury ETC Profile
So having had my Glastonbury playlist for two weeks now certain artists are starting to feel like old friends. Chatting the other night with a fellow judge we both remarked about feeling a certain affinity towards our three choices from 2011. The Big V are certainly a band that I can well imagine blogging about regardless if they make my top three.
The Big V hailing from Exeter are a five piece outfit consisting brother and sister Alex and Emily Johnstone alongside Joe Breban ,Alex Moss and Richard who appears to have no surname , maybe he is Richard the third ? I’m guessing that they have been together around about four years from the facebook page. Those of you who are really musically astute may have already made the connection between the band and producer Phil Johnstone , best known for his work with Robert Plant to date. I have a feeling that in the future his offspring may catapult his production skills to a new level.
I totally fell in love with Emily’s vocal on ‘The Murder Song’ which they submitted for the competition. On a first play there are obvious Portishead comparisons, which is fine in my book. However repeated listens open up the senses to a whole menagerie of sounds, lyrically it deals with domestic violence. ‘Why when I look at purple do I see red’ the opening of a big chorus has been stuck in my brain for the last week.
For me the Big V epitomise everything that I feel this competition should embrace , untapped talent that deserves industry exposure ,alongside a sound that’s big enough to fill any arena or festival stage. Most importantly of course is the music which if you fully explore the bands soundcloud , seamlessly crosses genres mid song at times. They are a band who’s appeal could well be universal across the the generations.
This quote on their soundcloud page sums up neatly all that I have waffled on about previously !!
‘ “Big and bluesy with undercurrents of something more soulful…the perfect combination of striking looks and artful hooks.” – ,John Bownas, Virtual Festivals
http://thebigvmusic.tumblr.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TheBigVmusic
I must add that the fact I have blogged the band does not mean that they will be in my final three but they are certainly live contenders !!
Simply one of the most exciting and original bands in Britain today. A beautiful mix of fantastical and literal writing. Fronted by a true star backed by a band who know not only how to play but also posses the skill of knowing when to leave space for the listeners imagination to co-create.
Hi David I checked out your cover of ‘if it were up to me’ love it , agree on the Big V as well . I will drop you an E-mail would really like a copy to play on radio if possible
The Big V create an amazing Soundworld and now is there time! 21st Century Rock n Roll and I love it.