This year's Brit Award Breakthrough Act nominations show the predominance of alternative and new folk acts breaking into the UK mainstream.
Little lion men: Mumford & Sons are up for a Brit Award
The past year has seen nu-folk and alternative acts break into the mainstream left right and centre and solo female artists have also been dominating the charts. Last year’s Brit Queen Florence and the Machine paved the way but the award for Best British Breakthrough Act shows the shape of things to come in 2011.First up is Flo’s contemporary Ellie Goulding, of Starry Eyes fame and is the critics’ one to watch winning the Critics Choice award at last year’s Brits and also topping the BBC Sound of 2010 lists. She cemented her place in the fickle world of pop last year with a cover of Elton John’s Your Song, which after being used for the John Lewis Christmas TV ad snagged her the number 2 slot on the UK charts.
Checked shirt wearing public school boys Mumford & Sons were championed by Radio 1 and as a result have achieved considerable success in the UK and over the pond. Making the ukulele cool, they were nominated for two Grammys in 2010 and have had their music sampled on TV everywhere from Grey’s Anatomy to the beeb.
Rumer is the outsider of the group being less well known than the other contenders but this hasn’t stopped her from earning another BRIT nomination for Best British Female. She is championed by music giants Elton John, Jools Holland and Burt Bacharach earning her some serious music credentials but will it be enough to win her the Breakthrough Act gong?
Tinie Tempah is this year’s nomination king clocking up four nominations in total. The 22 year old, who some will inevitably compare to Dizzee Rascal, burst on the scene with Written In The Stars and has not looked back since.
Finally, the xx were last year’s Mercury Prize winners and despite being some of the shiest and most self effacing stars of the moment, have been universally adored for their distinctive self-titled album. The track Intro was used in extensively on TV and led many to consider them the sound of 2010.
• Ellie Goulding
• Mumford & Sons
• Rumer
• Tinie Tempah
• The xx
MUSIC TO YOUR EARS:
