Hot For 2022

"He’s somebody who’s featured in our Ones To Watch for several years running for the sheer amount of hard work and dedication he’s put into his music. Originally fronting the boyband OMYO (Our Music Your Opinion), Will Graydon decided dance music was the way to go. After initial success under Polydor Records landing a BRIT award nomination, a joke TikTok remix of Nathan Evans’ sea-shanty became one of the most unexpected #1s of the decade. It was also a massive hit in Germany (and the rest of Europe) and remained in the dance charts for over a year."

"November 2010 was when I first played the soulful music of Becky Hill with her band Shaking Trees. As the years have gone on, she’s grown in confidence - enough to try out for The Voice and eventually land the show’s first #1 single. Her 10-year “overnight success” has seen her working with dance music royalty and an unlikely songwriting trip led to her sending this song to David Guetta who said “I can never have too many hits!”. The rest, as they say, is history - and now she’s one of our biggest success stories of the year."

"An incredible country music superstar who’s going to have to build an extension onto his house if he keeps winning awards! His last band, the Wandering Hearts, landed a record deal within 30 minutes of putting their music online. Something that would take them to major festival stages across the UK and on a songwriting trip to Nashville. Tim, who’s from Droitwich, has previously worked on the West End starring in Once and Kinky Boots and it was a pleasure to welcome him onto our stage at Lakefest during the summer."

"What an incredible 12 months it’s been for our Queen of Pop. Influenced by the major club anthems of the ‘90s and ‘00s, this Redditch record producer has been teaming up with the greats - including Deadmau5, Joel Corry and our other major success story - 220 Kid. As well as gaining traction at our Introducing virtual events over the pandemic, Camden’s been a regular fixture on national radio - landing a major deal with Sony in the process."

"Once upon a time, it felt like Westlife, Boyzone, Take That or Adele could pick up the phone book and sing the names and achieve a number one hit. But they were lyrical geniuses, too. Worcester’s newest import, Joseph Morris, feels like he belongs in that category, too, and Michael Eavis (of Glastonbury fame) thought so when introducing him on stage at a local event. Joseph had been writing songs in the east of England when he decided he wanted to become a full time performer, moved to Tenerife, then quickly found himself back in Blighty when the pandemic hit. But the Canary Isle’s loss is Worcestershire’s gain as he’s now bringing his original storytelling lyrics and catchy melodies to venues all over the Midlands, instead, including a live set on our stage at HopFest in Bewdley."

"A band we’ve championed from the start. This Evesham two-piece were originally in a school talent show together and it wasn’t until they randomly bumped into one another while backpacking in Australia that they decided, upon their return to England, they’ve ‘get the old band back together’. They’ve since played a variety of shows for us, including our BBC Music Introducing stage at Lakefest - and have a powerful collection of singles behind them."

"One of the most unlikely stars of the pandemic is this fella, who comes from Bromsgrove. I originally played his tracks under his real name of Jeremy Broad - and then the pseudonym ‘Lenśe’. George laid some tracks down at a vintage recording studio and, overnight, went from playing to a handful of people in a bar to Boardmasters via the BBC Radio 1 playlist. He’s also been on the playlist of every local BBC Radio station in Britain and is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet!"

"What an incredible 12 months it’s been for Kidderminster’s Emily Nash. I first heard some of her rough demos aged 17 while studying at Kidderminster College and she has just exploded onto the dance music scene. We’ve supported her every step of the way, from spins by Jaguar on BBC Radio 1 through to landing a record deal with Ministry Of Sound and having her debut performances at Reading & Leeds and Creamfields - all while working at the local supermarket! National radio have also tipped her for big things in 2022, so watch this space."

"An unexpected star from somebody with some of the most catchy folk songs around. The fun she managed to capture in this track not only turned the heads of those on BBC 6 Music but ended up being heard by the actor Stephan Mangan - and enough people turned on to hear Katherine’s tracks, who then went out to buy them, landed her at #1 on the Official Folk Albums Chart. Alvechurch’s Katherine Priddy is also the first person after lockdown to be photographed every weekend with a sea of fans in front of festival stages eager to hear her perform. She joined us as part of our Airwaves Virtual Festival in the spring."

"What can I say about this song other than I was completely moved to tears the first - and last time I heard this song? The key to being a successful artist in 2022 is connecting to your audience and I felt her emotion reach straight out of the speakers and I wanted to reach straight back into them to offer a supportive hand. I don’t think any artist has ever triggered this kind of emotional response from me before and everybody I’ve played the song to has felt the same way too. Beautifully produced, beautifully performed and beautifully poignant. I also think it’s the bravest song I’ve ever heard. Stourport’s finest who helped us to switch on Worcester’s Christmas Lights a few years back."