West Holts

West Holts provides a multinational selection of artists spanning hip hop, soul, dance, reggae, afro, psyche & jazz

FRIDAY

corto.alto
Multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer, Liam Shortall has a propulsive energy that has driven corto.alto to becoming one of the most acclaimed acts in UK jazz. Last year saw not only his Bad With Names album nominated for the Mercury prize but Liam also managed to release thirty new tracks in as many days. The band killed it across a number of high profile festival slots culminating in a triumphant headline set at Gilles Peterson’s We Out Here Festival. Hailing from Glasgow, Liam works with many of the city’s finest players like pianist Fergus McCreadie and drummer Graham Costello. Together, their exuberant live show weaves in elements of dub, broken beat and electronica into what is one of the most fiery expressions of British jazz to date.

Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso
This pair of self-confessed musical freaks were already hitting superstar status in their native Argentina when they undertook an NPR Tiny Desk concert which became one of the biggest viral breakouts of the year. Approaching 30 million streams worldwide, the video showcased their unique blend of trap, pop, funk and latin influences. What also shone through was their incredible style, humour and an onstage chemistry born from a friendship that stems from early childhood. The Tiny Desk led to a tour with sold out dates across Europe and the Americas and this year will see them debut at leading festivals from Coachella to Roskilde. Unmissable. 

Glass Beams
Australian psychedelia takes many forms from the epic bombast of Tame Impala to the fidgety prog of King Gizz. The Melbourne based trio, Glass Beams take a very different approach. Their music pulsates with an hypnotic charm, a sound that references everything from Indian raggas to Aussie surf guitar and yet sounds completely new and fresh. The group’s founder, Rajan Silva is the only publicly revealed name but all three musicians hide their identity on stage behind beautiful golden masks. This makes Glass Beams a highly enigmatic proposition but their sound is far from anonymous.

Vieux Farka Touré
Vieux’s father, the esteemed Ali Farka Touré didn’t want his son to become a professional musician, fearing the vagaries of that mercurial industry. Luckily, Vieux had other ideas and provocatively got himself an apprenticeship with his father’s former collaborator and master kora player, Toumani Diabaté. Since Ali’s death in 2006, Vieux has emerged as not just a virtuoso guitarist but perhaps as the musician doing the most to widen the soundscape of what’s become known as desert blues. Part of this has been achieved through diverse collaborations from Dave Matthews to John Scofield and most fruitfully on the 2022 album Ali, recorded with Texan trio Khruangbin. The album was both a deeply respectful tribute to his father while exploring new directions in sound.

En Vogue
Following on from the well-attended performances by TLC and the Sugababes, West Holts continues its homage to the great girl groups of our time with the legendary Californian trio, En Vogue. Emerging in the early 90’s, the girls quickly achieved international success with party starting R&B classics like Hold On and My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It). Still possessing powerful vocals and energetic dance moves, En Vogue’s sets are graceful, anthemic and a whole lotta fun.

Denzel Curry
The first up of our two Floridian rappers has spent the year crossing the globe on a relentless touring schedule. These dates are off the back of the release of his fifth album/mixtape, King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2 which once again showcased his virtuosic flow over bass heavy bangers. Live, he is an unstoppable force, where his innate charisma holds together a flow that veers from the raucous to the introspective and back again. 

BadBadNotGood
Having made their West Holts debut twelve years ago, we’re delighted to see them back for their third visit. What makes them such a good fit for us is their evident love of jazz, soul, hip hop and all that good stuff but BBNG themselves are really a post genre band. You can see that with the incredible diversity of the many artists who have queued up to work with them including Tyler the Creator, Samuel T. Herring, Turnstile, Charlotte Day Wilson, Kaytranada and Brazilian strings maestro, Arthur Verocai. A band at the height of their powers.

Maribou State
Chris David and Liam Ivory’s pioneering electronic outfit were scheduled to join us last year but tragically Chris came down with a rare brain condition which lead to cancellation of dates and a year long delay for the release of their fourth studio album, Hallucinating Love. Happily, Chris made a full recovery and their comeback couldn’t have been better. The new album was a critical and commercial success and this was followed by a sold out tour that culminated in three nights at London’s Alexandra Palace. The live set up is majestic with strings, a choir, guest vocalists and a heavier, more dancefloor orientated sound. There’s also a powerful emotional resonance that’s so befitting their recent journey from hardship to redemption.

SATURDAY

Infinity Song
Its no secret that the some of the greatest vocal harmonising comes from siblings. Abraham, Angel, Israel, and Momo Boyd are no exception but whatever genetic advantage they have is backed up by hard work and dedication. Raised in Detroit, they (alongside their other five brothers and sisters) were singing in front of audiences from infancy. Infinity Song was formed after the family relocated to New York and they focussed on busking around the city. Jay Z was impressed enough to sign them to his Roc Nation label and they’ve been steadily building a global audience since then. They describe their sound as soft rock and indeed, they do a mean Fleetwood Mac cover, but its their joyful exuberance that really makes them such a compelling live act.

Nilüfer Yanya
There’s an elegant quality to Nilüfer Yanya that at times reminds you of Sade. It’s there in the honeyed vocals and the genre blurring of soul, jazz and indie, her striking beauty and that rare gift of restraint. Now signed to Ninja Tune, Nilüfer’s third album, My Method Actor is her best yet. It’s a collection of tunes that weave their way into your heart and stay there. Co- written and co-produced with Wilma Archer, tracks such as Like I Say (I Runaway) and Method Actor showcase an artist at the top of her game.

Bob Vylan
One of the most explosive acts to come out of the UK for a while, the two Bobs (Bobby Vylan on vocals and drummer Bobbie Vylan) offer a rare display of defiance in an era when it’s needed the most. They’ve supported the likes of Amyl & the Sniffers, Biffy Clyro and one coming up with one of their biggest fanboys, Iggy Pop. However, they’re increasingly selling out the big venues as headliners. This is not surprising as their unique style has been embraced by rock, rap, punk, dance and alternative crowds alike. Their live gigs are a cathartic experience where rage and protest meets positivity and joy.

Kneecap
2024 was an insane year for the Belfast rap trio. It began with their eponymous film winning the audience award at Sundance ahead of its full cinema release. Their debut album, Fine Art also dropped to massive critical acclaim. It was a year of whirlwind success, endless controversy and the loaded accolade of being saviours of the Irish language. Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí mix fierce intelligence, caustic humour and gleeful hedonism to produce some of the best hip hop ever to come out of these islands. We think their journey’s just beginning.

Yussef Dayes
One of the leading lights of the British jazz renaissance, drummer, composer and producer Yussef Dayes has been honing his craft for over a decade. It was his 2023 album, Black Classical Music that really propelled him upwards, gaining a massive new fanbase on both sides of the Atlantic. Heavyweight collaborators such as bassist Rocco Palladino and Tom Misch have aided the journey with more to come in the near future. His status as a lynchpin figure was amply illustrated by him hosting his own one-day festival, Summer Dayes in his native South London.

Greentea Peng
Aria Wells, better known as Greentea Peng makes a triumphant return to West Holts off the back of the release of her latest album, Tell Dem it’s Sunny. The record marks a real progression in her sound building on her smoky neo soul foundations with shades of dub, hip hop and psychedelia. Her lyrical tone is introspective but she’s knows that her strength lies within. On the track Green she notes that “your mind is your weapon” while on Tardis (Hardest), she concludes, “I think I found a way to shape my rage”. Greentea Peng embraces her mystical and spiritual sides but never loses sight of her path to resistance.

Amaarae
Raised between Ghana and the US, Amaarae can’t be pigeonholed. Afrobeats, hip hop, dance and R&B swirl in her future-facing output on full display in her brilliant albums The Angel You Don’t Know and Fountain Baby. Her unique voice and undeniable production skills have led artists like Childish Gambino, Kali Uchis and Kaytranada to queue up to work with her and even Sabrina Carpenter asked her to support her on a US arena tour. Live, she exudes punky swagger and defiant sexuality leading the Guardian to describe her as “thrilling as a bank heist, and as luxurious as sex on thousand-dollar sheets”.

Doechii
Doechii the don, Doechii the dean, Doechii supreme – the swamp ruler! It’s been a joy to watch the phenomenal rise of this Tampa raised artist. She’s been posting her own development online for a decade but her debut mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal changed everything. Even then, it wasn’t immediate, but the release of two outstanding live video performances from the Late Show and Tiny Desk really kicked off her inexorable rise. These was closely followed by the Grammys where she not only won Best Rap Album but stole the whole show with her extraordinary performance of Catfish / Denial Is A River. Now its 57m monthly listeners on Spotify and universal praise for all aspects of her talent. This will be her first UK festival appearance. Don’t miss. Wooha!

SUNDAY

Thandii
The musical lovechild of Margate based musicians Jessica Berry and Graham Godfrey, Thandii are starting to make serious waves. As touring and recording artists they’ve worked with Little Simz, Sault, Michael Kiwanuka and Chronixx to name a few. Despite their frantic schedule they’ve managed to produce four albums in two years. Their sound blends glo-fi electronica with a very UK take on vintage soul. Soothing but totally absorbing.

Abel Selaocoe & the Bantu Ensemble
The cellist and singer is an outstandingly engaging performer. Born and raised in South Africa but now based in Manchester, he occupies a unique place in music bridging the gap between African and classical traditions. His deeply visceral performances feature virtuosic playing, body percussion and vocals that soothe and soar, even embracing Xhosa throat singing. Its powerful, deeply emotional and comes very highly recommended.

Cymande
Not many artists take a 50 year break between albums but few have a story like Cymande. The British / Caribbean band got together in the early 70’s producing a unique sound that combined funk, jazz and African influences, most notably on tracks like Bra and The Message. At that time the British music industry had no understanding or interest in black British music but they did find success in the States through touring and getting support in the early disco era. Disillusioned, they split in 1974 but within a few years they began to be recognised through their records being sampled by the likes of De La Soul and the Fugees. The rare groove era similarly raised their profile and due to genuine popular demand, they reformed in 2014. Last year, a film telling their story was released and in January they dropped a brand new album, Renascence featuring guest spots from Jazzie B and Celeste.

Black Uhuru
True legends of Jamaican music, Black Uhuru – the name comes from the Swahili word for ‘freedom’, are perhaps the most successful of the second wave of reggae bands. They were the first reggae act to win a Grammy and their golden age period in the 80’s spawned classics such as Sinsemilla, Spongi Reggae and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. The rhythmic powerhouse of Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare helped drive much of their sound but Black Uhuru have always had a bit of a revolving door when it comes to Jamaican musical talent. Their current iteration continues to win new admirers in festivals and venues across the world.

Goat
Amazingly, its been 12 years since Goat made their UK festival debut on West Holts. Since then, the Swedish psyche funk warriors have dropped six acclaimed albums and won fans across the planet with their wildly celebratory live performances. Through this time, they have preserved their anonymity, always taking to the stage in elaborate masked costumes. All we (might) know is the apocryphal back story of them emerging from a remote voodoo-worshipping community in Sweden’s far north. What can’t be denied is that this is not a band who likes to stand still. Their latest album even adds elements of hip hop and spikey electro into the already fevered mix.

The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Anton Newcombe’s mercurial and ever evolving band were formed in San Franscisco in the early 90’s. However, their sound is steeped in the sixties, evoking the early Stones and Byrds but also shades of Krautrock and the Velvet Underground. It’s been a tumultuous ride, prolific and endlessly creative but dogged by disfunction and conflict. This was famously captured in the cult film DIG! Which has just undergone a 20^th anniversary rerelease. Despite this often rocky road, the band have not just endured but are playing to larger audiences than ever before. A group out of time but never out of fashion.

Parcels
Daft Punk’s final act before splitting up was producing Parcels’ breakthrough hit, Overnight. You can see the attraction for the French duo. This Australian five piece shared a love for neo-disco grooves backed by some serious songwriting chops. Think Chic meets Fleetwood Mac via Steely Dan but with a very contemporary edge. With a new album expected in the Autumn we’ll be hearing some brand new material alongside classics like Tieduprightnow and Lightenup. Classic Sunday sunset vibes.

Overmono
One of the most consistently exciting dance acts to come out of the UK, brothers Ed & Tom Russell’s Overmono continue to push the boundaries of electronica. United by a love of classic rave, trance and techno, the pair were signed by XL Recordings who released their debut album, Good Lies in 2023. It’s in the live arena where the brothers shine brightest with DJ Magazine awarding them Best Live Act status as they play increasingly bigger stages around the world.