The Jacques: Top 5 Bands We’ll Be Watching at Dot to Dot

Bristol’s The Jacques are set to hit Dot to Dot festival this weekend, kicking off in Manchester this eve, followed by their home city on Saturday and Nottingham, Sunday.

The band – whose lead vocalist and guitarist, Finlay Jacque, sounds like a cross between Peter Doherty and Oliver Twist’s Artful Dodger (and who didn’t love him?) – already have two critically acclaimed EPs and mini album releases (in Japan and Germany) under their belt, and have just released their latest single, ‘Eleanor Ring Me’.

Recorded at the legendary RAK Studios in London, and produced by Dan Swift (Snow Patrol, Art Brut), ‘Eleanor Ring Me’ leans away from the Babyshamblesque style of their previous tracks, and more towards Phil Daniels‘ commentary in Blur‘s ‘Parklife’. Nevertheless, its catchy, revolving around a riff that will stick in your brain, and the familiarity of references will surely appeal to the masses.

Since making their London debut at Hyde Park with The Libertines, in May 2014, The Jacques – made up of two brothers, Finlay (vox/guitar) and Elliot Jacque (drums), and two new band members – have played over 75 shows in the UK, Netherlands, Germany and USA.

Recording has already begun on their eagerly anticipated debut album, scheduled for release sometime next year, but in the meantime you can catch them live over the festival season, and check out these five tracks, chosen by Finlay, from the top five bands they’ll be watching at this year’s Dot to Dot…

1. Bright Young People – ‘Liberties’

“Our mates from our old label. They play their tunes nice and raw like a tartare.”

2. Bang Bang Romeo – ‘Johannesburg’

“If no one else, you must see these. Frontwoman like no other (the endless Beth Ditto comparisons are not worth your heed) and she’s a mate of mine also. They are really incredible and funny and proper northerners, which makes it even weirder how intense their set is.”

3. Feed The Kid – ‘Red River’

“No idea who they are, I just thought this was a fucking great band name!”

4. Oliver Wilde – ‘Sad Sack’

“A friend and colleague works with him and tips him really heavily. Apparently its all made in a bedroom, some sort of lo-fi thing but I don’t really know. If I can I’ll be finding that out for myself on the weekend.”

5. White Parker – ‘Sound Of The Symphony’

“My mate Kit and his band. They’re newbies but they’re doing good and they are Bristol boys too.”

‘Eleanor Ring Me’ is out now via Vegan Cyanide/The Orchard.

Upcoming live dates…

May
13 – l’Alimentation Generale, Paris France
14 – Les Nuit Botanique, Brussels Belgium
27 – Dot to Dot Festival, Manchester UK
28 – Dot to Dot Festival, Bristol UK
29 – Dot to Dot Festival, Nottingham UK

July
29 – Kendal Calling Festival, UK
31 – Damaris Festival, Amsterdam Holland

August
13 – Down to The Woods Festival, Durham UK

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