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Music workout: Acoustic Ladyland gave it their all

Silent treatment: Folk singer Jay Jay Pistolet

Ready for big things: Make Model put on a great show at Koko

Big voice: Bobby Cook needed a stadium

One man and his band: Sam Isaac

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• Camden Crawl review
• Gig tickets

The beauty of events like the Camden Crawl is that lesser known acts are given a platform to showcase their talents amongst those that are more established. Here are some of the ones that stood out at this year's festival...

ACOUSTIC LADYLAND
This modern jazz band are in a league of their own. The quartet of multi-instrumentalists are nothing if not energetic. Fusing a mix of genres, with the rule-breaking essence of jazz at its base, the group gave it their all and more. Saxophone player Pete Wareham used endless amounts of breath to swap between lead vocals and his instrument. Sweating and exhausted this was an intense musical workout. A joy to watch.
Find out more: www.myspace.com/acousticladylandmusic
Up and coming gigs:
The Luminaire, May 15

JAY JAY PISTOLET
The programme advised Crawlers to stock up on 4-ply tissues before watching this solo artist's gig. His folk songs weren't so much tear-jerking as effortlessly beautiful. For half an hour, a group of people at the Oh Bar! 'kept the noise down,' as requested by the singer, to focus on his set. The background mutterings of the pub-goers that were more interested in their pint than the performance didn't spoil things though. If anything they added to the raw and uncontrived atmosphere. There is something glorious about a man, his guitar and an intimate setting. If you looked up the phrase 'simple but effective' in a dictionary, a photo of Jay Jay wouldn't be out of place.
Find out more: www.myspace.com/jayjaypistolet
Up and coming gigs:
Soho Revue Bar, April 24
Neverland, April 28
Luminaire, April 29

MAKE MODEL
There are some gigs that prevent you from standing still. Make Model's show at Koko was one such example. Putting on an impressive performance, the group of six Glaswegians lived up to their Arcade Fire comparisons. They are instrumental, experimental and liberating to listen to but they deserve more than to be recognised for their resemblances to other indie icons. This band is ready for its big moment; dancing beneath a disco ball and multi-coloured lights in a full-capacity venue, they proved this.
Find out more: www.makemodel.com or www.myspace.com/makemodel
Up and coming gigs:
Koko, May 30

BOBBY COOK
Britain has been waiting for a Ryan Adams equivalent for some time and Bobby Cook is the man to fill that gap. Better still, he is not as glum as good old Mr Adams with songs more fitting to the Gold than 29 era. Perfect. Accompanied by a full band, the 22-year-old sang beyond his years to a crowd that reciprocated his enthusiasm. But the venue was too small for his music. Bobby didn't need the intimacy of Black Cap. He would have been more suited to a stadium full of over-excited fans but needs a status to match his voice first.
Find out more: www.myspace.com/bobbycookmusic
Up and coming gigs:
Bush Hall, May 17
Proud Galleries, May 22

SAM ISAAC
Bringing his full band to the Crawl, Sam Isaac was one of the more popular choices this year, with some fans missing his NW1 bar gig due to full capacity. The folk singer from Malvern is a pleasure to watch. Not only is he unassuming but also a genuinely good musician and songwriter. His records would ideally be played with a group of friends at a beach BBQ. If not, a live performance goes down well too.
Find out more: www.samisaac.co.uk or www.myspace.com/samisaac
Up and coming gigs:
The Borderline, June 25

EVERYONE WAS TALKING ABOUT:

* BIG PLAYERS: With queues you could spot a mile off, there were certain bands that everyone wanted to get a glimpse of. The Wombats, Los Campesinos, Boy Kills Boy and The Fratellis were four of the big contendors for most popular act at this year's event.

* NAMES: Some acts put a new spin on the 'alternative' concept, with names ranging from Agaskodo Teilverek (rearing stallion in Hungarian), The Creepy Morons, Cutting Pink with Knives and Slagsmalsklubben amongst the more unusual.

* FASHION: The more fashion conscious at the Crawl had time to fit in some shopping amongst gigs. The new H&M Divided store in the heart of Camden was in keeping with the festival atmosphere, hosting live DJ sets including one from Alex Zane.

* WANTING MORE: The Crawl gave festival-goers a taste of what is to come over the next few months. Pencil Lovebox, Get Loaded in the Park and the 02 Festival in the diary for starters.

 

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