The Naturals These sonic beasts, the Naturals are from Bristol they are a guitar band who make electric music sounding. Coming on like one part Ride, one part Cabaret Voltaire. They recently supported a Julio Bashmore DJ set at the Nest in Dalston.

Jinja Safari - simply put indie rock meets meets afrobeat/tropical stylings whose sound could easily fill a stadium in the future with the wind blowing in the right direction.

Ifan Dyfdd - played an exciting set encompassing House, Techno, Julio Bashmore and Floating Points where Gang Colours warmed up the floor beautifully. Look out for his record label Push and Run.

This is part two of our new band highlights from the Great Escape festival.

Shabazz Palaces - the Sub Pop signing have a great raw feel of early New York Todd Terry produced rap such as T La Rock mixed with contemporary lo-fi bass production. They are taking rap back to the power of the rhyme,  the group also features ‘Butterfly’ from ace rap crew Digable Planets, who also spawned King Britt.

Cloud Nothings - mix good old fashioned garage rock with the vocal tones of Kurt Cobain and The Ramones, they are amazing live.

I had a great time at the Great Escape festival and conference last week.   I sat on a panel discussing the future of second screening, connected TV’s and how the music industry can take advantage.

Overall the conference was very positive, attendees are working though the  challenges of convergence and an attention deficit audience to the music industry. Ben

On top of Grimes, Friends, Foxes, St Lucia Clock Opera, Howler and The Twlight Sad. These are the first of our new band highlights from the festival:

Haim - these 3 strong sisters are the party right there!
Throughout their set I could hear hints of Shea Seger, Fleetwood Mac, Thompson Twins, Hall & Oates and TLC.  Just don’t mention the dress incident.

Lapalux - recently signed to Ninja Tune is a fantastic producer and performer, mixing the stylings of Hudson Mohawke with the glitchy use of samples.  Perfectly blending Hip Hop and R&B Slow Jams with Bass Music, watch out for remixes from this Essex man he is in demand.

Part 2 tomorrow

Ben Bleet our Founding Director is speaking at Sensoria, festival of film and music tomorrow discussing developments in music and branding in 2012. Taking one step up from the baby football table in a creative space, Sensoria’s event space the Electric Works has the only helter skelter in a UK office.

Links http://2012.sensoria.org.uk/category/programme/pro/

The curators of In The Woods festival and all round raw talent Laurel Collective start their residency at the Electricity Showrooms in Shoreditch tonight. Fans of doing thing a little differently the stage is ‘in the round’,  it’s a 4 weekly run so there is no excuse to miss this inventive band who take on what LCD Soundsystem and Friendly Fires started.  Here is the video to their previous single: