Olly Murs has been announced as the first headliner for Guilfest 2012. The former X Factor contestant will play the festival on Saturday 14th July. Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff has also been confirmed to play the event. Guilfest 2012 runs from the 13th to the 15th July. Tickets range from £35 to £130 and can be bought via the official website. Expect more news about Guilfest as additional artists are announced over the coming months.
2012 looks set to be a big year for Guildford-based indie rockers Sissy and the Blisters. It’s just been announced that they’re to play an NME Awards show in London next month. They’ll support The Big Pink at the Garage in Highbury/Islington on the 20th February. Tickets are £11.60 and onsale now. If you needed an excuse to head up to the capital then this is a pretty good one.
Get The Blessing, featuring Portishead band members bassist Jim Barr and drummer Clive Deamer (who also is now acting as second drummer for Radiohead in their live shows), will play a gig at the Boileroom on the 29th March. Be sure to expect an evening of eclectic sounds. Support comes from Adult Jazz. Contact the venue for ticket information.
About ten minutes away from Guildford is Woking and residing in that part of the world is youthful-looking quartet The Elations. If you liked bands such as The Coral then the chances are you might fall head over heels in love with these guys. She Sings the Winter, which you’ll find below, features an irresistible guitar hook that, whilst slightly tinged with retro-ness, is immensely enjoyable to hear. They have a new EP coming out in the next couple of months called For What It’s Worth, not to be confused with the Buffalo Springfield song nor the Placebo song.
Sid Griffin’s American-English outfit the Coal Porters are set to play a headline show at the Boileroom in Guildford. The self-proclaimed ‘alt-bluegrass’ band will play on the 15th March. Tickets are onsale for £12.