In just a few weeks time, Viva Sounds will be making its return to Gothenburg, Sweden from the 6th-7th December, bringing with it a huge array of breaking new bands and guest speakers, making it one of the most desired destinations for music professionals to experience the best in new music and industry discussions.
So with the event so close, we thought we would breakdown the best new acts to be playing at this year's Viva Sounds and why we are so pleased to be involved with it.
The Bongo Club
With their highly-anticipated new album set to arrive in February, Swedish outfit The Bongo Club recently returned with their latest single 'No Expectations'. With its pulsing basslines and pounding production, the group are eager to get themselves back out there as they share this blistering new release.
Red Rum Club
Sweden may be the location of Viva Sounds, but the British bands are still looking to make their mark as Liverpool's Red Rum Club have quickly become a huge talking point for the festival. Their latest single 'Kids Addicted' was co-written with esteemed songwriter Rich Turvey and has been greeted as one of the best new releases out of Merseyside so far this year.
Slowgold
As a fan favourite for many years now, Sweden's Slowgold recently released the live version of their single 'Väntar' to huge public support. Filled with their usual aesthetic of lo-fi and brooding trip-hop influences, their latest offering continues the bold and euphoric sound they have been mastering since their early beginnings.
DIVES
Having only just released their brilliant debut album 'Teenage Years Are Over' earlier this month, DIVES are establishing themselves as one of the best new bands to emerge so far this year. With their dark and pulsing take on the indie-rock sound, the group have managed to tap into that same haunting direction that Elbow and The National have taken hold of in recent decades.
Lightning Dust
Recently delivering their new album 'Spectre' in early October, Canadian outfit Lightning Dust have been a solid addition to the thriving North American indie-rock scene for more than a decade. With four studio albums, each filled with their own haunting and personal personality, the band look to deliver an expansive and career-spanning set when they perform at Viva Sounds this year.