Our Deli jurors finished rating the Nashville artists who submitted to be considered for our Year End Best of Nashville Poll for Emerging Artists. The artists listed below are qualified for the poll’s next phase and bands nominated by our jury of local scenemakers will be announced soon.
To learn how the Year End Poll works, click here.
Heypenny has come out on top, and it’s little surprise considerng the year these indie party poppers have had. They released their debut full-length, A Jillion Kicks, in February, then finished out 2011 with a contrasting colelction of slow and pretty tunes on Tendre.
Mr. Miller by Heypenny Bad Cop‘s gritty garage also made the cut; they’ve weathered many a rotation of band members and still come out with relentless, scuzzy pop – most recently on the EP I Can’t Slow Down, released last November.
Bad Cop – Daylight by ROIR Rachel Pearl made it with nothing more than steely-yet-ultra-feminine vocals and tunes that match Lady Gaga and Florence + the Machine in flamboyancy, infectiousness and grandeur.
With a Wilco-esque combination of couldn’t-care-less easiness and folky bounce, Daniel Ellsworth and The Great Lakes can’t seem to write a song that isn’t catching, and it’s likely why they’ve made it into the music pile.
The Stephen Sebastian Band proved themselves with a country-tinged craft that seems to idolize Ryan Adams and the rootsy rock of Tom Petty.
And finally, there’s Umbrella Tree, a quirky, folky indie pop threesome with playful live performances and a sort of perfect dynamic. Stay tuned for your turn to vote!
