New Bands You Should Know

2011 was an absolutely great year in music. Not only were there several great albums, but 2011 saw some terrific music from new and up and coming bands. If you have been looking for some great new bands to follow, you will want to know these promising upstarts.

Virgil and the Accelerators

No band outside of Rival Sons made as big of a splash at Blues Rock Review in 2011 as Virgil and the Accelerators. Their debut album The Radium was voted 2nd on our Top 20 Albums of 2011 list. Fronted by young guitar phenom Virgil McMahon, Virgil and the Accelerators are an exciting power trio, and a driving force in a rejuvenated blues rock genre.

Dark Stares

Dark Stares were a very pleasant surprise in 2011 with their debut EP, Tell Your Friends. It’s a fitting title because you will want to tell your friends all about Dark Stares after hearing their new EP. The UK rockers debut LP will be highly anticipated.

The Sheriffs of Nottingham

The Sheriffs of Nottingham’s newly released album, Have Mercy, is a fantastic mix of rock, blues, and soul. It’s blues rock you can bust a move to. The band out of Memphis should be garnering much attention in the coming years, as they are one of the best kept secrets in blues rock.

The Dirty Streets

Anyone who loves 70s rock will want to hear The Dirty Streets. This Memphis trio known for their energetic live performances are full on classic rock in 2012. The Dirty Streets dropped a new album in November titled Movements, and show why rock and roll is alive and well.

The Heavy Eyes

The Heavy Eyes are a heavy, raw, psychedelic, blues rock band featuring crushing riffs. If you’re looking for a rock band different than the status quo, The Heavy Eyes are well worth the listen.

– Pete Francis