One of the more interesting musical develops of the past several years has been the purveyance of folk music coming from across the pond in England that has a very American flair, liberally applying doses of folk, bluegrass, Americana and even some rockabilly to create a sound that harkens back to Laurel Canyon but doesn’t feel a bit out of place today. And with that, a future superstar named Jake Bugg, who at the ripe-old-age of 18 has created a sound that very much belies his baby face. To put it succinctly, he just has that timeless, classic vibe that is hard not to be a fan of. Citing influences like The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Donovan, Don McLean and Oasis, it’s no wonder that his music has an old school vibe to it. He started writing and recording music years before he was able to drive a car, and now at an age when most are going off to university, Bugg is remaining busy playing the likes of Glastonbury, The Review, and Live at Jools Holland. Most musicians only dream of playing such large stages, and he’s achieved that before he’s even released a proper debut album (out this October, FYI).
With his short, super-catchy single “Lightning Bolt”, Bugg shows exactly why in a world that so quickly latched onto Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers, he is destined to be a household name in the same way. In short, he’s quite possibly the most buzzworthy artist I’ve heard this year.
