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Pond Hoppers: Seven British breakout acts primed for an American uprising

Rat Boy Press

It’s no secret that our cousins across the pond have an impressively long record of taking America by storm, especially in the game of music. When the first wave of Brits broke into the US charts in the ’60s, the floodgates had opened: The Beatles. The Rolling Stones. Dusty Springfield. The Kinks. The Animals. It was a wake-up call, a sudden realization of all the good tunes American airwaves had been missing out on. Since then, a stream of British artists have shown their creative and musical prowess by leaving their stamp on American popular music.

In the ’90s, the Britpop movement furthered the appeal, longevity, and dominance of British culture. It showcased the diversity and individuality that UK artists had to offer the world of music. But before many of these acts ever really broke on American soil, they grew their audience back home, crafting their art and finding their footing in clubs and concert halls across Britain. Pretty soon another wave of the British Invasion will return in full force, and here are just a few of the acts folks should be on the look-out for.

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Rat Boy

Not many people would take being called a rat very well, but for Essex native Jordan Cardy, the moniker provides the perfect stage name. With their working class attitude and indie rock/rap fusion, Rat Boy takes inspiration from such UK favorites like Jamie T, Arctic Monkeys, and Blur. Cardy and his trio of bandmates — guitarist Liam Haygarth, bassist Harry Todd, and drummer Noah Booth — dropped their massive 25-track debut album Scum in August, and it’s a smattering landscape of cheeky indie pop, near-obnoxious lyrics, and misplaced interludes. The record holds up a dizzying mash-up of genres about disillusioned youth and life lessons. [Featured Rat Boy photo via Primary Talent Agency.]

Listen to “Laidback” below…

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