Lauran Hibberd - Old Nudes

There comes a time in every musician or pop star’s life when a period of reflection and deep thought arises. It is at that moment, a point of immersive discovery of the soul and one’s very being that a single question of absolute importance will arise: “Why haven’t I joined the Musicians in the Bath Club yet?” 

It’s an important question and one that Breaking More Waves has been regularly covering in its blog posts since 2014 when I featured the likes of Charli XCX, Lady Gaga, Prince and the queen of baths Mariah Carey all showing their membership photos of this exclusive and important club. 

Since that time hundreds of new stars have got in the tub for your personal entertainment. Some fully naked, some clothed, some in water, some not, with everything from blood, beer and balloons being used as alternative bath fillings. One recent addition (Lynks Afrikka) even played an Instagram live show in his bath. Alas he was on his own, but I’m seeing an income opportunity here. Soon bands will be playing gigs in baths with the audience floating around in the suds with them – although they’ll probably need a bigger tub. Goodbye sweaty gigs and hello orange and cinnamon fragranced bath bombs and beautifully clean audiences. That doesn't sound too bad does it?

Today we have a new member of the club, one whom at those hot gigs has often noted from stage her high levels of sweating. So, bath gigs could really be a positive way forward for Lauran Hibberd.

Clearly during this pandemic lockdown Lauran has had some time to really explore her inner feelings, to examine herself and ask those big questions about who she is as a person and just why as a musician she has yet to do the bath thing.

Now she has the answer. The bath thing has become a reality. I wonder if she was influenced by fellow musician mate Zuzu who also did the in the tub thing fairly recently? Whatever, she’s now a fully-fledged member of this important club. Lauran Hibberd has arrived. You can see the results in the video below.

There’s a new song as well. Which as this is a music blog, I should probably mention rather than just rambling on about baths. It’s called Old Nudes. 

Everyone has an embarrassing old naked photo lurking somewhere don’t they? No? Well someone does of Lauran: “He has a dirty photo of me, and he’s stored it on his iPhone 3,” she sings. Old Nudes displays Lauran’s ongoing ability to knock out a hooky melody so be warned that you’ll soon be singing it everywhere (yep, even in the bath). Lyrically she’s as sharp and funny as ever – you’re never quite sure if she’s telling her story, someone else’s or is just making the whole thing up, but if I could click 'like' on a lyric, it would definitely be on “You can see it by the look in my thighs.” Clever.

With the lockdown continuing, the video for the song is inevitably very low budget. Lauran gets to use her web cam. I’m hoping she ensured her electricals were no where near the bath if she decided to fill it after this shoot. Stay safe kids. Stay safe Lauran.

Lauran Hibberd - Old Nudes

New Music: Lauran Hibberd - Frankie's Girlfriend

Breaking More Waves regular Lauran Hibberd’s music has gradually been getting heavier and grungier since her since folkish beginnings. We’re not talking Napalm Death, Motorhead or even Iron Maiden heavy, or not yet anyway; there’s still a massive pop sensibility in what she does. However, new track Frankie’s Girlfriend could certainly stand side by side with a tune like Buck Rodgers by Feeder and there’s an unreleased song in her live set that has distinct hints of Nirvana.

Following a tradition of Frankie’s occupying a space in pop music (Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Frankie by Sister Sledge, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons….er ok I’m struggling now but 3’s a start and Frankie’s Girlfriend makes it 4) Lauran continues to tell stories of characters and the human condition. In this case our lead is the super jealous girlfriend who really resents Lauran, a platonic friend of Frankie's since childhood.

“I heard you talking in your sleep about my boyfriend,” says the subject of the story. And as the envy builds further: “I saw you walking on the beach, he was looking at you the way he used to look at me.” It seems that someone needs to lighten up a little. 

The track is another rock-bop par excellence from the Isle of Wight’s finest musician / worst spaghetti eater with plenty of mighty yet trashy riffage.

Lauran is playing at Deer Shed and Camp Bestival festivals this weekend and after that you can catch her on tour in October (all the dates can be found on this link). Her new EP Everything Is Dogs is out soon. 

Lauran Hibberd - Frankie's Girlfriend

New Music: Lauran Hibberd - Hoochie

Over the years the Breaking More Waves household has owned a number of hamsters. They were called Frisbee (RIP), Krispy (RIP) and Cocoa (RIP). Lauran Hibberd also owns a hamster; it’s called Hoochie. This also just happens to be the name of her new single. I quite like the idea of her owning a menagerie of pets all named after her songs: Sugardaddy could be a tortoise perhaps, Hunny would be a cute adult rabbit and Shotgun would be some sort of vicious looking dog, that she could call at any time when she lets it off the lead.

Alas Hoochie the song isn’t about a hamster, although pets do get a brief mention. Instead it’s a tune about someone who Lauran used to hang out with, but now she thinks they’re a bit of a plonker: “I saw you bought another bass, I thought I told you it was a waste of space. I know you’re gonna start another shit hot band and make me laugh,” she concludes of the jackass boy. Hoochie flies by like a zip being yanked down. Before you know it you’ve had a bunch of growling indie guitars and yet another earworm of a chorus – Lauran just can’t stop writing them.

If the music career doesn’t work out for her  (and it seems to be going pretty well at the moment – although if the promo picture above is to be believed she doesn’t seem to have earned enough money yet to be able to afford a hairdryer, instead resorting to hand dryers in public toilets) she could perhaps try one in comedy. For anyone that has seen her live you’ll know that she does a neat line in slightly self-disparaging slightly cocky humour as displayed in her latest quote about this song: “I think there’s a confidence in this track lyrically that I’m yet to filter through to my actual life. I’m looking forward to that happening.”

Lauran has a few headline dates of her own coming up in May (in Southampton, Manchester and London) before she’s out doing a few festivals this summer including Great Escape, Winchestival, 110 Above and the mother of them all – Glastonbury - where she represents the south in the BBC Introducing tent. (I couldn't think of a finer representative). Hoochie is out all over the place right now – just like a Hoochie does.

Lauran Hibberd - Hoochie

New Music: Lauran Hibberd - Sugardaddy

A couple of weeks ago Matt Parsons, the Chief Executive of digital music distribution company Ditto Music caused a minor storm on the internet by tweeting: “13 years of Ditto, and Lee and I still work 12+ hours a day, 7 days a week, check our emails at 4am and help our clients on evenings and weekends. No days off. Every spare minute is an opportunity. If you can’t do that basic thing….go work at a major label.”

Whilst Parson’s clients might appreciate his levels of dedication and he might love his job to the point that he’s prepared to work this way, I’m not sure if, as a Chief Executive of a company with a leadership role, this is a responsible message to give out. Particularly to younger people on Twitter trying to get into the music industry who might read the tweet and think that this is how you have to work. 

Wouldn’t most people agree that working 7 days a week, with no days off, for 12+ hours a day mean that you’re probably dedicating too much time to work and missing out on appreciating the other aspects of life that really only come by taking a break? And also, would most people not agree that advocating working such long hours doesn’t take into account the wider impacts it can have? There are many studies that show that people who work long hours experience numerous mental, physical and social effects – some which will only become apparent later in life? Is ‘success’ (and many people judge ‘success’ as wealth earnt) really that important? And if it is, is there another way?

It seems that Lauran Hibberd has got the answer although, as with a number of her songs, there’s definitely a large element of comedic tongue-in-cheek to her solution. Just get yourself a Sugardaddy folks. No more working seven days a week. “Stay home and relax, don’t worry about the money in the bank, 'cos I’ve got stacks around the house,” she sings of her assumedly fictional boyfriend in waiting with an income that knows no bounds. There’s a definite hint of a 90’s Britpop sound to the song; Sugardaddy would sit very comfortably on Sleeper’s Smart or The It Girl Albums as it bounds along with Lauran asking: “Would you like to be my Sugardaddy? I’m tired of working seven days a week.” Brash and playful, it’s another off the wall tune from the Isle of Wight’s queen of indie.

Lauran Hibberd - Sugardaddy

Ones to Watch 2019 #7 - Lauran Hibberd

Here’s the next artist on the 2019 Ones to Watch list. It’s Lauran Hibberd. She's been a regular on Breaking More Waves since 2016 and I almost included her on this list last year, but it still felt a little too early. Now feels right.

Why choose Lauran? It’s for one simple reason – this woman can write songs and then some. Every time I’ve seen her play (and those times have been numerous over the last 2 and half years) she’s never delivered the same set. “Don’t tell me stories – I’ll write songs about them,” Lauran says on her Facebook. Clearly people have been talking to her. She’s always banging out the new ones. 

But writing lots of songs is one thing – knowing which are the good ones is another – and Lauran knows. Tracks like the cartoonish and vibrant What Do Girls Want, the hyper energised shout along fizz of Call Shotgun and the scuzzy noise pop of Fun Like This are just 3 examples of Lauran’s ability. 

Maybe it’s because Lauran started writing songs in a folk-pop style with a more acoustic bent that she’s been able to develop the craft of putting words and music together in a form that works; and now she has translated that to her cheeky, sometimes ironic indie.  Maybe she’s just a natural. But whatever it is Lauren is now one of the new indie queens of cool, stomping her way round the country supporting the likes of Eliza & The Bear and Jealous Of The Birds and massing streams on Spotify –Call Shotgun already has over 400,000 plays.

What’s next for Lauran remains to be seen, but hopefully 2019 will see some of her own headline shows. If there are, take my advice. I’ve named her as One to Watch for 2019, so go and do just that and watch her when she plays a gig near you.

Lauran Hibberd - What Do Girls Want?

Lauran Hibberd - Call Shotgun

New Music: Lauran Hibberd - What Do Girls Want?

Lauran Hibberd has the art of writing a made-for-streaming-services indie pop hit down to a fine art. Essentially the golden rule here is no time wasting. No complex introductions are required – just get straight in with the verse and then punch home again with the chorus before the listener skips to the next track. Now you've got them hooked, keep it short, keep it sweet but always leave the listener wanting more. 

The two minutes and forty-five seconds of fizz and fuzz of What Do Girls Want? does exactly that, packing enough cartoon sass and sarcasm into its short life span to make you feel like you’ve just downed a couple of double vodka and red bulls and are now pumped up enough to do it all over again, no messing.

So, what do girls want? Alas Lauran doesn’t give the answer. “Honey if I knew I still wouldn’t tell you,” she sings in a chirpy but unforthcoming manner.  Again she's got this stuff sussed. Never give everything away.  

So without Lauran to help, here are some suggestions provided by the women of Breaking More Waves HQ:

What Girls Want

A nice sit down and a cup of tea. 
Food. 
Money. 
A Dog. 
Respect.

There you have it. A firecracker from Lauran Hibberd plus the answer to one of the big questions in life from Breaking More Waves. Your day is complete.

Lauran Hibberd - What Do Girls Want?

Preview: Dials Festival 2018 (Part 1 - Early Afternoon)

In just under a two weeks, on Saturday 6th October Portsmouth’s Dials Festival returns for its third chapter following its first two editions in 2015 and 2016. It’s an event I’m pretty well versed in, after in 2015 having been invited to join the organising team because of my relative expertise in new music and help book some bands for the bill, for 2018 I seem to have ended up with the job title Festival Director and am one of the core organisers and financial backers of the event. I'm not quite sure how that's happened but it has.

The Dials ethos is a little bit different from many multi-venue single wristband access events out there, although I must give a huge shout out to Reading’s brilliant Are You Listening Festival whose model we have partly taken on. It was that festival that inspired me to suggest to the team that the event should be not for profit and run in aid of a charity partner (Solent Mind) whilst raising awareness of what their organisation does and maybe even raise some funds along the way. 

We also thought it was important that, after hearing a number of reports from local artists that certain other bigger corporate festivals in the area weren’t paying the smaller artists instead offering a guest tickets as 'payment', we would offer virtually every band some form of cash return for playing. Sometimes this might only be enough to cover transport to the venue but at least it was some help to artists. You might think that paying artists was imperative, after all they make the festival, but it seems that some events have different ideas. 

This of course means that tickets are a little more expensive than some might expect, but £16 for a full day of live music which includes a host of up and coming bands including the likes of Estrons, Art School Girlfriend, Lauran Hibberd and Fröst who are all getting play on Radio 1 or BBC 6 Music, is to my mind still decent value. The reality is we couldn't make it any cheaper.

Some artists have been wonderful though and agreed to waive their fee as the event is for charity and hardly any of the acts (including our headliners) have asked for guest list. I hope that our ethos of what we are trying to achieve will make both artists and audience feel invested in the festival and this will create a positive community spirit. It was something our previous events were praised for, as well the fact that all the venues are on just one street just a few minutes walk from each other, plus the large amount of women on the bill compared with other festivals, something which as Director I’ve pushed for again in 2018.

If you haven’t got your ticket yet I recommend buying in advance, as they will be more expensive on the day. You can get them from the Dials website by clicking here.

Now onto the music. Over the next 3 blog posts I will be providing tips and recommendations of acts to see at Dials Festival 2018. I’m dividing them into 3 sections – early afternoon, late afternoon and evening, based on the timetable (which you can see by clicking here).

Previous experience has shown that not many people come to the festival early – but this year in particular I highly recommend you get down for the start. We have some really great acts at the bottom of the bill – who knows some of them might even be future headliners? Also, for some early arrivals there will be a few bonus goodies that make your £16 ticket even better value, which we’ll be revealing through our social media a few days before the event, so keep an eye out @dialsfestival.

So here are three acts it’s worth getting out of bed for. You'd be a fool to miss them.

Libra Libra 13.45-14.15 The Loft

Brighton’s LibraLibra might only have 2 songs on line but they’ve already picked up attention because of their eccentrically maverick videos, powerful lyrics and uneasy claustrophobic music that mixes everything from Fever Ray like electronics to power-chord glam-guitars. The jewel in their crown however is the wonderful Beth Cannon whose mountainous vocal range can switch from baby sweet to operatic to rock goddess in a matter of seconds. Some of you might recognise Beth’s name (or voice) – she most recently has worked with Lost Horizons - the band formed by Simon Raymonde of The Cocteau Twins and Bella Union Records and Richie Thomas.

Having already headlined a stage at Brighton’s Alt-Escape festival and with an appearance at the tastemaker led Off The Record Music Festival / Conference in Manchester in November on the cards this is a chance to catch a bubbling under band at their very early stages. They might be on early but they are guaranteed to wake you up with the beautiful noise they make.



Lauran Hibberd 14.45-15.20 The Loft

It was only a year or so ago that the Isle of Wight’s Lauran Hibberd was playing to about 6 people in a pub just over the road from where she’s performing at Dials. Since that time, things have changed. Her song Call Shotgun has been BBC Introducing’s track of the week on Radio 1 and netted over 300,000 streams on Spotify. She’s supported Eliza & The Bear on tour and played the main stage at Bestival. Lauran’s ability to pen hooky fuzzy indie pop songs at an alarming rate is incredible and on stage her funny stories, wit and likeable personality engage as much as the tunes.

Lauran is one of a number of acts playing Dials that (arguably) could already be significantly higher up the bill. Get down and see what the fuss is about.



Jerry Williams 15.30-16.00 The Vaults

After Lauran Hibberd finishes you have 5 minutes for a quick break and then a 1-minute walk across the road to Vaults to see Portsmouth’s reigning indie queen Jerry Williams. Having already sold out the 400 capacity Wedgewood Rooms with her band, Dials will find Jerry performing a more low-key solo set in the intimate space of The Vaults. With a whole bunch of catchy personal pop songs such as Mother (5 million streams on Spotify and counting), Grab Life and Left and Right, this solo set will be another reminder of Jerry’s melodic talent. It may well be busy for this one!



Grab your ticket for Dials 2018 by clicking here.

Late afternoon and evening recommendations coming soon…

New Music: Lauran Hibberd - Call Shotgun

Today tickets go on sale for Dials Festival, a multi venue event taking place on just one street on one day in Southsea, Portsmouth, October 6th. I’m pretty excited by this because somehow I’ve ended up being the director of the festival and have also been responsible for booking about one third of the bands on the bill. 

Dials Festival is being run on a DIY self-funded ethos. For 2018 it carries no sponsorship (although if any companies out there would like to do so I’d love to talk to you) and is aiming to raise funds and awareness for Solent Mind, a local mental health charity. The organisers are all working as volunteers and take no payment in an effort to try and help increase the money raised. Some artists on the bill have also agreed to play for free or a lowered fee as it’s for a good cause -  although all acts were offered payment - and the venues are all donating their spaces for free. Other volunteers have already helped with the likes of the design of our website and promo material and we're hoping that others will offer their help as we move forward. This is our idea of a community festival. A music community doing something for the greater good.

Tickets are just £12 for super early birds and £16 once they sell out. They will be more expensive on the day. If you want to come and have a great day of live music on the south coast don’t wait to book your ticket - book now in the knowledge that the earlier you book actually helps the festival more (cashflow is important) and therefore the charity. 

Dials will be headlined by Brighton's Tigercub with Welsh band Estrons as main support. The event is 18+ but for anyone under that age you can still come along, but your access will be restricted to just 2 venues - The Wedgewood Rooms and The Edge of The Wedge. Both Tigercub and Estrons will play The Wedgewood Rooms. If you are 14 or under you will need to be accompanied by an adult. 

For £12 (if you get in quick) it's worth it for just those 2 bands - after all Tigercub's last non festival show in Brighton was £10 on its own. Then you can see a whole day of music before those two bands bring the noise.

I’ll be posting more about Dials and some of the acts playing in a few weeks time, but for now, to see who is joining the likes of those two bands, plus artists that I've featured on the blog such as Art School Girlfriend, Jerry Williams and Bokito hop on over to the Dials website for all the details. (Click here) And then whilst you are there why not grab those tickets? More acts are still to be announced.

One of the artists on the bill is someone that Breaking More Waves has been supporting since her very first releases. It has been a pleasure to watch Lauran Hibberd develop her music and style over the last couple of years. Lauran's performance at Dials comes on the back of slots at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival (where apparently actor Colin Firth was in the audience), Common People in Southampton and last year’s Bestival. She’s also supported the likes of Girli, Clean Cut Kid and Bryde and has been played on BBC 6 Music and Radio X. 

Today Lauran releases her new tune Call Shotgun – and it's a fizzed up kiss-off that's full of thrashing guitar abandon. It hits with force. It goes something like this: bang bang bang faster faster harder harder then repeat and is probably that moment in her live set where one second you’re holding a plastic pint glass in your hand and the next moment it’s gone flying up in the air. Yes, Lauran Hibberd brings the mosh and the beer shower with this one. Her rallying call of “Call shotgun. I want one,” deserves to be shouted in indie clubs across the country. I pretty much say this every time Lauran releases a track, but Call Shotgun really is her best yet. Oh and it's on the Spotify New Music Friday playlist in the UK as well, which should bring Lauran a few new listeners and maybe fans. Come see her and a load of other great acts at Dials in Portsmouth this October. 

Lauran Hibberd - Call Shotgun

New Music: Lauran Hibberd - Fun Like This

From her acoustically based folk-pop tunes like Old Head Young Shoulders through to her biting fuzzed up indie stomps like Eliza, Isle of Wight’s Lauran Hibberd has been slowly gaining attention to the point where new cut Fun Like This isn't self-released but comes via a label proper, namely Diamond Club Records.

Fun Like This leaps out of the traps bratty and snarling. It's a song full of crude yet glamourous guitar riffs and finds Lauran casting herself as the outsider: “Told my friends that I don’t like them, told my friends I’m just not like them,” she starts out. You can never quite tell if she’s singing with tongue placed firmly in cheek or not, but either way Fun Like This sounds like a blur of a night out where the beer has started to get spilt on the carpet and someone has turned up the stereo a bit too loud. Her trashiest (in a good way) song to date, Fun Like This is a meaty slab of indie rock ready to holler along to. Get your windows open, turn it up loud and annoy your neighbours.

Lauran Hibberd - Fun Like This

New Music: Lauran Hibberd - Hunny Is This What Adults Do?

“I wrote this song about being really good at adulting yeah?” says Breaking More Waves regular and Isle of Wight resident Lauran Hibberd of her new song Hunny Is This What Adults Do? 

To answer her question, here’s a quick adulting checklist. How many do you score out of 10?

1. Manage to put up a shelf, straight and level that doesn’t fall down.

2. Cook a roast dinner for your family rather than having one cooked for you.

3. Drive a car.

4. Mow a lawn.

5. Have a pension.

6. Getting up before 7.30am on a Saturday because you have things to do.

7. Hope to get socks for Christmas.

8. Arriving on time for a party.

9. Be the first to leave the party because you have (6) above to do tomorrow.

10. Own a well-stocked fridge (not stocked by your parents).

Whilst Lauran doesn’t actually deal with any of these in her latest release, irrespective of if she’s got being an adult sussed or not, she certainly knows how to write a cracking indie pop tune and this one is no different. After all, what’s not to like about a song that has a simple guitar intro that’s like a slowed down version of  the start of The Proclaimers I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)? Mind you I’m not sure how relatable Lauran’s strangely positive attitude about going to work on a Monday will be for all listeners - adult or not. Or is she just being a tiny bit ironic here? Perhaps so....

Lauran’s had a pretty positive year which included a main stage slot at Bestival and a succession of highly enjoyable releases. She caps it off on the 16th December where she’ll be headlining a show on her homeland of the Isle of Wight at Strings in Newport. If you are on the Island or fancy jumping on a hovercraft or ferry over from the mainland, you can grab tickets by clicking here. 

Lauran Hibberd - Hunny Is This What Adults Do?

New Music: Lauran Hibberd - Eliza

When Lauran Hibberd introduces her song Eliza live she often states that it’s about a girl she used to know once and she wasn’t very nice. This sounds pretty harsh until Lauran sings: “Eliza built a home in the back of my mind,” and you begin to wonder who Eliza really is. Maybe she's is a lot closer to Lauran than we all first thought? If she is, then it looks like Lauran has dislodged the inner demon now though: “The girl you lead astray is going to be OK.”

Lauran’s music seems to be gradually evolving from a softer folky feel to something with a more idiosyncratic indie feel. Eliza is a good example of this, rushing headlong into three minutes of an exuberant and raw stomp, with the chorus spelled out letter by letter E-L-I-Z-A. This self-assured noisier sound suits her well.

Following a main stage set at this year’s Bestival and a date supporting Sarah Close, you can next find Lauran treading the boards when she supports another Breaking More Waves supported act, Jerry Williams, at the Black Sheep Bar in Ryde, Isle of Wight on 22nd October, with more dates to be announced soon.

Lauran Hibberd - Eliza 

Preview: Victorious Festival 2017

One of the success stories of the UK festival market over the last few years has been Victorious Festival. Set in Breaking More Waves home city of Portsmouth it started from relatively humble beginnings in 2012 under the name Victorious Vintage in Portsmouth’s historic dockyard with top of the bill names including Dodgy and The Lightning Seeds, before increasing its capacity and transferring to Southsea Common in 2014 where Dizzee Rascal and Seasick Steve headlined.

Since that time Victorious has expanded further. With a clever policy of booking top of the bill acts that were once able to headline much bigger festivals, but have arguably dropped in their status a little since their halcyon days but still remain popular, Victorious has been able to maintain a value ticket price by selling at high volumes compared to other festivals (early birds this year were £20 for the Friday and £25 for both Saturday and Sunday). It is essentially the Primark of music festivals, – but it’s a model that works and Victorious has been able to establish itself as a strong competitor in the fierce festival market at this time.

Despite the success there have been criticisms of the festival as well, namely that it has damaged the local music scene with local venues struggling to sell tickets during the summer as people become used to paying such low prices for big names, that the festival doesn’t pay many of the local artists that play to keep ticket prices low and that this year the event has been sold to Global Entertainment who are now the major stakeholders. Global’s reputation has taken a bit of a pounding this year having taken over Y-Not festival which had a number of organisational problems in relation to security, site layout and dealing with the bad weather it experienced; much of this has been attributed to  cost cutting by Global, although this hasn't been proven. However, there is no evidence as yet to suggest that the sale of Victorious will lead to a similar drop off in quality.

One new addition to Victorious this year is the opportunity to camp as the festival now attracts more and more people from outside of the local area. The festival campsite will be off site in Farlington in the north of the city, with a bus service being provided for ticket holders to get to the event on Southsea Common.

This year Victorious Festival is headlined by Madness, Stereophonics and Elbow but elsewhere there’s some oddball eclecticism; there probably aren’t many festivals where British Sea Power, Frightened Rabbit and Band of Skulls are followed on stage by Rita Ora. 

Here at Breaking More Waves, what is important are the newer and lesser known acts at the festival. Here are 5 recommendations from lower down the bill, many of whom will be familiar to regular readers of the blog – unfortunately 2 of these do clash, so I’ll be flicking a coin between Lauran Hibberd and Rationale.

Jerry Williams (Castle Stage 14:00 Saturday and Acoustic Stage 17:25 Sunday)

It’s been a huge year for Portsmouth’s very own indie pop queen with well received sets at the likes of Great Escape Festival and V Festival, getting played on daytime Radio 1 as a BBC Introducing artist and her song Mother hitting the 4 million plays mark on Spotify. This weekend she plays two homecoming shows as she continues to establish herself as one of the most successful singer songwriters to come out of the south coast city for a long time. Expect catchy pop tunes with an indie pop sensibility. Boy oh boy, Jerry will no doubt be glorious at Victorious.



Bad Sounds (Castle Stage 12:00 Sunday)

Hip hop beats, samples, grooves, the funk, tech-savvy coolness and songs that manage to throw the words oesophagus and rhinoceros in the same line. What’s not to like about that? They’re on very early in the day so could probably do with every single ounce of support they can get. If you like Beck, Len or EMF this band will be for you.



Fjokra (Seaside Stage 15:45 Sunday)

This recommendation is a bit of a gamble as Fjokra is an act I haven’t seen live yet. However, Breaking More Waves has past history with this band having selected them as one of its nominations for the Glastonbury Emerging Talent longlist back in 2015 where I was impressed by the potty explosion of ideas in their music. Whether it will make any sense live remains to be seen, but I’m recommending Fjokra on the basis that their bonkers pop might just be worth a gamble. As a plus they are playing the seaside stage, the weather forecast looks optimistic and so it might just be a great place to hang out mid-afternoon.



Lauran Hibberd (Showcase Stage 16.50 Sunday)

The Isle of Wight’s Lauran Hibberd is playing one of the smaller stages at Victorious, before she transfers to the largest at Bestival in September. Why should you catch her at Victorious? The answer is simple. Great acoustic folk pop songs and an enchanting voice, plus she’s a performer who seems to really enjoy playing her songs and that delight will transfer to you. Have a break from the bigger stages and witness her talent.



Rationale (Castle Stage 17:00 Sunday)

Rationale, the Zimbabwe-born British singer-songwriter, first appeared on this blog in 2010 when he was performing under his real name Tinashé. Fast forward to know and after a slew of great singles including Fast Lane, Re.Up, Prodigal Son, Fuel To The Fire and Loving Life over the last couple of years, Rationale is ready to release his debut album in October when he’ll be back in Portsmouth playing the mighty Wedgewood Rooms. His live performances are slick and seductive - highly polished soul pop with modern production that deserves your attention.

Victorious takes place this weekend 25th Aug to 27th Aug. Some tickets are still available as this article is published. Click here for tickets.

New Music: Lauran Hibberd - Old Head Young Shoulders

Lauran Hibberd is blessed with one of those voices that just cuts through. Whether she is playing solo acoustic or with a full band, as she dissects her words, her vocal beauty is just instantly recognisable. It's for that reason (as well as having great songs) that I’ve been championing her a number of times on Breaking More Waves.

Lauran’s new tune Old Head Young Shoulders might start quite gently, but it soon unzips itself to reveal a buoyant and hugely enjoyable indie folk pop song. Once up and running it sounds like Lauran has been studying Usain Bolt, hammering along at some pace, although thankfully it doesn’t do a sub 10 second finish. Watch out for when the instruments drop and just the beat remains – live it’s sure to be a clap-along-with-Lauran moment for sure and the song as a whole will probably produce some twitchy shoulder, jerky arm dancing from the audience.

Lauran plays a gig in her homeland of the Isle of Wight this Friday as part of the Ventnor Fringe Festival, which is sold out. She will also be playing in Southsea, Portsmouth for Victorious Festival and at Lulworth Castle for Bestival in the next few weeks.

Lauran Hibberd - Old Head Young Shoulders

New Music: Lauran Hibberd - Favourite Shade Of Blue

I’ve always had a bit of a love affair with the Isle of Wight. It was the place my parents went on honeymoon to and adored so much that they immediately quit their jobs in Bedfordshire and made it home. But I love it for far more than that. I love and have loved Blackgang Chine, The Devil’s Chimney, Osbourne House beach, Brading Waxworks (RIP), Bestival (also RIP on the Island), the walk from Sandown to Ventnor, the wide open spaces of West Wight, the haunted houses, it’s step back in time feel, it’s odd little café’s, Shanklin Chine, Rylstone Gardens and its old fashioned crazy golf course, the hovercraft ride from Southsea, Monkey Haven, Quay Arts Centre and so much more. 

Now to that list I’m adding the music of Lauran Hibberd.

No stranger to Breaking More Waves (I’ve featured her previously here and here) Lauran returns with my favourite song of her's yet, the title track to her forthcoming 5 track EP. Starting from simple acoustic beginnings Favourite Shade of Blue soon blossoms into something far more vast and wide screen. It’s a song that White Van Man could blast out of his open window as he’s driving home rather than his overplayed Coldplay CD, but it’s also suitable for the sensitive bearded folk dude who spends a lot of time listening to Laura Marling, Lucy Rose and The Staves. Essentially it wraps up personal intimacy on a grandiose scale.

Of the song Lauran says ‘Favourite Shade Of Blue celebrates the simplicity of youth, and the naivety that comes with young relationships. It treats blue as an emotion, before conveying it as a colour and proves the merit in both. For me, along with the rest of the EP it highlights the happiness that comes with sadness.’

Listen to Favourite Shade of Blue below and you’ll understand why, in just over three minutes, I think Lauran Hibberd is on her way to becoming essential. Three cheers for the Isle of Wight.

Lauran Hibberd - Favourite Shade Of Blue

New Music: Lauran Hibberd - I Don't Like It When You Smile

For anyone impatient for a third album from singer Lucy Rose, then the Isle of Wight’s Lauran Hibberd should be a very welcome distraction. I Don’t Like It When You Smile, Lauran’s second release, has a sound that is immediately recognisable; an agreeable mix of indie, pop and folk all brushed with Lauran’s absorbingly lovely vocal. There are lots of subtle touches on the song that layer themselves to provide something that grows upwards and outwards; a pitter patter rhythm here, the bass that slowly introduces itself before bursting in with a flashlight moment there. And despite the rather negative sounding title the music only has the feel good factor.

“This track reveals a true insight into my over imaginative mind, it’s about so many different things, incorporating so many different people in my life. I love how open to interpretation it is for the listener, it’s my most unsheltered song to date,” say Lauran of the tune, which is released on the 25th November.

Lauran Hibberd - I Don't Like It When You Smile

New Music: Introducing - Lauran Hibberd

It took me about twenty seconds to fall in love with the sound of the Isle of Wight’s Lauran Hibberd. With a folk-pop sensibility similar to the likes of Lucy Rose or Billie Marten, Lauran manages to combine a simple acoustic delicacy with a something a little bolder that hints at a grander musical vision. Take a listen to The House I Built When I Was Small, which she describes as being about ‘between facing reality as a child and facing reality as an adult’ and you’ll understand what I mean. Quietly and beautifully magnetising, it’s a very fine start for this young singer songwriter.

I’m not the only one to be immediately smitten with her music though – Lauran has already won a competition to appear at this year’s Bestival on her homeland and has received plays on both BBC 6 Music and Amazing Radio. If you shop in Harrods (!) you may have even heard her voice soundtracking your expensive spending spree as this song has made the in-store playlist there. Press play below and listen to this entrancing song

Lauran Hibberd - The House I Built When I was Small