Higher education bands to watch in 2018

In previous posts we’ve looked at the older big names and some of the forgotten ones from the musical world of higher education. And let’s not forget that 2017 was actually a big year for bands in higher ed, especially for these outfits:

The Wonks, who shone as the UK’s entry in Higher Ed Eurovision
Learning Gain, who enjoyed half a dozen top 10 hits
Groves of Academe secured a number 1 early in 2017 only to be pilloried remorselessly in the media in the second half of the year
Midlands Engine still looking for a new record label
Prevent Duty are still grinding out the hits
Mrs Johnson’s Boys are no more having decided to pursue solo projects. A brief outing for the jazz funk side project ‘Johnson & Greening’ ended after an acrimonious fall out with their manager.
Porterhouse Blues Explosion just blew the Oxbridge rock charts away
Hard Brexit, who split amid much acrimony
Apprenticeship Levy, who secured a huge recording deal

But what about the breakthrough bands, those predicted by the Wonkhe A&R team to make it big in 2018? Well, here are their tips for those bound for higher ed musical stardom this year:

HS2 – futuristic glam rockers, making a big noise on the northern circuit but everyone still waiting for their first album release which keeps being delayed.
Snowflakes – teen pop sensations who have reacted surprisingly positively to the negative publicity they’ve received
KEF – all new industrial garage outfit who have already made a big splash but yet to release any material.
Tier 2 – intelligent world beat combo with international outlook but sadly not touring in the UK very often
Spiked – wilful, self-indulgent, contrarian grungecore
Toadmeister – sophomoric solo songster, huge profile after spectacular New Year launch but possibly now falling out of favour despite deletion of most of back catalogue
The Bachelors – septuagenarian pop combo, remarkably still going (albeit in two different line ups) and tipped again for big things
Barber and Dandridge – exciting new experimental electronica pairing, very much targeting the student market and currently going down well on a national tour of students’ unions. Snappy logo too
Coeds – right on contemporary chamber pop
Commencement – US hardcore crossover thrash trio
Unconditional offer – sluggish alt rock from this southern stoner quartet
Brexodus – swaggeringly over-confident pub rock. Keep losing band members
Entry and Search – breakthrough rebellious and controversial hip hop duo
Two Year Degree – sharp suited jazz funk quintet who really mean business
Accelerated Degrees – long-haired, leather-trousered thrash metallers, continually irritated by being mixed up with Two Year Degree
Ivy League – New wave eight piece combo from the US
LEO – northern Goth rockers with a strong career ethos (not to be confused with soft rock tribute act LEO Speedwagon)
Gold and Green – cerebral electro-classical combo who have released all their material free online (note subscription may still be required for some songs)