Up and coming artists poised for summer success

Five up-and-coming bands are determined to make this summer a season to remember.

First up is pop singer Andy Grammer. His music is a blend of classic and modern styles to create a catchy pop sound. His first debut album is due out June 2011.

The New York Post describes Grammer as a cross between John Legend and Elton John.

Grammer is no stranger to the music scene, having performed hundreds of shows at colleges across the country and even opening for The Plain White T’s and Josh Kelley. He has also received his fair share of recognition, with his song “Keep your head up” having been recently nominated for MTV’s O Awards.

For those looking for an element of folk, British singer-songwriter Bobby Long offers an interesting blend of folk-pop for the masses. His sound has been favorably compared to the Dave Matthews Band and Jack Johnson, with influences ranging from Emmylou Harris to The Kinks.

Long released his debut album Winter Tale this past February on Dave Matthews’ ATO Records and has shows lined up throughout the summer.

Long also helped to write the song “Let Me Sign”, which was later sung by Robert Pattinson in the first “Twilight” movie.

At the other end of the pop spectrum is Bonjay. They are a Canadian duo that mixes indie influences with R&B beats to create a high energy sound. The name ‘Bonjay’ comes from a Spice Island slang which means “Good god.”

Their first EP, “Broughtupsy”, is set to drop June 6 in the UK and North America.

Since most of the shows they have lined up for the spring and summer are in the UK, you can download their music from iTunes to make up for the lack of American shows.

Norwegian-American artist Mr. Little Jeans’ rendition of Beyonce’s hit “Single Ladies” has received attention as of late. She sings the song on a completely different level than Beyonce, employing a soft, slow and eclectic sound contrary to the upbeat dance version.

Mr. Little Jeans, also known as Monica Birkenes, plays music that mixes indie and electronic pop with hints of rock.

She plans to release a single called “Angel” on June 7, but most recently her song “Rescue Song” was picked up by Hewlett-Packard for their ad campaign.

Finally, The Coronas are Irish natives who have been making music together since they were 15. With their blend of rock and alternative, The Coronas have gotten their feet wet in the music industry by touring with indie darlings The Script.

The band does have shows lined up for the summer, and on July 22 they will perform their biggest headlining show The Park in Dublin. KT Tunstall will be on hand as a special guest.

For information on any of these bands check out their websites Myspace and Facebook pages.