Another year, another BBC Sound Poll. Yet again a swarm of hype buzzes around the most hotly tipped stars of the next 12 months quicker than a tabloid hack jumping on a sexist comment by a Sky Sports presenter. As always there's your token guitar bands (Mona, The Vaccines), pop singers (Jessie J), urban artists (Wretch 32) and flamboyant female singer-songwriters which this year happens to be Anna Calvi and Clare Maguire.
It's the latter we're here to see tonight and as you can imagine the place is mobbed with industry types, producers (Starsmith), the competition (Marina) and Klaxons caner James Righton. Unsurprisingly like Marina, Maguire is blessed with the same stunning beauty, breathtaking voice, a band and a host of pop gems to boot. Yet her deep throated vocals probably lean more towards Florence as she captivatingly warbles recent single 'Ain't Nobody' before launching into the equally spine tingling and destined to be massive 'Last Dance'.
Sadly her cover of Fleetwood Mac's 'Big Love' seems a little misguided and misplaced tonight. Still it ain't her song so who cares? With the whirlwind of hype surrounding this Brummie beauty, there's no doubt she's destined for greatness.
Words by Damian Jones