Squashed tomatoes and stew

Celebrating this tramp's first birthday

The Bandcamp Tramp is a year old.

We’ve been around longer than Liz Truss was Prime Minister (49 days), longer than Apple Pippin: Apple's pathetic attempt at a multimedia gaming console and much longer than the adult stage of the female Dolania Americana mayfly which only lasts about five minutes.

So to celebrate, let’s give you the content you deserve: a half year ‘best of’ recommendation list. These are some of my favourite tracks of the year:

Best live track

Manchester Orchestra, neither from Manchester nor an orchestra. Just a great band. Alt rock, from in fact, Atlanta, Georgia.

Best of the big guns (the ladies)

The Aussie willow warbler’s finest album for a while IMHO.

Best of the big guns (the gentlemen)

Morbs on fire.

Best ambient piano

Cheating a bit here, as Michael Beach’s album from this year isn’t on Bandcamp but if you love ambient piano, he’s really worth checking out.

Best ambient artist recommended by someone at a party (thanks Pete)

I’ve become a big fan of Kayla Painter from Bristol after her music was enthusiastically described to me at my mate Simon’s 60th recently.

Best song from a great band with a terrible name

I’m sorry but ‘Ratboys’ sounds like a half-arsed punk band and not the tuneful, Chicago alt-rockers they are.

Best new music from returning, endearing proto punks

God, I love mclusky. They always sound like they don’t give a fiddler’s f*ck about what anyone thinks.

Best Hammond-driven funk act to appear on my radar

Parlor Greens are the only band in this article I’ve already written about. So have a look at the post about guitar hero Jimmy James, if you haven’t already.

Best recommendation from my friend Rob

Pigeon, you had me at Black James Dean. Pigeon? Now that’s a name.

Best new local heroes

I saw Wyatt supporting Friendship in Manchester and they were so impressive. There’s only demos and live stuff on BC at the moment, so catch them while they’re hot.

Best Chicago alt-country act

It’s also my worth mentioning Case Oats, another Chicago band, as Wyatt also supported them recently and I’ve been enjoying their alt country vibes for a while too.

Also worth your time

Currently suffering comparisons to MJ Lenderman: Thomas Dollbaum

Also in the ‘their best album for a while’ category: Hiss Golden Messenger

Yes, it lives up to the hype: Aldous Harding

Surfy, garage-y, down and dirty: Chico Detour