YO!Fest Emerging Bands Competition: Winners Announced!

Callum Stewart

Northern Ireland, UK

Raised on the North Coast of Ireland, singer/songwriter Callum Stewart picked up a guitar at the age of 12 and within a year was writing his own songs. Now 19 years old, Callum has an affinity for the craft of songwriting and musicianship far beyond his years, making him one of the mostpromising young artists in Ireland. With swelling arrangements and heart stopping melodies, Stewart creates climactic, alt-pop marked by real emotion and raw passion.

Since the release of his second single 'Gold', on OLD FANG, Callum has sung with Nile Rodgers and Rudimental on the remix of the classic Chic song 'Le Freak', and has been writing with some of the UK's best songwriters, as well as performing at the famous Metropolis Studios in London. His newest single ‘Parachute,’ co-written with Jimbo Barry (The Script), Andrew Jackson (Bastille & Lana Del Ray) and Tre Sheppard was released on Friday 17th June via Hope & Fury Records. Parachute’s aching melody and soaring chorus underscore the darker themes of loss and heartbreak; a soundtrack for coming of age, an anthem for a journey well travelled, but somehow only just begun.

Climbing Trees

Wales, UK

Welsh four-piece CLIMBING TREES blend multi-instrumentalism with pin-point harmonies to create their distinctive Cymrucana sound.

The BBC Introducing favourites have made numerous television, radio and festival appearances over the past few years, as well as recording a live session at London's legendary Maida Vale Studios and performing with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

Described as 'marvellously expansive' and 'the sound of your soul soaring' by critics, the band released their latest album 'Borders' through Staylittle Music to rave reviews this summer before being shortlisted for the 2016 Welsh Music Prize.

Efecto Venturi

Spain

Efecto Venturi are a band formed by Daniel Durán (singer and bassman), Lucas Olazabal and Jonás Batuecas, that alternate between guitars and drums.

About a year and a half ago they decided to take their music and show it to the world, and since then have distinguished themselves as an upcoming band in the Spanish music scene. They have won the Madrid "Lanzadera" contest, played in the prestigious Sala Caracol and recently recorded a video clip for their song 'Las chicas vienen a vernos'.