Every year, magazines and television shows predict who they think will explode during the coming year in regards to the music and fashion trends. I decided why not let Tourdrobe readers know upfront who we think will have a big year in 2010. Don’t put money on these but definitely be sure to check them out because, regardless of whether or not they hit it big, we still love them!

Florence & The Machine:

I’ve been listening to Florence & The Machine for many months now and am fully entrenched as a fan of the debut cd, “Lungs” – it hasn’t left my side since I bought it. I travel with it. I have multiple copies in case I lose one or the cd gets scratched. It’s on my mp3 player and my phone, which are not the same thing. In my opinion, this was the best debut cd of 2009 (yes, I also have La Roux’s debut cd and it was also very good, plus I consistently try to have the same hair as Elly Jackson but Flo’s is ethereally intricate). When Florence & The Machine’s song called Cosmic Love came on during the first new episodes of both “The Vampire Diaries” and “Grey’s Anatomy” of 2010, I knew I made a good choice. My personal mission for 2010 is to help Florence & The Machine take America by storm after Flo performs at Coachella in April. Wish me luck and check Flo out!

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The Temper Trap:

If you saw the feel good independent movie of 2009 called “(500) Days of Summer,” you heard The Temper Trap song Sweet Disposition on the soundtrack. These Aussie boys spent 2009 touring everywhere but America and are on the precipice of a U.S. breakthrough. Again, another band playing Coachella this year so, apparently, those booking bands for Coachella and I are meant to be B.F.F.’s. Call me! If you can’t make it to Coachella, you can catch The Temper Trap in mid-March to mid-April on their first North American headlining tour. They’ll be touring the West Coast, the MidWest, and the deep South of Texas before hitting Indio, CA.

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The Rescues:

I went to college with one of the band members and have followed her career as a solo artist every step of her way into a band with 3 other amazing singer/songwriters living in Los Angeles (shouts out to Kyler, Rob, Adrianne & Gabe). I had the privilege of seeing them in 2009 at The Troubadour in Hollywood (where they are set to return on Wednesday, February 24, 2010) and they blew everyone away. You’ve heard them but you may not know it – they’ve been featured on so many television shows and movie trailers, you’re bound to run into them. Every person I bring to one of their shows loves them, so I know I am not wrong. With a new tour coming in 2010, including slots at South by Southwest in April (all in support of their eagerly awaited full-length cd being released in late Spring) and Lilith Fair in Atlanta in August, I’m calling it now – a big year in 2010 for my friends, The Rescues.

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Christy Altomare:

You can currently catch Christy in the national touring company of Spring Awakening. If the show is coming to your town, please go. Christy’s performance is truly inspiring which is incredible in itself considering most people remember the originator of her character, Wendla (Lea Michele, currently playing Rachel Berry on FOX’s GLEE). Christy’s voice has a beautiful clarity and she is promoting her first EP cd, “After You (LA Sessions)” so be sure to check it out. I had an opportunity to talk to Christy about her cd and we couldn’t decide which song to post here: she specifically had 2 - a ballad (“I Let It Slip”) and a more uptempo groove (“The Motion of You”).  I like the idea of being a random smoky jazz lounge somewhere in Miami when all of a sudden, someone is singing this song so that’s what I am picking for you as your first taste of Christy Altomare.

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So, dear readers, I hope you enjoy my picks for 2010 – do you have any faves for 2010? Share the wealth and pass the love, we need to know! Until next time, remember – it’s your life, live it on tour! <3, MK