Girls Queue For Second Helpings

Anna Calvi and Selah Sue will struggle to repeat the success they achieved from last year’s European Talent Exchange Programme if the early results are any sort of guide.

Belgian singer-songwriter Selah Sue, who came third last year with nine festival bookings, has already secured slots at Romania’s B’Estfest and in France at Le Printemps de Bourges and Vieilles Charrues.

Calvi, who topped last year’s ETEP with a dozen festival slots, is confirmed for Rock Werchter in Belgium and Pohoda in Slovakia.

But ETEP organiser Ruud Berends says there are already signs that 2012 could be a record-breaking year and 17 acts have already clocked up two shows or more.

In the two months since Eurosonic-Noorderslag, where the ETEP showcases are held, 39 European acts from 12 countries have collected 72 slots between them.

Berends says that’s about double the amount of confirmations he’s usually received at this time of year.

The early leaders are UK rockers Spector and maverick Norwegian folkies Katzenjammer, which have five shows apiece.

As if to emphasise the musical delights that can be found at the upcoming Tallinn Music Week (March 29-31), Estonia’s Ewert and The Two Dragons has increased its pan-European profile by being chosen to appear at Finland’s Ruisrock Festival, Europavox and Le Printemps de Bourges in Fance and Belgium’s Les Nuits Botanique.

Also with four are Iceage, which is from Denmark, while Baxter Dury (UK), Boy, Casper and Kraftklub (all from Germany), and French act Francois and the Atlas Mountains have three shows each.