Jake Gets The ETEP Bugg

It’s no surprise English singer-songwriter Jake Bugg is making the running in this year’s European Talent Exchange Programme, given the exposure he’s received since his eponymous debut album hit the UK No.1 spot less than a year ago.

Bugg, dubbed the “East Midlands Bob Dylan” by The Independent, so far has some 10 festivals interested in booking him for Europe’s summer outdoors.

They include such major festivals as Rock Werchter (Belgium), Rock Am Ring (Germany), Lowlands (The Netherlands), Roskilde (Demark), Open Air St. Gallen (Switzerland), and Benicassim (Spain).

Bugg’s opened a three-festival lead on French turntable wizards C2C, who won the Disco Mix Club World Team DJ Championship four years in a row between 2003 and 2006, and Dutch bass and drum maestros Skip & Die.

Denmark’s Efterklang, Dublin-based alternative rocks Kodaline and the UK’s Palma Violets have six fests apiece. Four of the top 10 acts are from the UK.