Lawson

Alongside the preening good looks, friendly charm and infectious, singalong anthems, Lawson have a rare quality in the pop world - they play their own instruments. Front man Andy Brown underwent life threatening brain surgery on a tumour when he was 19 and, after forming the group in 2008, named it after the doctor who saved him. He originally entered the music business with boyband Avenue, but they were thrown out of the TV show X-Factor when it was revealed that they already had a management deal. Undeterred, Brown dated fellow contestant Mollie King (of The Saturdays) and wrote several songs about their break-up on Lawson's debut album Chapman Square (2012). Full of rocking guitar licks, pop hooks and melodic harmonies, it produced the Top 10 singles When She Was Mine, Taking Over Me and Standing In The Dark and went on to reach Number 4 in the UK charts. Further hits included Brokenhearted (featuring rapper B.o.B) and Juliet before the band played at V Festival, T in The Park and Hard Rock Calling then headed over to break America late in 2013.