A selection of up-and-coming acts, as chosen by guest editor GARY LIGHTBODY.

The Lowly Knights: noble sounds

Anyone for a joust? For the past couple of months, this 12-strong group of desperados have been seducing audiences wherever they go. Culled from various Belfast combos for what was initially supposed to be just one wee hop, the Lowly Knights have worked out that people are so enamoured of their music that it might make sense to stick together.

The band go about their business with hooks and vocals that are a little bit folk, a little bit choral and a little bit pop. Their recent release The RiflesEP (on the We Collect Records label) is the one-stop shop where you can check out what the Knights have at their disposal.

The EP's five tunes see the band pointing in a number of different directions – Devotion, for instance, sounds like Sufjan Stevens standing shoulder to shoulder with The Polyphonic Spree. Such are its attractions that besides radio plays and rave reviews, Devotionalso featured in AU Magazine's recent Top 50 Irish tracks countdown.

Live shows, with 12 players at full pelt, are something else. Add in some honorary Knights who’ve shown up on occasion – including this week’s New Music editor Gary Lightbody, Iain Archer and Duke Special – and you have the makings of a damn special night out.

The Knights themselves can’t believe how well it has all gone to date.

“We’ve never really had big expectations for ourselves and therefore we were always stunned when anything good happened to us. I remember thinking ‘could you imagine supporting Duke Special?’” says Knight Neil Mullan. “We’ve always had the attitude that this isn’t going to last forever so let’s enjoy it and make it as fun as possible while it does last.”

- www.myspace.com/ lowlyknights

Holy Ghost!: catholic tastes

It was the Hold Onsingle for DFA which alerted talent-spotters that there was a new duo to check out. A slippery blast of rare groove disco and indie suss, Holy Ghost's Hold Onwas made with serious shape-throwing in mind.

The duo behind Holy Ghost!, Nicholas Millhiser and Alex Frankel, have form.

A couple of years ago, the New York duo were Automato, an outfit that built up a fine head of steam with their debut album, which was produced by DFA duo Tim Goldsworthy and James Murphy.

Before Automato, they shared a square of carpet in the West Side Boyz breakdance crew, but we’ll draw a veil over that one.

Post-Automato, Millhiser and Frankel worked with DFA acts The Juan Maclean and Hercules and Love Affair. When the time came to find a label, they didn’t have far to look.

Since Hold On!, there's been an abundance of remixes (they've done fine jobs for Phoenix, MGMT, Cut Copy, Moby and Jazzanova) and now, a brand new single, I Will Come Back. Let's hope we'll see an album sooner rather than later.

- www.myspace.com/ holyghostnyc

Jonquil

Giddy rainbow folk from Oxford. Currently recording a follow-up to their widely admired Lions album.

www.myspace.com/jonquiluk

We Were Promised Jetpacks

Scottish four-piece with a Jetsons complex and a fine, fiercely combative debut album out now on Fat Cat.

www.myspace.com/wewerepromisedjetpacks

Miracle Fortress

Awesome band formed around Montreal musician Graham Van Pelt and his beguiling space-rock.

www.myspace.com/miraclefortress

Villagers

The fanclub continues to grow. They are playing the Oxegen, Indiependence, CorkXSW and Electric Picnic fests in the coming weeks.

www.myspace.com/wearevillagers

Comment on Gary’s choice on Jim’s blog: www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord