Next Big Thing festival to preview 2010's breakthrough acts

The festival season may yet seem a lifetime away, but from tonight music lovers desperate for a taste of what the summer holds can listen to the fresh talent likely to be playing this year's big events. The Next Big Thing, a city-based festival spread over several venues, starts tonight and focuses on introducing the new – and largely unheard of – names in music likely to be ubiquitous at the close of the festival season. Ellie Goulding, whose folktronica sound has been exciting critics in recent months and who won this year's Critic's choice award – given to the artist most likely to breakthrough this year – will top the bill. Greek/Welsh pop diva Marina and the Diamonds, who lost out to Goulding in this year's BBC Sounds poll, which lists emerging artists to watch this year, will also star during the week-long festival. Other emerging artists include Jesca Hoop, an American singer-songwriter mentored by Tom Waits; post-punk newcomers The Soft Pack; rockers You Me At Six; half Iranian, half Jamaican soul singer Rox and the next big thing from Leicester, Jersey Budd. The festival is the first organised by HMV and MAMA group, which runs some of the UK's best-known music venues. The festival will feature 80 artists across six central London venues – including MAMA venues Heaven in central London and the Jazz Cafeand Barfly in Camden, ULU near Euston, Soho's Borderline and the Relentless Garage in Highbury Corner. Tickets will cost £10. The idea is to give an affordable taste of the acts likely to make it big in 2010, according to organisers. They hope to roll the event out nationwide in future years and will feature a range of genres, including indie, folk, jazz, pop, electronica and hip hop. It comes after HMV bought MAMA giving the music retailer a significant stake in the live music business. Listings can be seen on www.hmvnextbigthing.com