For such a young man to wear his influences on his sleeve is no crime – there’s quite a lot of Bob Dylan in this song – but he’s taken them and done something wonderful with them. Released as a single last week, Trouble Town has already been receiving support from such notable people as Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens, which means that Jake Bugg has gotten off to a hell of a start – and well he should, because the 17-year-old from Nottingham has written a song that does far more than keep up with the zeitgeist; it captures the spirit of small-town alienation and frustration so perfectly as to have a real shot at becoming an anthem for many young people just like him. Stuck somewhere where ‘the only thing that’s pretty is the thought of getting out’ and mentioning ‘a secret road to take me far away’, Bugg’s want-away lyrics will strike a chord with lots of people; small wonder he’s opening himself up to a big audience. The song itself is nothing too ‘out there’ – guitar, bass and percussion are the order of the day – but it’s the message contained within that’s most remarkable. Things are definitely gathering steam for him. Here’s one Bugg that you’ll be glad to catch.

Free download from his Facebook page