Skiddle Sound of 2017 Spotify playlist

Image: Reading Festival

For all its faults 2016, if nothing else, has bequeathed the music world heaps of talking points. There's been earth-shattering performances and top class records from some of the biggest names in the business, but as we look ahead to 2017 none of that really matters anymore.

A raft of burgeoning acts have made their own impressions felt across all genres, and we've squeezed them into a Spotify playlist to set you up for 2017 with the freshest tunes from those who are going to be its biggest stars.

Subscribe to the Skiddle Sound of 2017 playlist. 

Grime's hot new thing AJ Tracey, the BRITs Critics' Choice Award 2017 winner Rag'n'Bone Man and Manchester's queasy punk upstarts Cabbage are some of the most recognisable names included along with The Amazons and Sundara Karma.

London MC and Tracey collaborator Dave also represents arguably the UK's hottest genre as well as Nadia Rose, while indie newcomers such as April, Dantevilles and The Aces join our playlist too. There's also space for pop newbies RAYE, Maggie Rogers and Jorja Smith, who are all expected to build on their breakthrough year and produce more shimmering efforts in 2017.

Catch some of 2017's most promising acts near you by checking out Cabbage, The Shimmer Band and April gun for the UK in February or perhaps AJ Tracey locks down Lil Tracey tour at UK venues in 2017 .