Who: U.K. ska-pop troubadour Jack Peñate, who, after conquering the harsh British club scene and the harsher British charts, is setting his sights on North America.

Sounds Like: Jeff Buckley with a pompadour and checkered Vans for dancing. Piñate's debut album Matinee finds the twenty-two-year-old Londonite singing songs of missing home and unrequited love while showcasing his mastery of both the neo-ska and pop genres.

Three Things You Should Know:

1. How harsh is the British club scene? The performers are often robbed — while onstage. "I took my guitar off, and a kid came up and stole it," Peñate reminisces about a recent show. "He knicked the guitar, put it under his arm and almost left before the bouncers stopped him." Instruments aren't the only things in danger of thievery. "I got this hat in Japan, and some kid I invited onto the stage to sing a song knicked it and got away." Thankfully, a desperate plea on Peñate's MySpace page helped usher the safe return of his favorite hat.

1. The first CD Peñate bought was the single for Tori Amos' "Cornflake Girl." "I don't think I even listened to it," he says, "I just liked the cover." More recently, Peñate's been enjoying Beirut's The Flying Club Cup and even paid a couple quid for Radiohead's In Rainbows.

2. After a short stint in the band Jack's Basement, Peñate decided to go solo. "I've always liked the idea of freedom," says Peñate, "Plus a solo artist can't break up, and he can't have a reunion either." And in case you were wondering, his last name is pronounced "Pen-Yah-Tay."

Get It: Peñate's Matinée arrives on American shores on January 22nd. Until then, check out his music — and eye-catching videos — at his MySpace page, and watch the video for "Torn on the Platform" above.