Music News
Summer of give – Vinspired – Earn yourself Free Festival Tickets!
Apr 22nd
v is looking for 18-25 year olds to volunteer their time and talents this summer in return for free festival tickets at Isle of Wight, V Festival, T4 on the Beach, Relentless Boardmasters and Creamfields.
If you have a skill to share and show other festival go-ers, then log on to www.vinspired.com/summeofgive and tell v what you can do. So whether it’s music, dance, photography, writing or even fashion styling skills that make you stand out from the crowd, v needs your help to entertain at each festival for just four hours a day. That’s it!
18-25 year olds looking for more general volunteering opportunities at festivals can still visit vinspired.com to see how else they can get involved in the festival scene for free this summer.
City Showcase Live Music Event 2010 takes over London
Apr 21st
Full line-up announced for this summer’s live music events
The 9th annual City Showcase, being held 5-9 May in the heart of London, has announced its 2010 line up. Having previously showcased new young artists, including Keane, Razorlight, Amy Winehouse, Newton Faulkner, Natty, Hot Chip, Scouting for Girls, Sway, Lady Sovereign and N-Dubz, City Showcase promises a huge amount of both industry and media attention over the four day event. City Showcase has expanded to include many more venues as well as gigs on 8 and 9 May at The O2 all accessible with a festival wristband.
Launching the event, City Showcase returns to Chinatown on 5 May where it will, again, be holding a fantastic free outdoor gig in the centre of Chinatown on Gerrard Street. Chinatown is a cultural capital – where the East meets West – in the heart of London’s West-End. City Showcase will introduce new acts Tuanne, Rebel Control and Cherry Lee at this fantastic free outdoor gig in the heart of London.
Headlining at the British Music Experience/The O2 on 8 May is Master Shortie celebrating his new label deal and his 21st birthday. On 9 May, City Showcase will expand its music line-up with UK’s first, stand-alone classical and world music event – “City Showcase: Roots and Flutes”. This unique festival will introduce London’s musical roots to a whole new audience and demonstrate the breadth of our culture with a day of music in restaurants and bars at The O2 as well as a rolling programme of talented new acts at the British Music Experience. Headlining are Camilla Kerslake and Raghu Dixit. Participating restaurants include Gaucho. Union Square, The O2 Store, Slug & Lettuce, S&M, Frankie & Benny’s, Las Iguanas, Tahir Silk, Spur, Water Margin and the Ha Ha Bar.
Acts this year include May68, Lunar Youth, Hungry Kids Of Hungary, These Monsters, Muchuu, Donae’o, CoCo Electrik and The Plight, playing at City Showcase gigs in the Borderline in association with Xfm and Rock Sound and at British Music Experience at The O2. And 100% Music at The100 Club on 6 May hosts the wonderful vocals of Gemma Ray, Peter Lawrie, Chris Simmons and introducing a real future star, from Canada Ali Milner.
Plus evening gigs at venues across the city that include Toploader will be introducing a bill of emerging new singer songwriters at Dean Street Studios on 6 May including Natalie McCool plus gigs at 229 Club, Regal Room, Amersham Arms, Fox & Firkin, New Cross Inn, The Bunker, Dirty South City. Acts that will be playing include Monsters In The Attic, Officer Kicks, Ten City Nation, Ivyrise and many more.
In Carnaby and Regent Street on Saturday 8th May from midday to early evening, visitors can enjoy live music at hippest fashion boutiques and cafés – 55 DSL, The Apple Store, Ben Sherman, Eastpak, Fornarina, Habitat, Henri Lloyd, Lee Jeans, Liberty, Puma, LK Bennett, National Geographic, Sacred Café, Ted Baker, Tibits, Timberland, TM Lewin, Tommy Hilfiger, Vans, WeSC, Wrangler and Zebrano. Acts include The Hornblower Brothers, Rotating Leslie, Honeyryder, The Perils, Bitbasic, Conrad The Scoundral, The Amateurs, Tin Soldiers and Jody McKenna.
Wristband holders will qualify for 20% off purchases in participating daytime venues throughout the City Showcase event as well as being able to take part in a ‘trolley dash’ ie the first person each day to present a receipt redeeming the 20% discount will win a day with their favourite band of the day in studio.
At The Apple Store, gigs and industry workshops will include Vaudeville Falls, Andrew Davie, Patch William, Polly MacKay and The Pleasure Principle, Jess Morgan and Tony Christie, Lynsey de Paul and Hal Ritson.
Nanette Rigg from City Showcase said, “We’re thrilled to be launching at London’s Chinatown – a great location with a brilliant atmosphere. Also we are very excited about our new world and classical event to be held at the British Music Experience at the O2. Coupled with the series of events in Carnaby, Regent Street and at Borderline, Soho, City Showcase promises another fantastic summer of music.”
City Showcase wristbands are available online at www.cityshowcase.co.uk
Unsigned Talent Discovered at The Gadget Show Live
Apr 21st
Last week, The Gadget Show LIVE took place at the NEC in Birmingham, where the exhibit stand of international technology leader AVID and Rockhopper Studios, came away having discovered some very interesting musical talent.
At the AVID stand, up ‘n’ coming bands, singers, and songwriters boarded the Rockhopper 1960’s airstream caravan to record a track and video. The Rockhopper studio is powered on AVID Pro Tools – a professional software system used in top studios all over the World.
The result of the show was the discovery of four excellent bands: The Hold Up, Tom Dibbs, This Eden and A bit Too Far.
One of these lucky bands now has the chance to win a Rockhopper four song EP package, and two AVID software packages; Pro Tools Recording Studio and Pinnacle Studio HD.
All they need is your vote. Which band do you think cuts the mustard? Place your vote now http://j.mp/AvidComp
Voting closes Wednesday 28th April at midnight. Winner will be announced on Thursday 29th April.
If you’re an unsigned band or just someone with a penchant for singing, keep an eye on Rockhopper’s Talent Tour schedule as you too could get the chance to take part in this amazing experience thetalenttour.co.uk
Lady GaGa to perform new Bond Song?
Apr 1st
According to a number of reports, pop weirdo Lady GaGa is in the running to perform the song for the new Bond Movie. Apparently Bond Bosses have gone completely gaga for the GaGa. This does unfortunately mean another Bond Theme disaster is set to storm the charts very soon.
A new Album and Tour set for The Magic Numbers
Mar 26th
The third album from the Magic Numbers is set for release on June 7th. There will also be a limited edition album available which will come with a 4 track EP of live material from Wilton’s Music Hall in London.
The album also features string arrangements from Robert Kirby known for work with Nick Drake, Sandy Denny and Elvis Costello. The album name is called “The Runaway”.
Not only that they have also announced a Tour during the release month of June, finishing with a show at Londons sheperds Bush Empire on June 17th.
Other Information
Track Listings for “The Runaway”
‘The Pulse’
‘Hurt So Good’
‘Why Did You Call?’
‘Once I Had’
‘A Start With No Ending’
‘Throwing My Heart Away’
‘Restless River’
‘Only Seventeen’
‘Sound Of Something’
‘The Song That No One Knows’
‘Dreams Of A Revelation’
‘I’m Sorry’
The Magic Numbers will play:
Leeds Irish Centre (June 3)
Newcastle University (4)
Glasgow ABC (5)
Manchester Academy (7)
Liverpool Academy (8)
Sheffield Leadmill (9)
Bristol Anson Rooms (11)
Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall (12)
Cambridge Junction (13)
Brighton Komedia (15)
Norwich Waterfront (16)
London Shepherd’s Bush Empire (17)
Tickets go on sale on April 1.
Irish Book Banned from Bedroom
Mar 20th
Our good friend Xan Phillips has pointed out this interesting article to us.
An Irish book has been causing marital divisions across the UK leading some wives to ban it from the bedroom.
Belfast born Eamon Nancarrow didn’t expect his autobiography ‘Holywood Star’ to cause such ructions seeing as the climax of his rock career was a disastrous tour of Scotland during a bleak winter.
But the singer’s tales of rock and roll misadventure have sent beds rocking with uncontrollable laughter leaving many partners irritated and awake.
Noddy Holder to be part in UK National Music Competition
Mar 19th
Most people know Noddy Holder for his infamous phrase ‘It’s Christmaaas!’ As the lead singer of Slade, the legendary group behind the huge classic Merry Xmas Everybody, Noddy Holder still continues to dominate the festive chart today.
With extensive experience in touring, performing and topping the charts, Noddy will be bringing his wealth of experience to the judging panel at the Live and Unsigned Festival this year. Beginning his career at the tender age of 7, Noddy began singing in working men’s clubs and joined a band. He left school at 16 to become a professional musician and after working with several bands, he eventually joined forces with Dave Hill, Don Powell and Jim Lea to form The N’Betweens. The group performed world wide, playing a mixture of RnB, soul and Motown to packed out crowds.
It was in 1969 when Noddy and the band shot to stardom, as they met up with ex-Animals bass player Chas Chandler, who also produced and managed Jimi Hendrix. Changing their name to Slade, the band were catapulted to success during the glam rock era of the 70’s and 80’s.
Noddy’s vocals fronted over 40 hit singles, including six number ones. They released over 20 albums during their career, four reaching the number one spot in the UK and to this date, Slade are the biggest selling UK singles group of the seventies. Noddy composed the majority of the songs, including the hugely successful Merry Xmas Everybody, which was re-released in 2006. It sold over one million copies when it was first released and has been released every decade since 1973.
Although Noddy left the band in 1991, their legacy still lives on as artists today continue to cover their classic tracks including Oasis, James Blunt and Girls Aloud.
A spokesperson for Live and Unsigned commented, “Noddy’s experience in the music industry will undoubtedly be invaluable on the judging panel. He knows exactly what it’s like to be on the road touring and performing to sell out crowds, and he’s enjoyed huge chart success. He has bundles of knowledge on how to make it in the industry, and we’re sure acts in the competition will be excited to hear he’s on the panel!”
Nowadays, Noddy is always popping up on television and radio and recently presented an award at the 2010 Brit Awards. He has his own radio show in Los Angeles and New York and regularly contributes to BBC Radio 2.
For more information on Live and Unsigned please visit Liveandunsigned.uk.com
