GENEROUS JARVIS COCKER, SERGE'S SOUNDTRACK, N-DUBZ' "SUCCESS" + WINO POPS UP IN CAMDEN SHOCK

PROUD Camden held an extravagant birthday party on Wednesday night – to mark their second year in Camden Market’s Horse Hospital. The Delays launched their new album but didn't play live in the end - apparently due to some sort of leg injury - you can still sing boys!

Jarvis Cocker did a fantastic job hosting, posed for a photograph with me and generously stopped to listen to troubadour Joseph Strouzer play the Ballad of the Big Beautiful Woman all the way through.
His verdict: "I like it, especially how it turned out in the end, of course you won't ever get any air-time."
Strouzer said afterwards: "I guess he was referring to the ever-so subtle sexual references woven into the lyrics."

Professor Green did a brilliant job of headlining, bringing some grime vibes to the gallery, while Amy Winehouse popped up, as she does, onstage, took a spot next to the backing singers and danced along for a whole song before running off to mingle. Mumford & Sons DJed but it felt like a waste of their talents. Great night though.

• The iTunes Festival begins on July 1 at Camden Roundhouse, a month of huge names, from Tony Bennett to Ozzy Osbourne, Scissor Sisters to N-Dubz. Eighties hair rock bands Europe and Foreigner this week confirmed they play on July 25.

• The beautiful Serge Pizzorno, yes Kasabian bandana man, is lending his talents to Mighty Boosh star Noel Fielding. Fielding’s summer art show, at London’s oldest cake shop Maison Bertaux, Greek Street, Soho (July 5), includes an installation with an original soundtrack by Pizzorno.

• Love Being N-Dubz – a six-part C4 documentary on Camden’s finest, with the second programme going out on Monday. Best quote so far from Dappy: “I’m a success, sir”, followed seconds later by “I’ve got an Oyster, I’m legit.”

• Juliette Lewis unveils her new album Terra Incognita – the album she’s always wanted to make – at London Borderline on June 30.

• Celebs are coming out in force to back a revival of the Finsbury Park Rise Festival, after Boris Johnson’s office pulled funding for it last year. Writer Meera Syal and Labour leadership contender Diane Abbott have joined Roots Manuva, Asian Dub Foundation, and Beardyman in their support for replacement festival UpRise: London United Against Racism (July 11). Info from www.uprise.org.uk

• Here’s an opportunity for genuine talent to impress industry giants EMI at Camden Roundhouse – 30/30, a groundbreaking youth music project for 16-25s. Over the course of September, 30/30 (30 days, 30 bands, 30 tracks) will offer 30 unsigned artists one free day’s recording time in the Round house’s EMI Live Music Studio, along with top guest producers to profes sionally record and mix their track for free.
Artists should visit www.roundhouse.org.uk/3030.

LIAM GALLAGHER IN JOG SHOCK + LITTLE J'S RECKLESS MEDICINE

WHAT'S happening to our rock idols? They’re getting respectable in their old age. My spies spotted an early morning jogger legging it through Hampstead last week, dressed in all the kit. Closer inspection revealed it to be Liam Gallagher. I’d say this is a more shocking image than the usual pics of him swearing and scowling at photographers.

• There’s something uncomfortable about watching Gossip Girl actress Taylor Momsen fronting The Pretty Reckless. Over here recently on tour with her 40-something band, the 16-year-old singer/actress resembled a character from Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride – spindly, pale, and with eyeshadow so heavy, her eyes were two bottomless holes. In interviews she came across almost as moody as her character little Jenny has become, and equally as pretentious. But, I’m ready to give her the benefit of the doubt – it could just be the trappings of fame and naivety of youth. Her mesh of Courtney Love grungy angst and Juliette Lewis’s country twang is mesmerising and her vocals are unexpectedly soul-laden. Single Make Me Wanna Die is out now and debut album is released later this year. Look out for My Medicine, easily the best of the short selection I’ve heard so far. This is the clearest footage of the My Medicine I could find.

• One Taste, one of south London’s hottest underground music and spoken word nights, has been the launchpad for many fledgling unsigned acts. Scroobius Pip, Beth Rowley and Newton Falkner have all graced its stage and now it’s coming to Camden. One Taste Koko brings together unsigned acts with established artists in an alternative showcase on June 16, featuring Va Voi Woon, Polarbear, Kate Tempest, David J, and Mercury nominees Portico Quartet.