CAMDEN CRAWL 2011 - LAST MINUTE TIPS

IT RAINED for the first time in the history of the Camden Crawl last year. When I say rained, more like giants stood atop Primrose Hill hosing down Camden High Street until all the little indie ants were washed down the drain.


So let’s hope this year, the giants take a break from watering their gardens just long enough to let us music-loving ants swarm over Camden and Kentish Town’s finest venues for the Camden Crawl’s 10th anniversary.



Odd Future, Miles Kane, Killing Joke, British Sea Power, St Etienne, Graham Coxon, Frankie and the Heartstrings, Villagers, Giggs – the list of unmissable acts is endless but to be sure to catch your top choices requires military precision.

Army-style discipline alone is tough but throw in sun, good times, queues, clinging onto friends in a sea of people, navigating dark venues, and mountains of alcohol and the best laid plans are bound to dissolve into a haze of good intentions and gigs you didn’t quite plan to see.

This is not a bad thing –the Crawl is the ideal spotting ground for new music so enjoy the unknown acts and see if you can predict which ones are going to make it.

Here’s a few tips for the day – I won’t labour the wear comfy shoes point this year no matter how vital I think it is:

- It’s not all about gigs in dark places. There’s a whole daytime programme of comedy, theatre and the chance to pit your mind against some of the industry’s biggest musos at a choice of challenging pub quizzes.

- Manage expectations – don’t expect to see every band you want – there will be timetable clashes, mad dashes from Mornington Crescent to Kentish Town, and just plain old queues so prioritise and enjoy the unknown.

- Keep your eyes and ears open for secret appearances, pop-up gigs and the unexpected, last year Amy Winehouse was pulling pints at The Dublin Castle and Pete Doherty was hanging around outside the job centre, a few years previously David Schwimmer joined the crawl.

- Try to predict collaborations – as Giggs and Lethal Bizzle are both booked to play and they’ve just released the Monsta Man remix, that’s the one I’m guessing.

- Check out the Red Bull outdoor stage – it’ll be a rare chance to see rap collective Odd Future who made waves at this year’s SXSW festival. And if you can prove you’re an NW1 resident, you can get into Hawley Crescent for free.

- Download the Gaymers Camden Crawl 2011 The Album compilation – free to ticketholders from www.7digital.com/camdencrawl – and check out the bands you haven’t heard yet, you never know, it might just stop you missing out on the next band of the year.

- AND FINALLY – follow me on twitter for live updates throughout the weekend and tweet me any Crawl news, gossip or rumours of secret gigs – I promise to share – @roisingadelrab

HUGH LAURIE'S GOT THE UNION CHAPEL BLUES + ODD FUTURE AT THE CAMDEN CRAWL

LISTEN up NW1 residents.

Those generous Camden Crawl people have saved up some of their most treasured signings for the Red Bull Bedroom Jam, which takes over Hawley Crescent for the May Bank Holiday weekend (April 30 – May 1). Entry is free for residents aged 14 or over (under 16s accompanied by an adult) who show proof of residence and age on arrival space allowing.

The King Blues headline on Saturday and the much-hyped ODD FUTURE WOLF GANG KILL THEM ALL play their first UK festival show on the Sunday. Others lined up include Attack! Attack!, The Qemists, Turbowolf, P Money and S.C.U.M. Crawl wristband holders also welcome.

Not easy to find a clip of Odd Future in their collective element so here's Tyler the Creator doing his own thing - Warning some may find lyrics offensive.


Forget the menacing hip-hop, this second clip shows Odd Future as straight-up skater boys - brings back memories of my own reprobate skater friends of the past.



• He’s so convincing on House, I’d forgotten he’s English – now Hugh Laurie’s embracing the deep South soul. He plays New Orleans blues from album Let Them Talk, which features collaborations with Tom Jones and Dr John, at the Union Chapel on May 4 – shame it’s sold out.

• Want to break into the music biz? Head to King’s Place for MusicConnex (April 19-21) where more than 100 industry experts will share their expertise on securing a career in the digital age in a series of seminars sponsored by Facebook, Youtube and MPA. Plus showcases from ILUVLIVE, Canadian Blast, One Taste and Busker Tales.

• We’re in the middle of London Latin Music Festival and the best is yet to come – see Ojos de Brujo’s 10th Anniversary Show at the Barbican (April 15), supported by Depedro, and A Night of Twisted Cumbia ft Mexican Institute of Sound, Axel Krygier and Pollito Boogaloo at Koko (April 17).