WHAT HAVE ELTON JOHN, ROBERT PLANT AND NEIL DIAMOND GOT IN COMMON? ROUNDHOUSE ELECTRICS!

I’VE made my point on this page before but what has happened to the Electric Proms?
Firstly, it’s been rebranded BBC Radio 2 Electric Proms (Oct 28-30) – the organisers have made that very clear to all Press.

Secondly the headliners – Elton John, Robert Plant and Neil Diamond – are all only slightly one side or the other of claiming their pensions.

Thirdly, we all fought to save BBC 6 Music, they had their own section to the Proms last year but by Radio 2 taking over, we’ve lost that edge.
The greatest news about this year’s line-up, whose most likely highly varied followers would class as legends in their own special way, is that a restricted number of £5 tickets will be released in the weeks leading up to the festival.
Don’t bank on these but for those who do snap them up, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience...of sorts.
Now this is not an ageist page. In fact Robert Plant featured here a couple of weeks ago when he played Kentish Town’s Forum, and Led Zep remnants are always welcome here, but this is more about the lack of
new blood, and, at risk of sounding like a council flyer for youth services – diversity.
Radio 2 may be a part of the establishment but it does also feature good new music – just this weekend Dermot O’Leary played Villagers on his show. So why keep it so limited?
This year’s Proms will include a tiny sprinkling of younger pop acts – Plan B and Rumer will join Elton and Plant gets the London Oriana Choir (Oct 29).
But the Electric Proms tagline was always “creating new moments in music”.
There’s no doubt Elton, launching the show on Thursday (Oct 28) will put on a good show, and he’s a master at collaborations so there’ll definitely be some surprises but how is this going to work with Neil Diamond?

The greatest show I ever saw at the Proms was Africa Express. It had been a Proms staple but last year mysteriously dropped off the bill. 

Africa Express really defined the Electric Proms – a world away from the stuffy flag-waving crowd at the traditional Proms, it featured more than 100 artists of every discipline and background, crammed on Koko’s stage, jamming and experimenting like true musicians at the greatest party ever.
In 2008, it was Damon Albarn who brought it together and he’s been touring with various incarnations ever since.
It’s just a shame we don’t get it in Camden anymore.
This is not supposed to be a major moan about the Electric Proms.
Where else will you get the chance to see Elton at such close quarters for only £25?
He’ll be joining his idol Leon Russell to play tracks from new album The Union but the classics will be there too.
And how will Plant create his “new moments” with the choir?
Sure Neil Diamond will attract some older fans but also that irritating contingent who danced/drank/hooked up/staggered home to “I’m a Believer” and ”Sweet Caroline” at every university summer ball/formal etc. Sadly Neil, you’re responsible for too many bad memories.
As no other acts have been announced to join him, it would appear he will be making his new moments by himself. If none do materialise, it might be fair to say the concept’s becoming a myth.
He’s promising to play songs from his new album as well as old favourites so maybe he can redeem himself.
The good news is the whole thing will be broadcast on Radio 2 for those who miss it, presented by Bob Harris (any excuse to hear more of Harris’ voice is very welcome).
Performances will be broadcast on BBC 2 with the prefix A Night With...you fill in the gap.
• Tickets for the R2 Electric Proms, are £25 from www.bbc.co.uk/radio2.
• A restricted number of £5 tickets will be released in the weeks leading up to the festival.

GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER ELECTRIC PROMS + PARTY FOR PALESTINE WITH AKALA, LOWKEY ET AL + SEAN LENNON'S SABER TOOTHED TIGER POUNCES ON THE ROUNDHOUSE + SEASICK STEVE'S BLUES

REMEMBER the great BBC Electric Proms of 2008 – Oasis, Glasvegas and Burt Bacharach at the Roundhouse, Goldfrapp at Cecil Sharp House, the incredible Africa Express marathon at Koko, and The Last Shadow Puppets in Liverpool?

It was the best of the Proms, multi-venue, multi-genre, multi-generational, spanning north and south.
Last year the Beeb tightened its belt and shrank to one venue but still pulled in the huge acts – Dame Shirley Bassey, Smokey Robinson and Dizzee Rascal.

(One of my favourite songs ever - I love you Miles Kane!)

So what happened this year? It’s always fantastic to see classic legends in a venue as concise as the Roundhouse but the Proms has been reduced to three nights, each headliner – Elton John, Robert Plant and Neil Diamond – over 60 and white (or perma-tanned).
Younger names such as Plan B will support but still, the Proms was such a huge event and a chance for surprises and unexpected collaborations – a real celebration of musicians of all kinds remembering what it was like to jam and experiment. A move away from the fuddy duddy traditional proms that clogs up our TVs annually. Did this really have to be a casualty of the cuts?
• Don't miss Party for Pakistan, fave acts on the bill include Akala, Lowkey, Riz MC, and Facejacker – you know who I mean – great cause – 02 Academy Islington, (September 29).
• Who's Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger I hear you ask? Although the musos out there probably know. This is Sean Lennon and girlfriend Charlotte Kemp Muhl's collaboration. Expect beautifully crafted songs from their debut gig (Roundhouse, Oct 13).

• Seasick Steve plays the Blues Kitchen (Oct 7) – it's an oddly-shaped venue but old Seasick can bring any stage to life – do NOT miss this.

PINK'S ACROBATICS, MISSY ELLIOTT'S FAILS, SNOOP DOGG'S SUNNY DISPOSITION AND JAY-Z'S CAMERON-LIKE TENDENCIES

PINK dropped from the sky, Missy Elliott's German tracksuit offended, Snoop Dogg wore girly hair bobbles and Jay-Z played the popular card at an eventful Wireless festival last weekend.
By Sunday night, Wireless stragglers looked more like extras from Shipwrecked than holders of the coolest hip-hop tickets in town as arid weather conditions turned Hyde Park into one giant dustbowl and filthy feet, mud-caked fingernails and dirt-streaked faces became the official festival uniform.
Not even the luxury loos, Ugg boots store, makeovers, Superdrug counter, Elemis massages and Bed Head hairdressers could combat the dust.
Pink's headline performance was a spectacle in itself, so carefully stage managed that it even ended with a roll of credits.

And they deserved the praise, Pink dropped onto a walkway from a gift-wrapped box suspended high on a crane, running through hits, many lesser-known tracks and some covers.

She mashed up Lou Reid's Walk on the Wild Side with Green Day's Basket Case, later launching the loudest sing-along of the weekend to 4 Non Blondes' What's Up – a perfect fit for her voice.Pink's songs have rarely been captivating but her performance skills and powerhouse vocals are something to behold.Her set was a fully-functioning carnival, she made full use of the slides, her drummer stood inside a waltzer and Pink's acrobatics matched those of a circus professional.From Cirque du Soleil roof-dangling on drapes, to soaring over the crowd suspended on four-way wires, to literally running over the heads of the audience in a giant inflatable Zorb ball, it was a non-stop feast for the eyes.Earlier Plan B drew hundreds from Gossip's main stage set as crowds caked the outside of the Pepsi Max tent to try to catch a glimpse.Beth Ditto made her usual threat to strip but thankfully failed to deliver.Not even Ditto's lungs could compete with the crowds singing along to Plan B 150m away and her cover of Tina Turner's What's Love Got To Do With It was drowned out.The Ting Tings banged out a bit of a racket but the most euphoric moment of the day was lying in the grass, staring at the clear blue sky listening to The Temper Trap.Day two's headliners LCD Soundsystem seriously disappointed – an odd choice for top billing when the likes of Missy Elliott and Snoop Dogg were in town.

To be fair, Missy's set consisted of a number of big fails. 1 – coming on 20 minutes late, 2 – playing a medley of best-known tracks so fast you almost missed them, 3 – part-miming, badly, 4 – bringing on latest protege after only 10 minutes, who also mimed, 5 – making an ill-judged return to the stage in a Germany tracksuit – her
prerogative I say – but she drew boos from a huge group of miserable bad sports, 6 – overrunning and having her set cut mid-flow.

Still, Get Your Freak on was a popular three minutes, her rapping was fierce and she threw herself into rallying the crowd for the brief time she was on.
A quick dash to Darwin Deez confirmed why he's the Napoleon Dynamite of the moment and a delight to watch – but the pull of legend Snoop Dogg was too strong.
The sunshine loved Snoop, who came on with a knuckle duster-style mic and charted his hip-hop history through a memorable, laid back set.
Still hard to take Gangsta rap seriously when it comes from a man with clear plastic bobbles on his plaits.
Day three was uncomfortable as thousands crammed into the park, may looking for trouble. Huge groups of boys cleared the ground of bottles by flinging them into the crowd, prompting Lily Allen to point out the number of girls she'd seen crying in front of her after being hit.
Earlier, Professor Green on the second stage was a huge, popular draw, Slash played a couple of his own solos which flew above the head of most of the crowd, but woke everyone up with Sweet Child O' Mine and a vastly diminished D12 delighted the many who rushed to see them on the third stage – though twice as many were left out in the cold.
Lily Allen brought on Professor Green for a drum 'n bass remix of Smile before the two launched into their new single Just Be Good To Green, which ended up as a huge rave.

Jay-Z the ever professional, played the popular tracks, some lesser-known older ones and never let the crowd forget he was thinking of every single one of them.

Much like the David Cameron in the leaders debates, he took note of his audience and singled out the ones who most knew his songs, or those who most caught his eye.
When he realised he had 24 minutes left he declared he was not ready to go and promised to run through as many track people asked for as possible, flicking from a bar of Bonnie and Clyde to a chorus of another, he skipped around, prepared to please his devoted followers.
He ended on Encore – the smash hit mash-up with Linkin Park's Numb – a wise and explosive choice that confirmed Jay-Z's generous showmanship.

CAMDEN CRAWL - WATERLOGGED AND WONDERFUL - DAN LE SAC VS SCROOBIUS PIP, ROLO TOMASSI, PENDULUM, CASIO KIDS, MAN LIKE ME, THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS AND MORE

RIVERS of black eyeliner streamed down Camden High Street as buckets of torrential rain threatened to wash away thousands of Camden Crawlers last weekend.
Unlucky for the ballet pump-clad crawlers queuing all the way to Morrisons car park waiting to swap their tickets for wristbands, Saturday was a warm washout.
Sunday was dry but infinitely chillier, the miserable kind that takes hold of your bones, amounting to equal stints of sprinting between venues and subsequent reluctance to move on to the next.

(Drenched Camden Crawlers enjoy Man Like Me)

An impromptu rave by collective Red Pill London, which sprung up under a small-time gazebo, ended abruptly when police swooped in and collared DJ “The Brain” – for “inciting a riot”. I was there, it wasn't a riot. LostProphets later leapt to his defence – see footage at www.youtube.com/RedPillLondon.

The few secret gigs were mostly tucked safely away from the real people in the VIP bar at Lock 17. Rumours of Johnny Depp joining Babybird and Mick Jones with Roots Manuva fell flat, but how important are the clandestine ones when there's already a packed timetable?

There were a few disappointments as Villagers, Joe Gideon and the Shark and others were unable to play, and creative crises as we were forced to choose between headliners.
Delays and The Drums, previous picks of mine, were casualties of scheduling only a time-machine could solve. Yet there were big gaps in the evenings, where a bunch of gigs would end with nothing scheduled for 45 minutes - staggering would be welcome next year.

Aside from these minor strategic issues, we found plenty of raw talent to keep us entertained.
Another triumphant, if soggy Camden Crawl.
Here's a round-up of some of the acts I made it to:

ROLO TOMASSI - RED BULL OUTDOOR STAGE

An enigma – switching from tuneless, eyes-rolling-to-the-back-of-their-heads, roaring hardcore rock to almost deconstructed jazzy instrumentals, mathrock giants Rolo Tomassi were captivating but painful to listen to. It was hard to tear away from lead singer Eva Spence, who sounded like a sweet young girl when chatting, but became a freaky possessed wildcat with a piercing screech, when the music began, singing the odd delicate tuneful refrain. Not one for me.

CASIO KIDS, then KATY B - JAZZ CAFE
A welcome change of pace, light in sound, happy electro, they attracted huge queues and quite rightly so. The kind of guys you want to hang out with, because you know it’d be fun.
Katy B's soul had hints of rude-girl attitude but was a bit too loungey. An accomplished singer who feels every word.

PLAN B – ROUNDHOUSE

Plan B rocked the camp bouncer look. Switching from rudeboy rapper to shiny suited doorman, to cheesy house dancer to Marvin Gaye-soul, Plan B played a confusing set. He was a little light on the rap, focusing more on his crooning, but maybe not quite what his crowd was waiting for. Each time he did burst into a short rap, the audience cheered their approval.

EMILY BARKER - BLACK CAP
Described by Andy Ross as having one of the best voices in the country, Australian singer Barker, with fiddle and accordion accompanists played a pure set of beautiful country/folk.

PENDULUM - ROUNDHOUSE

What better way to dry out than to launch into the swirling tumble drier of a mosh pit for Pendulum. Their tunes didn’t need much variety, and too right, a track from their new album (plugged 300 times), verged on euro-dance and sounded flat. So a wise return to the repetitive beats, mindless MCing, the odd varied bassline and a bit of electronica. The ultimate professionals, Pendulum are masters of winding up frantic drum ‘n bass to the highest scale.

TIM TEN YEN - SPREADEAGLE

Food Records’ Andy Ross’ picks were varied and enthralling. Lanky besuited Tim Ten Yen, whose only accompaniments were the smallest keyboard in the world and a sleeping battery-powered cat, had an air of John Hegley about him. Geeky synth-pop, comic vocals and uncle dancing.

MAN LIKE ME - OUTDOOR STAGE
So good we saw them twice. Only the most hardy braved the outdoor stage on day one. Many questioned if the acts would even bother to turn up, but all credit to them, they did. Nothing would dampen Man Like Me’s spirits, they played like the sun was blazing, frontman Johnny Langer coming on under a Lidl bag. And they managed to raise a party from the small but formidable umbrella-clutching crowd. They played a triumphant show at Electric Ballroom at midnight, turning the crowd into one big house bash. It’s hard not to smile when they’re around.

GAGGLE - ELECTRIC BALLROOM

There was considerable buzz around this female choir who sing about modern-east-London type female dilemmas “How can I tell if My Man is a Liar” in a freaky tribal confrontational, don’t mess with us way, while sounding a little like the pickpockets from the musical Oliver!
Wearing colourful rags, they looked more like the latest wannabe Britain's Got Talent dance troupe but, although credit due for their bold attempts to be different - not something I'd like to hear more of.

THE HUNDRED IN THE HANDS - DINGWALLS
Moody electro duo. Guy plays guitar, girl fiddles about with electric things, runs her hands through her hair a lot and pouts under her fringe. Sound great. They should be French.

DAN LE SAC vs SCROOBIUS PIP - RED BULL OUTDOOR STAGE

The only other act I saw twice. They command a loyal following, many thousands on twitter and many more in real life. A drier Hawley Crecent was packed for their earlier show, Le Sac a perfect wing-man to Giant Pip’s almost preacher-like demeanour. Extremely accessible, Pip was correct when he told me his music brought together followers from all walks of life – people you’d never expect to see enjoying the same gig. Their evening Electric Ballroom set turned into one huge messianic party – a clearly memorable show.

PROFESSOR GREEN - THE ROUNDHOUSE
Forced to play the evening set after endless delays during the Sugababes, Professor Green came on bounding with energy. He’s got a cheeky young voice and his hit “I Need you Tonight” was just that.

BABYBIRD - DUBLIN CASTLE

Stephen Jones aka Babybird was in fine voice, though a little nervous he wouldn’t be playing to anyone who’d actually heard of him. He was wrong. It was an all-age crowd and he won a warm reception.

LEAFCUTTER JOHN - BARFLY

His atmospheric solo was drowned out by the rudest baying Barfly crowd in history. Where in other venues, similar acts were respected, something strange was happening here. He soldiered on and the few who were listening were mesmerised. But it’s hard to believe he was not affected by the confidence-shattering reception

THE WILDERNESS OF MANITOBA - SPREADEAGLE
Last of Andy Ross' picks, New Age Canadian four-piece with haunting harmonies, a cross between Simon and Garfunkle and Fleet Foxes – a laid-back mid-afternoon interlude with Tibetan singing bowls and a cello.

ANOTHER BAND - ICE WHARF
Emerging Talent Award winners Another Band brought “atmosphere” to the Ice Wharf – absent since the day it opened – you know what I’m saying. We actually witnessed rhythm in the dancing crowd.

CAMDEN CRAWL - BEAT THE SYSTEM, AND BEST OF THE REST

THEY love to keep us in suspense don’t they? But even though the Camden Crawl’s timetable is a tightly-guarded secret until the day of the event, organisers can’t keep a lid on all the bands.

So here’s how to beat the system – check out individual band websites and most importantly keep an eye on twitter.  That should cover most of them. Expect word of surprise appearances to spread like wildfire on the Twitter grapevine so if you’ve got an iPhone, now’s the time to make use of it.

                                          (New Young Pony Club)

But for a more unpredictable experience, manage your own expectations and take a scattergun approach. Pick out bands, singers or acts you like, expect to be beaten by the queues and look forward to checking out the band that follows, which is inevitably the point where you’ll finally be let into the venue. But if you really want to be certain to catch something, camp out from ages before. 

Here’s a few events I’ll be checking out:

ISLAND Records Boat Party, The Constitution (Sunday, 1pm-6pm): Off the beaten track, this is where the insiders hang out. Expect to see some of Island Records’ bright new stars.

A party boat with onboard bar and resident Island Djs will ferry fans from Camden High Street to The Constitution pub, where the likes of Essex 15-year-old rising star Daisy Dares You will be performing, along with Zimbabwean singer-songwriter (the dude with the cool giant glasses) Tinashe, Dagenham MC Devlin, Welsh singer-songwriter Pete Lawrie, Tennessee soloist Lauren Pritchard and the grit-laden man with soul in his core, Jonathan Jeremiah.

OUTDOOR Stage, Hawley Crescent: I’ve said it before but any carnival-type event isn’t complete without the high-spirited, hilarious choreography of Man Like Me. Their catchy nu-ska sounds have party written all over them. Catch them at the Hawley Crescent outdoor stage along with Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Chew Lips and Skepta – anyone with an NW1 postcode who applied online can get in for free.

                                          (Man Like Me)

PRIMROSE Chill: If you haven’t got a ticket, don’t despair. The Primrose Chill has lined up some below-the-radar acts to play four of the area’s most prized pubs. You can sort of pretend to be part of the Crawl – never mind you’re across the canal with the posh people, miles from the carnage, and you didn’t have to spend a penny.

ELIZA Doolittle: A singer-songwriter with folky undertones, she’s already caught the tabloids’ attention – for wearing short shorts. Her single Skinny Genes was released on April 12 and she’s been touted as one to watch.

DELAYS: This is one band we’ll actually be getting there early for. A must.

VILLAGERS: Rated sixth in The Irish Times’ 50 Best Irish Acts Right Now, well last year, Malahide’s Villagers have been compared to The Frames, U2 and Leonard Cohen. Low key, wordy, literate and dark – I imagine Tim Burton would be a fan. Tipped by Bob Harris on his radio show last week.

PLAN B and Pendulum, Roundhouse, Friday: The only show of the Roundhouse headliners I’ll be checking out. Plan B just because there’s always room for a little East London rap and Pendulum, known for their high-energy live shows, are a definite way to wake up after the long trawl through the day’s guitar offerings.

PUB Quizzes, various venues during the day: A chance to further your education or just show off – the battle for the title of king/queen muso begins.

Best of the Rest: Shy Child, The Sunshine Underground, The Drums, Akala, Joe Gideon and the Shark, The Hundred in the Hands, New Young Pony Club, Holly Miranda, Billy Childish, Best Coast, Speech Debelle (because she’s unpredictable) and Roots Manuva. 

For the 30-something sentimentalists – Cornershop, Babybird, Stereo MCs and Teenage Fanclub.

SPOILT FOR CHOICE AT THE CAMDEN CRAWL - NAS + DAMIAN MARLEY'S "TINY" CAMDEN SHOW

SUNDAY Times columnist India Knight has a dilemma – she’s coming to the Camden Crawl but refuses to attend the “gittish” gigs her sons like. Tough call. Any suggestions?
Plan B and Pendulum have just been announced as the final headliners - should be just enough to push the last of the ticket sales.
The Emerging Talent Awards-winners have also now been announced.
Best Song went to Shiv Lizzy – a bittersweet triumph, and fitting tribute to the talented musician who died recently.
Winners’ details and the Crawl’s Hawley Crescent outdoor stage line-up at www.thecamdencrawl.com

•l Hip hop legend Nas and Damian Marley (youngest son of Bob) bring their Distant Relatives tour to the Electric Ballroom (April 21). Tickets are extremely limited. Promoters promise it’s “the most intimate performance anyone will get of these two iconic musicians”. For once the hype may be true.

• Hip hop duo Gianni and Viper’s new single, Boom Boom, is out next week, and album out next month. Catch them this weekend at the opening of West Hampstead’s milkshake bar Shaketastic.

• Folky cellist Laura Victoria launched her debut EP at the Green Note on Tuesday – by all accounts it was a summery success.

• Wolf People play a charity gig for Refuge at the 02 Academy Islington (April 22). Also playing are 50ft Woman, Velvetines and Patrick is Silvercub.