LISTEN up struggling musicians.
You work hard, gig every venue, and often come home with less money than you left with at the start of the evening.
But it’s worth it and those who have done it before are here to give you faith.
Un-Convention, on Saturday, is part of the Roundhouse Rising Festival, which has filled the past week with masterclasses in band photography, sound engineering and music video masterclasses for youngsters.
But Saturday is for all ages. While top artists scramble to record an album in 10 hours, the timetable is heaving under the musical wisdom from panels of veterans, gurus and experts keen to share their insights.
Highlights include ‘Music as a Tool for Social Change’ – featuring figures from music projects in Sri Lanka, Brazil, Colombia and the UK, ‘Sustainable careers in music’ with Jon McClure (Reverend and the Makers), ‘The Politicisation of Music’ and ‘Women in Music’ with Viv Albertine and Zoe Street Howe. Guests include Green Man Festival’s Fiona Stewar, John Dyer from Domino Records and BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson.
There are also speed networking sessions, workshops and demos.
The festival wouldn’t be complete without some great live new music, see Ghost Eyes, Teeth of the Sea and Prizes, curated by Eat Your Own Ears (EYOE) on (Thursday), Swimming, DT, Beaty Heart and Chicago DJ Brenmar tomorrow (Friday) and EKO, DELS, Sampha and RoxXxan on Saturday.
More info from www.roundhouse.org.uk/rising
Showing posts with label Roundhouse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roundhouse. Show all posts
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Sunday, 20 February 2011
RECORD OF THE WEEK- IRON & WINE, Tree by the River
IRON & Wine.
Oh Iron & Wine.
This is just the soundtrack to carry us through the coldest days - more than a touch of James Taylor and some beautiful harmonies.
The beardy ones look and sound like they stowed away in Marty McFly's Delorean when he stopped off for fuel in the 70s (not strictly sticking to the script but it could have happened).
And sound all the better for it.
Iron & Wine play Camden Roundhouse on March 8.
Oh Iron & Wine.
This is just the soundtrack to carry us through the coldest days - more than a touch of James Taylor and some beautiful harmonies.
The beardy ones look and sound like they stowed away in Marty McFly's Delorean when he stopped off for fuel in the 70s (not strictly sticking to the script but it could have happened).
And sound all the better for it.
Iron & Wine play Camden Roundhouse on March 8.
Friday, 21 January 2011
ANA SILVERA'S ROUNDHOUSE ORACLES
ANA Silvera’s tough to pin down.
A former squatter who now lives in Primrose Hill, she’s classical but indie, listens to Bartok and Grizzly Bear in equal measure and uses the fantasy of fairy tales to reflect her own reality.
She’s constantly late, devoted to making music and relies on the intense heat of Bikram yoga to relax.
At the moment, the 27-year-old singer’s life has been taken over by her new work Oracles, to be debuted at the Roundhouse (Feb 2 – 4).
She said: “My days, which I love, are a round of rehearsals and writing. It’s like putting a huge patchwork quilt together of musicians, a choir, and the piece itself. It’s definitely the biggest thing I’ve ever done. It’s amazing to do three nights because I’ve never had the opportunity to refine the performance as I go along, see how everyone grows with the piece.”
The Roundhouse chief executive and artistic director Marcus Davey offered Ana the use of The Roundhouse Experimental Choir.
She said: “He’s a huge supporter of what I do. I could’ve made my life easy, done my normal set and arranged some songs for the choir but I thought this is such an amazing opportunity, I’ve been writing for a long time with a choir in my head, why not write a whole new suite of songs.”
The volume of work is such that it’s the first time Ana’s had to learn the words to her own songs.
As is her style, Oracles takes the form of a story.
She said: “My music so far isn’t necessarily personal in a confessional sense, it is obviously personal to me but I filter it through stories or folk tales to bring my own personal story out. This is very much like that. I’ve taken the arc of a fairy story which starts with a dark kingdom and something’s gone wrong, someone’s died, lost something hugely important and picks up the trajectory of that loss to a kind of redemption and acceptance. It’s got that traditional story arc, along the way the falling in love, re-emergence of self, but starts off with grief. It sort of connects to my own personal experience over the years of grief and loss but it’s also an archetypal story.”
The grief Ana alludes to is the loss of both her mother and brother in a short time.
She grew up in a single parent family and Ana’s relationship with her mother and brother was close. It was her English teacher mother who first sparked her interest in words, Ana’s early ambition was to be a writer, and enrolled her in a choir as a child.
She auditioned for the English National Opera aged 13 and was soon singing for them, although opera was never her real passion.
Instead, Ana was attracted to folk songwriters and classical music, both of which have heavily influenced her own work.
At 15, she decided to live in a squat, still going to school and singing with the ENO, but returning home to live with this anarchic, eclectic community.
She said: “My mum was surprisingly cool about it. There was a very colourful scene at the time. I met a nice group of people I wanted to hang out with, I didn’t really want to be at home and I was still singing at the opera house so that was quite weird.”
More recently she recorded single My Home Town with members of Antony and the Johnsons in Brooklyn – another hive of musical activity her mother suggested visiting.
She said: “There’s a whole scene of classical indie musicians. Being away from London allowed me to write in a more personal way, something about being away from yourself, kind of freed me a lot. I immediately felt so at home and loved it, it’s so vibrant, people were so collaborative.”
Her impressions of living in Berlin were not quite so inspiring.
She said: “What I took away from Berlin was an appreciation of London. It made me realise how much I have here.”
And here she remains – at least until Oracles is over.
More information from www.anasilvera.com and www.roundhouse.org.uk
A former squatter who now lives in Primrose Hill, she’s classical but indie, listens to Bartok and Grizzly Bear in equal measure and uses the fantasy of fairy tales to reflect her own reality.
She’s constantly late, devoted to making music and relies on the intense heat of Bikram yoga to relax.
She said: “My days, which I love, are a round of rehearsals and writing. It’s like putting a huge patchwork quilt together of musicians, a choir, and the piece itself. It’s definitely the biggest thing I’ve ever done. It’s amazing to do three nights because I’ve never had the opportunity to refine the performance as I go along, see how everyone grows with the piece.”
The Roundhouse chief executive and artistic director Marcus Davey offered Ana the use of The Roundhouse Experimental Choir.
She said: “He’s a huge supporter of what I do. I could’ve made my life easy, done my normal set and arranged some songs for the choir but I thought this is such an amazing opportunity, I’ve been writing for a long time with a choir in my head, why not write a whole new suite of songs.”
The volume of work is such that it’s the first time Ana’s had to learn the words to her own songs.
As is her style, Oracles takes the form of a story.
She said: “My music so far isn’t necessarily personal in a confessional sense, it is obviously personal to me but I filter it through stories or folk tales to bring my own personal story out. This is very much like that. I’ve taken the arc of a fairy story which starts with a dark kingdom and something’s gone wrong, someone’s died, lost something hugely important and picks up the trajectory of that loss to a kind of redemption and acceptance. It’s got that traditional story arc, along the way the falling in love, re-emergence of self, but starts off with grief. It sort of connects to my own personal experience over the years of grief and loss but it’s also an archetypal story.”
The grief Ana alludes to is the loss of both her mother and brother in a short time.
She grew up in a single parent family and Ana’s relationship with her mother and brother was close. It was her English teacher mother who first sparked her interest in words, Ana’s early ambition was to be a writer, and enrolled her in a choir as a child.
She auditioned for the English National Opera aged 13 and was soon singing for them, although opera was never her real passion.
Instead, Ana was attracted to folk songwriters and classical music, both of which have heavily influenced her own work.
At 15, she decided to live in a squat, still going to school and singing with the ENO, but returning home to live with this anarchic, eclectic community.
She said: “My mum was surprisingly cool about it. There was a very colourful scene at the time. I met a nice group of people I wanted to hang out with, I didn’t really want to be at home and I was still singing at the opera house so that was quite weird.”
More recently she recorded single My Home Town with members of Antony and the Johnsons in Brooklyn – another hive of musical activity her mother suggested visiting.
She said: “There’s a whole scene of classical indie musicians. Being away from London allowed me to write in a more personal way, something about being away from yourself, kind of freed me a lot. I immediately felt so at home and loved it, it’s so vibrant, people were so collaborative.”
Her impressions of living in Berlin were not quite so inspiring.
She said: “What I took away from Berlin was an appreciation of London. It made me realise how much I have here.”
And here she remains – at least until Oracles is over.
More information from www.anasilvera.com and www.roundhouse.org.uk
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
AND THE AWARD GOES TO...
WE’VE read countless annual reviews, griped over XfM’s choice of The Killers’ Mr Brightside as the top song of all time and have been quite proud to be left out of the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list.
Now, in the hope of being the first official music awards of the year, here are Tutankarbon's alternative prizes...
GLASTONBURY AWARD FOR MOST DRENCHED FESTIVAL – The Camden Crawl
Rain or shine we love it, you’re only ever seconds away from a venue to shelter in, but this year really tested our resolve. As we said at the time, rivers of black eyeliner ran down Camden High Street as someone in the heavens chucked buckets at the dedicated music fans swimming their way from gig to gig.
MOST WELL-INTENTIONED BUT ILL-JUDGED SPECIAL EFFECT – Kiss, 02 Academy Islington
They just wanted to give fans a taste of the stadium experience. But poor Kiss’ plans to set off ticker tape from huge cannons backfired as they accidentally suffocated themselves and their fans – cutting short their encore. There’s a reason they’re usually reserved for the arenas guys.
MALCOLM TUCKER AWARD FOR MOST DIPLOMATIC WARDROBE CHOICE – Missy Elliott, Wireless
She probably thought it was a nice gesture – wearing a German tracksuit from sponsors Adidas while their national team battled it out in South Africa. But Missy didn’t count on a bunch of sour-faced England fans, who booed and threw bottles at her, still sore at the country’s loss days earlier.
MOST RIB-CRUSHING GIG – Rage Against the Machine, Finsbury Park
We thought we’d planned it so well – close enough to see, far enough back to avoid being sucked into a mosh-pit stew of fists and feet. I even took my earrings off just in case. But from the very first bass note, the entire crowd contracted, we were lifted off our feet, flung across a molten sea of black t-shirts and banging heads before being dropped into the centre of the pit. Bones could be felt cracking and the mission to get to the edge of park was greater than any Labyrinth-type adventure. Phenomenal gig.
MOST WANTED MUSICIAN (for about five minutes) – Lowkey
He loves a good cause this one. Lowkey visited students at Camden School for Girls protesting at the planned university fees hike. Hours later, he appeared on the front of a number of national newspapers as one of the people police wanted to speak to in connection with protest violence. Of course nothing came of it and he doesn’t seem to be wanted but seeing his face in the rogues gallery it gave his fans a swift shock.
BIGGEST INSULT TO VISITING US ARTISTS – Wireless (Missy Elliott) and The Roundhouse (Talib Kweli)
I know they had their reasons, but pulling the plug on artists mid-song just is not cool. If they are running over, let them get to the end of the song. Leaving Missy and Kweli standing there, mic and music turned off, looking like fools, is not the way to make friends and can only end badly.
VENUE TO SCORE BEST SECRET GIG – Dingwalls – The Strokes
There was hysteria when news broke out that Dingwalls was going to host The Strokes’ comeback. Tickets were harder to find than a music store in Camden and there was no need for contact lenses from Cyberdog for those that missed out – the green eyes could be seen from outer space.
VENUE TO LOSE HUGE SECRET GIG – Dingwalls – Guns ‘n Roses
Dingwalls had to issue an 11th-hour cancellation after learning Axl and co wouldn’t be venturing our way, causing some anger but also a lot of relief from those who wish G n’ R would cut their losses and stop ruining the memory of their best work.
MOST MIDDLE-CLASS MOSH – Jamie Cullum, Kenwood
In among the vin, the pain and the Boursin, the picnic baskets were overturned, cheese knives waved in the air and Jamie Cullum’s encore became the oddest, multi-aged mosh-pit in the shadows of Kenwood House.
MOST GENEROUS HEADLINE PERFORMANCE (TAKE NOTE KANYE) – Jay-Z, Wireless
Unlike Kanye’s headline turn the year before, Jay-Z’s not mean with his time, his words, or his songs and there was not a hint of self-indulgence about his show.
SPECIAL AWARD FOR THE BAND AT THE CENTRE OF THE BIGGEST OFFICE ROW – N-Dubz
Yes Dappy, Fazer and Tulisa, you caused fireworks at my office earlier this year. No need to go into it now, suffice to say – I was on your side.
FAREWELL TO – The Luminaire, The Flowerpot and possibly The 100 Club
HELLO TO – The Wheelbarrow, Nambucca (just reopened).
Now, in the hope of being the first official music awards of the year, here are Tutankarbon's alternative prizes...
GLASTONBURY AWARD FOR MOST DRENCHED FESTIVAL – The Camden Crawl
Rain or shine we love it, you’re only ever seconds away from a venue to shelter in, but this year really tested our resolve. As we said at the time, rivers of black eyeliner ran down Camden High Street as someone in the heavens chucked buckets at the dedicated music fans swimming their way from gig to gig.
MOST WELL-INTENTIONED BUT ILL-JUDGED SPECIAL EFFECT – Kiss, 02 Academy Islington
They just wanted to give fans a taste of the stadium experience. But poor Kiss’ plans to set off ticker tape from huge cannons backfired as they accidentally suffocated themselves and their fans – cutting short their encore. There’s a reason they’re usually reserved for the arenas guys.
MALCOLM TUCKER AWARD FOR MOST DIPLOMATIC WARDROBE CHOICE – Missy Elliott, Wireless
She probably thought it was a nice gesture – wearing a German tracksuit from sponsors Adidas while their national team battled it out in South Africa. But Missy didn’t count on a bunch of sour-faced England fans, who booed and threw bottles at her, still sore at the country’s loss days earlier.
MOST RIB-CRUSHING GIG – Rage Against the Machine, Finsbury Park
We thought we’d planned it so well – close enough to see, far enough back to avoid being sucked into a mosh-pit stew of fists and feet. I even took my earrings off just in case. But from the very first bass note, the entire crowd contracted, we were lifted off our feet, flung across a molten sea of black t-shirts and banging heads before being dropped into the centre of the pit. Bones could be felt cracking and the mission to get to the edge of park was greater than any Labyrinth-type adventure. Phenomenal gig.
MOST WANTED MUSICIAN (for about five minutes) – Lowkey
He loves a good cause this one. Lowkey visited students at Camden School for Girls protesting at the planned university fees hike. Hours later, he appeared on the front of a number of national newspapers as one of the people police wanted to speak to in connection with protest violence. Of course nothing came of it and he doesn’t seem to be wanted but seeing his face in the rogues gallery it gave his fans a swift shock.
BIGGEST INSULT TO VISITING US ARTISTS – Wireless (Missy Elliott) and The Roundhouse (Talib Kweli)
I know they had their reasons, but pulling the plug on artists mid-song just is not cool. If they are running over, let them get to the end of the song. Leaving Missy and Kweli standing there, mic and music turned off, looking like fools, is not the way to make friends and can only end badly.
VENUE TO SCORE BEST SECRET GIG – Dingwalls – The Strokes
There was hysteria when news broke out that Dingwalls was going to host The Strokes’ comeback. Tickets were harder to find than a music store in Camden and there was no need for contact lenses from Cyberdog for those that missed out – the green eyes could be seen from outer space.
VENUE TO LOSE HUGE SECRET GIG – Dingwalls – Guns ‘n Roses
Dingwalls had to issue an 11th-hour cancellation after learning Axl and co wouldn’t be venturing our way, causing some anger but also a lot of relief from those who wish G n’ R would cut their losses and stop ruining the memory of their best work.
MOST MIDDLE-CLASS MOSH – Jamie Cullum, Kenwood
In among the vin, the pain and the Boursin, the picnic baskets were overturned, cheese knives waved in the air and Jamie Cullum’s encore became the oddest, multi-aged mosh-pit in the shadows of Kenwood House.
MOST GENEROUS HEADLINE PERFORMANCE (TAKE NOTE KANYE) – Jay-Z, Wireless
Unlike Kanye’s headline turn the year before, Jay-Z’s not mean with his time, his words, or his songs and there was not a hint of self-indulgence about his show.
SPECIAL AWARD FOR THE BAND AT THE CENTRE OF THE BIGGEST OFFICE ROW – N-Dubz
Yes Dappy, Fazer and Tulisa, you caused fireworks at my office earlier this year. No need to go into it now, suffice to say – I was on your side.
FAREWELL TO – The Luminaire, The Flowerpot and possibly The 100 Club
HELLO TO – The Wheelbarrow, Nambucca (just reopened).
Monday, 25 October 2010
TALIB KWELI'S STAGE RAGE + LITTLE NOISE SESSIONS + THE RETURN OF MILES KANE
RAPPER Talib Kweli exploded in fury last week when the plug was pulled on his Roundhouse show midway through the final track.
Swearing in rage at the “disrespect”, he vowed never to play the venue again.
In a way he’s right, it’s a huge affront to an artist to be cut off mid-performance – in the case of Missy Elliott at Wireless this year, it was awkward and embarrassing to see the dancers flailing about wondering where their beats had gone.
But it’s not fair to blame the Roundhouse – yes licensing laws are there for a reason and neighbours need to be protected but surely there could be a short grace period post cut-off time?
• Latest names to be added to Mencap Little Noise Sessions at Islington’s Union Chapel are The Kooks, Example, John Bramwell, We Are Scientists and Leah Mason (Nov 18) and Ellie Goulding, Stornoway and Tinashé (Nov 20).
• Placebo fans watch out – former drummer and co-songwriter Steve Hewitt and his new band Love Amongst Ruin play Relentless Garage (Oct 30). New single ‘Home’ is out Oct 25.
• Not content with fronting cheeky scamps The Rascals, being Alex Turner’s bessie mate and one half of The Last Shadow Puppets, one of my favourite musicians Miles Kane is off on another side project. His obsession with psychedelia comes to fruition with the release of debut single Inhaler, an adaptation of 1969 track Mother Nature Father Earth in tribute to 60s LA psychedelic garage group Bonniwell Music Machine. He plays Monto Water Rats (Nov 23) and HMV Forum (Dec 7).
• Also at Relentless Garage, Liam Gallagher’s clothes label Pretty Green launches a club night (Nov 26) – live music from Exit Calm plus DJ sets from Andy Bell (ex-Oasis), Paul Gallagher (yes, his other bro), Eddie Piller and Jamie Skillz. But will Limo be there in his own clothes?
Swearing in rage at the “disrespect”, he vowed never to play the venue again.
In a way he’s right, it’s a huge affront to an artist to be cut off mid-performance – in the case of Missy Elliott at Wireless this year, it was awkward and embarrassing to see the dancers flailing about wondering where their beats had gone.
But it’s not fair to blame the Roundhouse – yes licensing laws are there for a reason and neighbours need to be protected but surely there could be a short grace period post cut-off time?
• Latest names to be added to Mencap Little Noise Sessions at Islington’s Union Chapel are The Kooks, Example, John Bramwell, We Are Scientists and Leah Mason (Nov 18) and Ellie Goulding, Stornoway and Tinashé (Nov 20).
• Placebo fans watch out – former drummer and co-songwriter Steve Hewitt and his new band Love Amongst Ruin play Relentless Garage (Oct 30). New single ‘Home’ is out Oct 25.
• Not content with fronting cheeky scamps The Rascals, being Alex Turner’s bessie mate and one half of The Last Shadow Puppets, one of my favourite musicians Miles Kane is off on another side project. His obsession with psychedelia comes to fruition with the release of debut single Inhaler, an adaptation of 1969 track Mother Nature Father Earth in tribute to 60s LA psychedelic garage group Bonniwell Music Machine. He plays Monto Water Rats (Nov 23) and HMV Forum (Dec 7).
• Also at Relentless Garage, Liam Gallagher’s clothes label Pretty Green launches a club night (Nov 26) – live music from Exit Calm plus DJ sets from Andy Bell (ex-Oasis), Paul Gallagher (yes, his other bro), Eddie Piller and Jamie Skillz. But will Limo be there in his own clothes?
Thursday, 14 October 2010
TALIB, TORNADOES AND GUTTER RAINBOWS
“IF SKILLS sold truth be told, I’d probably be, lyrically Talib Kweli,” so sang Jay-Z in his 2003 album track Moment of Clarity.
It’s a line that haunts rapper Talib Kweli, a sign of the high regard he holds with the hip-hop fraternity, who covet this wordsmith’s tongue.
Album Gutter Rainbows, his childhood name for puddle oil slicks, a phenomenon he recently discovered immortalised as gasoline rainbows in classic novel Catcher in the Rye, is out in November.
It’s a line that haunts rapper Talib Kweli, a sign of the high regard he holds with the hip-hop fraternity, who covet this wordsmith’s tongue.
But Talib, widely seen as one of America’s greatest hip-hop lyricists, doesn’t mind. In fact, he says: “I take it as a huge compliment. Don’t be fooled I’ve dumbed down lyrics before. I just haven’t done it at the level Jay-Z has. I’ve songs where I’m having fun, playing around and I like those songs. Sometimes that works but I haven’t made a career out of it like Jay-Z.”
Talib plays Lyrical Alliance at the Roundhouse (Saturday), joining leading Arab hip hop artists –Algeria’s Rabah Ourrad, British Palestinian MC Shadia Mansour, dubbed the first lady of Arabic hip-hop, Palestinian Israeli Tamer Nafar who sings in Arabic, Hebrew and English, Lebanon’s Rayess Bek and VJ Jana Saleh and Jordanian rapper Samm.
It’s a night where the Middle East meets West and Arab hip-hop takes centre stage.
So where does Talib fit in? Not so naturally he admits “I’ve never heard Arab hip hop or been to a country where the language is Arabic”, adding: “I’m definitely excited about doing something different and possibly learning more about hip-hop in another language.”
Although artists like Mansour are particularly political, Talib’s not picking sides.
He said: “(Palestine and Israel) need to work harder at getting along and hitting extremists who too often misrepresent what rational sane people think. I don’t think extremism on any side is warranted. But I also recognise we live in a world where the struggle of the Palestinians is under-represented in my view. I believe in fairness, balance and clarity so anything that brings eyes to that I’m down with it.”
The oppressed have always adapted to hip-hop says Talib, adding: “Hip hop is folk music not in the sense of soft focus, it speaks the language of people at the time when they are still speaking it. A lot of music speaks a language from years back...hip hop often speaks the language of the reality existing right now.”
Although artists like Mansour are particularly political, Talib’s not picking sides.
He said: “(Palestine and Israel) need to work harder at getting along and hitting extremists who too often misrepresent what rational sane people think. I don’t think extremism on any side is warranted. But I also recognise we live in a world where the struggle of the Palestinians is under-represented in my view. I believe in fairness, balance and clarity so anything that brings eyes to that I’m down with it.”
The oppressed have always adapted to hip-hop says Talib, adding: “Hip hop is folk music not in the sense of soft focus, it speaks the language of people at the time when they are still speaking it. A lot of music speaks a language from years back...hip hop often speaks the language of the reality existing right now.”
Album Gutter Rainbows, his childhood name for puddle oil slicks, a phenomenon he recently discovered immortalised as gasoline rainbows in classic novel Catcher in the Rye, is out in November.
He said: “When the rain and dirt mix together, it forms a little rainbow. When I was a little kid not knowing it was from oil and pollution I was just thinking wow that’s nice. You know when you live in a city and there’s a heavy wind and the wind tunnels through the buildings and forms these little rainstorms, these little tiny tornadoes, you can see the leaves sort of dancing? That’s like an inner city tornado. There’s things in the city that are nature that happen because of man made things, buildings, pollution, but somehow nature seems to find a way to give us rainbows, tornadoes.”
Thursday, 12 August 2010
TAYLOR MOMSEN'S UK TRIP, SMALL FACES AND THE WHO IN SENTIMENTAL MOD SEASON, AIR ROADIES ARE REAL, FOALS FOR THE YOUNG, TWEETING LIBERTINES + SCARY ALICE COOPER
I KNOW Taylor Momsen’s moody teenage act fronting The Pretty Reckless is a bit much for some, but I’m hoping to judge for myself when she plays 02 Academy Islington next week (August 19). I like what I’ve heard so far. Plus, she’s the only person I know who wears more eyeshadow than me.
• Congratulations Eddie Six Strings, the first-ever female winner of the UK Air Guitar World Championships at Islington Academy on Friday. A close inspection of the rules reveals air roadies are allowed. Are there air amps to carry?
• Is it the season for Mod sentimentality? We already know about The Who’s convention at Dingwalls (October 3) but it seems the scooter brigade will be stopping off at Relentless Garage (August 15) for the Small Faces convention – billed as seven hours of 100 per cent Small Faces “Mod paradise”. As well as the usual collectable merchandise, there are six bands, some very special guests and screenings of rare footage.
• Here’s a nice touch. Foals are playing a special MTV Presents show for 14 to 18-year-olds at Dingwalls (August 25) – shame I’m a teenage lifetime away from being let in.
• I wonder how many twitter followers Carl Barat had before promising to announce a reunion date “for a little London four-piece” (hint – The Libertines) at HMV Forum on August 25 on his account this week. When I last checked, he had 2,637.
• On Tuesday, Alice Cooper hosted the scariest talent contest at London Dungeon, where he selected the great est sideshows and freaks. But why? So he can scare the hell out of ticketholders heading to his Halloween Night of Fear at Camden Roundhouse (October 31, November 1).
• Congratulations Eddie Six Strings, the first-ever female winner of the UK Air Guitar World Championships at Islington Academy on Friday. A close inspection of the rules reveals air roadies are allowed. Are there air amps to carry?
• Is it the season for Mod sentimentality? We already know about The Who’s convention at Dingwalls (October 3) but it seems the scooter brigade will be stopping off at Relentless Garage (August 15) for the Small Faces convention – billed as seven hours of 100 per cent Small Faces “Mod paradise”. As well as the usual collectable merchandise, there are six bands, some very special guests and screenings of rare footage.
• Here’s a nice touch. Foals are playing a special MTV Presents show for 14 to 18-year-olds at Dingwalls (August 25) – shame I’m a teenage lifetime away from being let in.
• I wonder how many twitter followers Carl Barat had before promising to announce a reunion date “for a little London four-piece” (hint – The Libertines) at HMV Forum on August 25 on his account this week. When I last checked, he had 2,637.
• On Tuesday, Alice Cooper hosted the scariest talent contest at London Dungeon, where he selected the great est sideshows and freaks. But why? So he can scare the hell out of ticketholders heading to his Halloween Night of Fear at Camden Roundhouse (October 31, November 1).
Thursday, 11 March 2010
CAMDEN CRAWL HEADLINERS LET FRINGE ACTS DAZZLE AND BBC 6MUSIC CAUSE REACHES CRISIS LEVELS
THE Camden Crawl has announced the rest of its line-up – bar one SECRET SPECIAL GUEST (in caps of course), and any surprise unannounced gigs on the day.
The big names expected for the Roundhouse have not materialised. Lostprophets and We Are Scientists are not, in my humble opinion, a patch on last year’s Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kasabian, Idlewild and The Maccabees. As for the ever-changing, ever-falling-out Sugababes, who knows if they’ll even still have their name by then, judging by pending legal action from past members.
Bravo to the organisers, though, for doubling up Roundhouse shows and selling tickets upfront rather than making people waste precious hours on the day having to queue.
But personally I’m glad the Roundhouse isn’t such a huge draw, it leaves more time to focus on the smaller bands, what the Crawl is all about – discovering lesser-known gems.
• Bands scrabbled together, an emergency press release was sent out, and hundreds scrawled their names on the petition. The threat to BBC 6Music has taken on international crisis proportions and, as is fitting of these causes, Proud Camden took out its contacts book and pulled in the big names on Wednesday to do its bit. The Maccabees, The Holloways, Kitty, Daisy and Lewis and Master Shortie were among those on the line-up. Let’s hope the BBC Trust was listening.
• Here’s one for all you dreamy types. The Dig’s Spring Equinox celebrations of bohemian deviance are at Passing Clouds, Dalston, on March 18, featuring live installations, poetry, an erotic life-drawing class and cult film screenings. Live bands include The Bridport Dagger, Life In Film, Ay Ducane and Cruella Ribbons.
The big names expected for the Roundhouse have not materialised. Lostprophets and We Are Scientists are not, in my humble opinion, a patch on last year’s Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kasabian, Idlewild and The Maccabees. As for the ever-changing, ever-falling-out Sugababes, who knows if they’ll even still have their name by then, judging by pending legal action from past members.
Bravo to the organisers, though, for doubling up Roundhouse shows and selling tickets upfront rather than making people waste precious hours on the day having to queue.
But personally I’m glad the Roundhouse isn’t such a huge draw, it leaves more time to focus on the smaller bands, what the Crawl is all about – discovering lesser-known gems.
• Bands scrabbled together, an emergency press release was sent out, and hundreds scrawled their names on the petition. The threat to BBC 6Music has taken on international crisis proportions and, as is fitting of these causes, Proud Camden took out its contacts book and pulled in the big names on Wednesday to do its bit. The Maccabees, The Holloways, Kitty, Daisy and Lewis and Master Shortie were among those on the line-up. Let’s hope the BBC Trust was listening.
• Here’s one for all you dreamy types. The Dig’s Spring Equinox celebrations of bohemian deviance are at Passing Clouds, Dalston, on March 18, featuring live installations, poetry, an erotic life-drawing class and cult film screenings. Live bands include The Bridport Dagger, Life In Film, Ay Ducane and Cruella Ribbons.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
