JON MCCLURE'S PARTY ALBUM

I MET Reverend and the Makers frontman Jon McClure at Islington’s Union Chapel on Monday. Usually preoccupied with bigger world issues, he told me he’s branching out into lighter things: “I’m working on Reverend Soundsystem. I’m making my electronic music with five of my old songs and five new songs with Kano and Roots Manuva and others. It’s pure party music. I’ve done kitchen sink drama, hip-hop, now I’m doing party. It’s coming out this summer. I deserve to make a party record. I’m very proud of it.”

I know it's old now but here's a reminder of why Reverend and the Makers first caught my attention.

• UK fusion band Dreadzone celebrated the launch of ninth album Eye on the Horizon with a party at Cargo on Wednesday. Legendary punk filmmaker Don Letts made a special DJ appearance. Single Gangster is out on May 23.

•The JD Set’s remake of Human League’s album Dare is at Dingwalls (May 5). Shy Child, Infadels, Zoot Woman, The Shortwave Set and Kids on Bridges spent a week rehashing the tunes.

• Rizz Promotions is running a special night of Camden acts including Mark Perrin ft Crony and Blues Tattoo at Camden Rock, Kentish Town Road on May 5. There’s an open mic invite to all political candidates.

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.

SHY CHILD v VAMPIRE WEEKEND - REVEREND AND THE MAKERS FRONTMAN JON MCCLURE HEARS DOUBLE

NEW York electro-pop duo Shy Child may not be as immediately well known as their fellow citymen Vampire Weekend but that doesn't mean they've escaped notice.
Reverend and The Makers and Mongrel frontman Jon McClure clearly knows who they are and he's fighting their corner, whether they want him to or not.
He recently complained on Twitter that Vampire Weekend's new single Giving Up The Gun sounds like it's been "borrowed" heavily from Shy Child's 2007 release Summer.
In his actual words, posted on April 1: "Vampire weekend r robbing f****. New single is summer by shychild virtually!"
I'm not so sure.
What do you think?



Sound familiar??