The 7th Annual Urban Music Awards 2009 – Bloomsbury Theatre, London review

Last night, Sunday November 1, 2009, we attended the 7th annual Urban Music Awards (UMA) at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London.

Urban Music Awards

Dave and I made our way to London via the Oxford Tube bus which is convenient and not too pricey. We were somewhat entertained by strangers Charlie and his mates, sitting behind us.

Last night, Sunday November 1, 2009, we attended the 7th annual Urban Music Awards (UMA) at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London.

Urban Music Awards

Dave and I made our way to London via the Oxford Tube bus which is convenient and not too pricey. We were somewhat entertained by strangers Charlie and his mates, sitting behind us. It was difficult not to overhear their excitement and conversation regarding their plans for the evening, which was going to the Snowboarding World Cup event at Battersea Power Station. While they were discussing their evening, we were getting excited too, on our way to the Urban Music Awards.

Bloomsbury is one of my favorite areas in London. It was the first place I stayed when I arrived in England a few years ago. This time of year, the streets are especially quaint, walking along, over the crisp fallen leaves… so I wasn’t too disappointed to find out that although we arrived, press passes in hand, at the Bloomsbury Theatre on time, we were an hour early. So, with some time to spare, we wandered around and found our way to the pleasant Cafe Toscana.

An hour later and back at the theatre, things were bustling and as the crowd made their way into the reception area, we headed straight for the bar…and then proceeded to people watch. A very nice looking crowd indeed, many dressed to the max, girls in short sequined dresses of all colors, guys dressed in suits along with some familiar faces.

One of those familiar faces was none other than Levi Roots! He was up for an award in the Best Entrepreneur category, which I felt was well deserved as we’ve been following his career since his successful appearance on BBC’s Dragon’s Den when he was given funding for his – and my favorite – Reggae Reggae Sauce.

We talked to Levi before the show. He has a new album and video out, and I asked him if he plans to come out with a milder Reggae Reggae Sauce. He said the current sauce isn’t that spicy! He looked great, a sharp dresser, and I was happy to find out that his warm and friendly personality that comes across on TV is the same in person.

Watch Levi Roots – “So Out Of My Mind” video:

After the announcement that the awards show was about to begin, we went into the theatre, found some good seats, and we were ready for the show.

Awards Presenters included:

Comedian Roland Rivron, Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace (Big Brother 7), former boxer Frank Bruno, Paul Danan (Reality TV, former Hollyoaks actor), British MP George Galloway, actress Linda Robson, Christian artists Adam and Matt Brooks and R&B group Cleopatra.

Performances included:

Sons of Soul (SOS) “Candy Girl”; Sway; Wild Sugar; K.I.G Family “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes”; Meleka “Go”; Lazee “Hold On”; Dj Luck and Mc Neat “A Little Bit of Luck”; Egypt “In The Morning”; Britain’s Next Superstar singers/contestants and Brick & Lace.

Voted by the public via the UrbanMusicAwards website, winners included:

Best Newcomer: Egypt
Best Radio Show: James Meritt (Kiss)
Best Entrepreneur: Levi Roots
Best Collaboration: Jay Sean ft. Lil Wayne “Down”
Most Inspiring Act 2009 (?) Brick & Lace
Best Music TV Station: Flava TV
Best Jazz Act: Yolanda Brown
Best Album 2009: N-Dubz ‘Uncle B’
Best Producer: Blessed Beats
Best Hip Hop Act: Sway
Best Music Video: K.I.G “Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes”
Best UK Asian Act: R.D.B
Best Gospel Act: Guvna B
Best R&B Act: Brick & Lace

The founder of the Urban Music Awards Jordan Kensington thanked his mother who was in attendance and talked about helping to get kids inspired at 200 schools and colleges. Children in The Urban Poets vs Double MDO (not sure of the spelling) performed poems about success, and from audience response, Double MDO won the Young Achievers Award.

I hope to get official documentation regarding winners, performances etc. which I’ll publish here on BandWeblogs.com when available, or in the meantime, go to the Urban Music Awards Official website.

Notable Performances / Ones to Watch: Sway; Wild Sugar: hopefully I’m spelling that right – I’m unable to locate their website, but Wild Sugar was fantastic. Three girls singing up front with nine dancers behind them. The main vocalist’s voice was somewhat reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald, with some scat singing thrown in for good measure. Great to hear young artists singing in that style; Meleka: she has a great voice, looked fabulous on stage in her sparkly silver dress and I really like her debut single “Go”. She pulled Entrepreneur of the Year Levi Roots up to the stage and he good-naturedly danced along with her; Swedish rapper Lazee; Cleopatra: when they presented the Best R&B Act Award, they sang part of a song acapella and announced that they’ll be back in 2010. I’ll look forward to hearing their new material.

The night was fun and entertaining and the setting was intimate. There were some glitches – a couple times when presenters were announced to come out, we were left in complete silence as nothing happened – to then be told that the presenter wasn’t available to present the award. But I guess “technical difficulties” are to be expected at this kind of event.

Also, it was disappointing to see that it wasn’t a full house and I’m not sure if that was due to keeping the awards show more low key this year because of the violence that erupted, as Sway mentioned when he accepted his award, last year at the larger 2008 Urban Music Awards at the O2 arena in London, or if there were other reasons.

I hope that more people continue to go out and support UK artists of this genre, either by checking out live shows and/or buying the music, as there are a lot of talented artists and musicians out there, performing their craft and entertaining audiences.

On our way back home on the Oxford Tube, we were coincidentally reunited with – still strangers – Charlie and his mates, as they sat behind us again and loudly talked about the Snowboarding World Cup and the winners of the event. It was good to hear the results.

For more information, go to:

Invincible Group
Jordan Kensington on Twitter

Urban Music Awards Official Website

By: Jenny May

Little Comets, Noisettes LIVE review, O2 Academy Oxford

Noisettes

Little Comets

Thursday night on the Cowley Road, Oxford. It’s drizzly outside but warm in the O2 Academy, and as we enter we’re greeted by a steward who informs us of the forthcoming entertainment and hopes we enjoy the evening. So for some ale and to find a good spot to stand to see Little Comets.

Noisettes

Little Comets

Thursday night on the Cowley Road, Oxford. It’s drizzly outside but warm in the O2 Academy, and as we enter we’re greeted by a steward who informs us of the forthcoming entertainment and hopes we enjoy the evening. So for some ale and to find a good spot to stand to see Little Comets.

It’s good to see a band self-roadieing – setting up – as well as hanging percussion instruments from a string strung above them, from one side of the stage to the other. After a short while they return to the stage, introducing themselves as coming from Newcastle and belt into their first song “Adultery” which is their new single and a damn good one to put out there.

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Inchworm interview – ‘We Believe: Chicago and its Cubs’ movie, Twitter, recording

Inchworm

Chicago band Inchworm’s latest release ‘Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing’ has been in my iTunes player for awhile now, and the tracks continue to shine with each listen. Inchworm is a band that I feel quite passionately about, as I really like their music, with endearing vocals, top notch songs, quality musicianship – and they seem like a cool group of people …

Inchworm

Chicago band Inchworm‘s latest release ‘Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing’ has been in my iTunes player for a while now, and the tracks continue to shine with each listen.

Inchworm is a band that I feel quite passionately about, as I really like their music, with endearing vocals, top notch songs, quality musicianship – and they seem like a cool group of people!

Someday I’d like to see them play live, but in the meantime, it was a treat to have the opportunity to interview them.

Continue reading “Inchworm interview – ‘We Believe: Chicago and its Cubs’ movie, Twitter, recording”

Desert Storm @ The Cellar Bar, Oxford – LIVE review

Desert Storm

You know when you’re drinking, and you find yourself somewhere you never planned on being? Well that happens to me quite often these days. I had no idea I would end up at The Cellar Bar in Oxford last Saturday for instance …

Desert Storm

You know when you’re drinking, and you find yourself somewhere you never planned on being? Well that happens to me quite often these days. I had no idea I would end up at The Cellar Bar in Oxford last Saturday for instance. But when you go out on the lash with Greig Stewart this is what happens. So we go down the stairs and there’s our old mate Jimmy at the sound desk and a band on stage.

“Who are this lot?” I ask. “They’re called Desert Storm” Jimmy replies. “They don’t look old enough to have stormed any deserts though.” I reply. But then I’m distracted by Greig clambering on to the stage while the band are in mid song, grabbing a spare drumstick from the drummer and starting to thrash a cymbal on the side of the stage. Fair go on the band. They carried on playing without a flinch as Greig made his way around the stage. I by now am at the front, head banging and enjoying their sound. They’re heavy but original with it, which is hard these days because there are billions of bands playing this type of music. Yeah heavy, but not heavy, if you know what I mean.

Matt Ryan has a powerful voice, growling over the music wearing a big ex army coat on stage. He says they’re from Oxford. They are doing the support slot tonight. But they must stay with it because I don’t think it will be long before they are pulling big crowds and playing high up on huge platforms.

There are twins in Desert Storm too. Twins are my next favorite thing to dwarves. There is Elliot Cole on drums and his brother Ryan on guitar. Twins must have so much fun confusing people. Sorry digression. Their bass player is very good at keeping it tight with the drums. This job goes to one Chris Benoist. Their other guitarist Chris White was absent tonight, but it didn’t distract from the sound. I look forward to seeing them in the future with full ensemble.

Desert Storm are newish to the scene, born in 2007 and should grow in confidence as they gig. You watch this space, because at this moment in time I am a fan. It takes a lot to get my toe a tapping these days. But Desert Storm managed it.

Find them at their MySpace page and say hello to them for me.

Desert Storm on MySpace

By: Dave Tommo

Roy Orbison Birthday Party @ Gibson Guitar Studio, London – ft Fyfe Dangerfield, Aruba Red, more

Roy Orbison Birthday Party

Press Photo: Roy Orbison Jr., Barbara Orbison, Alex Orbison. Last night Dave and I attended the Roy Orbison Birthday Party celebration at the Gibson Guitar Studio in London. There was a tribute show in honor of the late singer, with bands and artists performing songs written by Roy Orbison …

Roy Orbison Birthday Party

Press Photo: Roy Orbison Jr., Barbara Orbison, Alex Orbison

Last night Dave and I attended the Roy Orbison Birthday Party celebration at the Gibson Guitar Studio in London.

There was a tribute show in honor of the late singer, with bands and artists performing songs written by Roy Orbison. Barbara Orbison, sons Alex and Roy Jr. along with 19 new artists and friends from around the world celebrated the life and music of one of music’s biggest legends.

Barbara Orbison, sons, Fyfe Dangerfield, Tone Damli Aaberge

Roy Orbison Jr., Tone Damli Aaberge (Norway Pop Idol winner), Barbara Orbison, Fyfe Dangerfield, Alex Orbison

Roy Orbison Birthday Cake

Birthday Cake

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The Waking Hours from York, England – “Hold Me Back”

The Waking Hours

For the last couple of days, I’ve been listening to The Waking Hours, based in York, England – tuning into their MySpace page and playing their songs to the occasional passer by …

The Waking Hours

For the last couple of days I’ve been listening to The Waking Hours, based in York, England – tuning into their MySpace page and playing their songs to the occasional passer by.

“Hold Me Back” is a great track. Barny’s powerful and unique voice, somewhat reminiscent of Jim Morrison from the Doors, sits in nicely alongside the more current sound of the 4-piece indie/rock band made up of Barny R (Lead Vocals/Guitar), Nick Wright (Lead Guitar), Phil Greenhalgh (Bass/Backing Vocals), Drew Shaw (Drums). The chorus is catchy, the band is tight with high energy drums and guitar – I would hope more people get turned on to this new, up and coming unsigned band.

The Waking Hours UK dates:

(Dates and information subject to change. Go to their MySpace page for the latest shows.)

4 May 2009 Fibbers – The Living Waxworks York
10 May 2009 The Adelphi Hull
18 July 2009 Carpe Diem Leeds

It would be great to hear some feedback from a live show.

For more music and information, go to:

The Waking Hours (York) MySpace
Facebook Group
The Waking Hours on Twitter

Baskery LIVE @ The Jericho Tavern, Oxford review

Baskery

Last night I had the pleasure of attending one of the best shows that I’ve seen in a long time. I was looking forward to going to The Jericho Tavern for a change – as opposed to the Carling Academy now the O2 Academy in Oxford …

Baskery

Last night I had the pleasure of attending one of the best shows that I’ve seen in a long time. I was looking forward to going to The Jericho Tavern for a change – as opposed to the Carling Academy now the O2 Academy in Oxford. Actually, after listening to Baskery‘s music on their MySpace page and watching one of their videos, I was quite surprised that their show was being held at the smaller venue, The Jericho.

From what I had heard before seeing them live, I thought either the Swedish band isn’t quite known here yet and the venue won’t be very busy on a Tuesday night, or the place will be packed to the rafters with fans. Unfortunately the place wasn’t very busy – but made for an intimate night of music.

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