Music
The Brits winners 2008
British Male Solo Artist
• Mark Ronson
British Female Solo Artist
• Kate Nash
British Group
• Arctic Monkeys
Mastercard British Album
• Arctic Monkeys (Favourite Worst Nightmare)
British Breakthrough Act
• Mika
British Live Act
• Take That
British Single
• Take That (Shine)
International Male Solo Artist
• Kanye West
International Female Solo Artist
• Kylie Minogue
International Group
• Foo Fighters
International Album
• Foo Fighters (Echoes Silence Patience & Grace)
Critics' Choice Award
• Adele
Outstanding Contribution to Music
• Paul McCartney |
Green Rock Opera!
Rockford’s Rock Opera is a unique multi-media musical story, for children and adults, featuring Rockford the Dog from Battersea Dogs Home and his adventures on the Island of Infinity, a bizarre world of extinct creatures, amazing music, colourful soundscapes, enchanting illustrations and lovingly animated videos. Rockford’s Rock Opera is the first in a new breed of internet and podcast empowered audio visual entertainment.
Featuring and scripted by BBC respected writer and performer Steve Punt, Rockford’s Rock Opera is a story about animals, extinction and the effect man is having on the planet, but it’s a positive and hopeful story which is now enchanting children and adults across the world.
Think The Jungle Book’ meets ‘Jurassic Park’ but on the web!
Rockford’s Rock Opera is a unique two and a half hour adventure in sound for children (6+) and adults to 106!, and is available to stream and download at;
www.rockfordsrockopera.com <http://www.rockfordsrockopera.com/>
Crucially the site also includes details of the ecological and extinction issues that are central to the story together with engaging lesson plans about animals and the environment which are fast becoming a useful resource for schools, (we are getting a great response from Parents and Teachers across the country) along with activities and details of charities that we are working with in related areas such as Buglife for the conservation of insects and invertebrates, and Guide Dogs for the Blind, The World Wildlife Fund, and of course, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home which is where Rockford the Dog originates from.
Whilst everyone from Al Gore to Richard Branson and Bono are looking to popular culture to communicate vital ecological messages and engage the world in action, Rockford’s Rock Opera provides an utterly original, authentic, positive and entirely un-cynical response. It is a story with real hope and which highlights positive moves we can all make to help reverse the current ecological crisis. Rockford’s Rock Opera wears its Green colours proudly and even presents its own heartfelt solution to the current crisis of global warming.
The production of Rockford’s Rock Opera has been a labour of love for Rockford’s creators ‘Sweetapple’, an award winning husband and wife team (www.sweetapple.co.uk <http://www.sweetapple.co.uk/> ) known for their original ideas, campaigns, products and promotions for charitable causes and the benefit of society as a whole. There’s no big money production company involved, it is the work of a very small handful of dedicated people working for the sheer love and belief in a project that we feel has been given to us.
http://www.jp-taylor.com/
Band’s First Single helps
Stop Bloody Whaling
State of Undress, a rocky rootsy six-piece from Dorset, are hoping to ride the wave of success with their first single Red Waters. Grant Showbiz, Billy Bragg’s long-time producer and live sound engineer, donated his services to produce the track. In addition, Doug Shearer of Townhouse Studios, London also donated his services to master the track.
Red Waters will be available as a downloadable single from major sites (iTunes, Napster, eMusic etc) from 1st June with all proceeds, from downloads and airplay, being donated to the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS). WDCS picked up on the song and asked to use it to help promote Save The Whale Week (18th – 23rd June) which is part of their wider Stop Bloody Whaling campaign. WDCS is calling on people around the UK to help raise vital funds to stop commercial whaling for good.
Charlie Rose, lead singer and one of the writers for State of Undress, said ‘ We had a brilliant time working with Grant. He brought a really fresh approach to the song introducing a dramatic, almost tribal atmosphere. We love what he’s done with it."
Although the song was first written some years ago, the band was inspired to start performing it again after Charlie and her family went on a whale watching trip when on holiday in New Zealand . On their return, the news was full of footage of commercial whaling from Norway. They just couldn’t believe it.
Alan Rose, co-writer and one of the guitarists for State of Undress takes up the story. ‘We played Red Waters at several festivals last summer . After one particular performance, a member of the audience who is very involved in the environmental movement, suggested we contact WDCS. That, and Iceland’s announcement that they were resuming commercial whaling, spurred us into action.’
Fenella Gerry from WDCS continues ‘We were delighted when State of Undress came to us with Red Waters. It’s such a powerful song and we all love this new version that Grant has produced. It takes the song to another level. We hope lots of other people will love it too and download it. We need all the help we can get in the fight against commercial whaling.’
State of Undress will be playing a number of gigs throughout Save The Whale Week in support of the campaign starting off on Sunday 17th June at The Half-Moon in Putney and ending up on Saturday 23rd at The WDCS Wildlife Centre in Spey Bay, Moray near Inverness.
Charlie Rose has the final word (as husband Alan says she always does!) ‘There are so many problems in the world – wars, poverty, child labour – it may seem sometimes that animal welfare shouldn’t be high up on the list of priorities. But if we don’t protect and care for some of the rarest, oldest and most magnificent creatures on our planet, there’s not much chance of us caring about anything else, is there?’
For more information about how you can be involved in Save The Whale Week contact WDCS on 01249 449512 or log on to www.wdcs.org. To keep up to date with State of Undress plans for that week log onto www.stateofundress.com/whalecampaign.
Pet Shop Boys join biggest
ever Eden Sessions 2007 line-up
The Pet Shop Boys are set to play the acclaimed Eden Sessions this year, accompanying five other top acts.
James Morrison, Rufus Wainwright, Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen and Bright Eyes also headline, with some soon-to-be-announced supporting artists making up a formidable line-up for the Cornwall venue.
As well as featuring more gigs than ever, the Sessions will take place earlier in the year than previously, all in July rather than August.
Tickets to all gigs except the Pet Shop Boys will go on sale at 6pm today by visiting www.edenbookings.com or calling 01726 811972. They will cost £30 plus a £3 booking fee. Pet Shop Boys tickets go on sale to Inside Track members today and go on general sale on Tuesday April 24 at 6pm.
British male solo artist
Winner: James Morrison
Also nominated: Jarvis Cocker, Lemar, Paolo Nutini, Thom Yorke.
British female solo artist
Winner: Amy Winehouse
Also nominated: Corinne Bailey Rae, Jamelia, Lily Allen, Nerina Pallot.
British album
Winner: Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Also nominated: Amy Winehouse - Back to Black, Lily Allen - Alright Still, Muse - Black Holes & Revelations, Snow Patrol - Eyes Open.
British group
Winners: Arctic Monkeys
Also nominated: Kasabian, Muse, Razorlight, Snow Patrol.
British breakthrough act
Winners: The Fratellis
Also nominated: Corinne Bailey Rae, James Morrison, The Kooks, Lily Allen. (Winner chosen by BBC Radio 1 listeners)
International breakthrough act
Winners: Orson
Also nominated: Gnarls Barkley, The Raconteurs, Ray Lamontagne, Wolfmother. (Winner chosen by MTV viewers)
British live act
Winners: Muse
Also nominated: George Michael, Guillemots, Kasabian, Robbie Williams. (Winner chosen by BBC Radio 2 listeners)
British single
Winner: Take That - Patience
Also nominated: The Feeling - Fill My Little World, Razorlight - America, Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars, Will Young - All Time Love. (A live public vote will decide the winner on the night)
International male solo artist
Winner: Justin Timberlake
Also nominated: Beck, Bob Dylan, Damien Rice, Jack Johnson.
International female solo artist
Winner: Nelly Furtado
Also nominated: Beyonce, Cat Power, Christina Aguilera, Pink.
International group
Winners: The Killers
Also nominated: The Flaming Lips, Gnarls Barkley, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Scissor Sisters.
International album
Winner: The Killers - Sam's Town
Also nominated: Bob Dylan - Modern Times, Gnarls Barkley - St Elsewhere, Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds, , Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah.
Outstanding contribution to music: Oasis
Pop
Chav-A-Go Hero
We all know how Preston from the Ordinary Boys likes to be quite political, yes? He took George Galloway to task during his stint in the Celeb Big Brother house, and he recently guest-edited an edition of BBC South's Politics Show to further back up his clever cred.
It doesn't look like his political statements are ending there either, since Pres has declared war on the word "chav".
He told Top of the Pops magazine: "I'll tell you what makes me angry: anyone who uses the word 'chav'. It's my least favourite buzzword."
He then popped on his specs and delivered a quick lesson in linguistics: "It stands for council house adolescent vermin. So basically, it's middle-class people saying, 'Aren't poor people gross?' We should all stop using that word."
Right you are, guv'nor. Next week: Preston issues a 94-page document on British foreign policy. We can't wait!
Source - BBC Totp
Heaven knows,
he should be happy now!
Heaven knows Morrissey might be happy now that his new album has rocketed to the top of the chart.
Ringleader of the Tormentors, his first album for two years, secured the No 1 one slot today. The achievement is all the more impressive given that the entire album was reportedly leaked on an internet fansite back in March.
The Smiths' former frontman shows no signs of slowing up, even with his 47th birthday approaching. The album was recorded in Rome and produced by Tony Visconti, famed for his work with T Rex and David Bowie.
Morrissey has started a 38-date 2006 world tour where tickets for the UK shows sold out within 20 minutes. Meanwhile his single, "You Have Killed Me", fell to No 20 from No 3 in the chart.
Gnarls Barkley held on to the No 1 spot in the singles chart with the inescapable "Crazy" which hit the headlines last week when it became the first song to claim the top spot without selling a single CD, instead registering all its sales through downloads.
Gnarls Barkley is a musical link up between Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo and their first album, St Elsewhere, is expected out later this month.
Heaven knows Morrissey might be happy now that his new album has rocketed to the top of the chart.
Ringleader of the Tormentors, his first album for two years, secured the No 1 one slot today. The achievement is all the more impressive given that the entire album was reportedly leaked on an internet fansite back in March.
The Smiths' former frontman shows no signs of slowing up, even with his 47th birthday approaching. The album was recorded in Rome and produced by Tony Visconti, famed for his work with T Rex and David Bowie.
Morrissey has started a 38-date 2006 world tour where tickets for the UK shows sold out within 20 minutes. Meanwhile his single, "You Have Killed Me", fell to No 20 from No 3 in the chart.
Gnarls Barkley held on to the No 1 spot in the singles chart with the inescapable "Crazy" which hit the headlines last week when it became the first song to claim the top spot without selling a single CD, instead registering all its sales through downloads.
Gnarls Barkley is a musical link up between Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo and their first album, St Elsewhere, is expected out later this month.
Source - Independent
Beautiful dispute
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Seeing as every record-breaking pop success ever has always caused no end of lawsuits, it's barely worth calling it 'news' to report that James Blunt is being sued by a former collaborator, who claims he's responsible for all of James's ideas, or something.
And to make matters even more annoying for James, his royalties have been frozen until the matter is resolved.
Lukas Burton is a record producer - he's worked with Dido - and he says his work on James's early versions of the 'Back To Bedlam' tracks changed them from a bunch of songs which were "crude, occasionally laughably direct" into the masterpieces we all know and, well, know. But he and James never had a contract, and as soon as he got new management, the working relationship was over.
Now Lukas has been on the web, saying: "I had breathed life into (the project) and couldn't believe that the universe was going to repay me with such abject treachery. James is exactly as successful as I knew he would be, not that it does me, my bank balance or my family much good to say it."
Burton claims he was jettisoned by Blunt when he got new management, despite the fact he first spotted his potential and flew the former soldier out to Los Angeles so they could work together on tracks which eventually formed his debut album.
James's pr peeps have tried to take some of the heat out of the situation, saying: "Traditionally, when a record is this massive, everyone wants to claim credit for its success. We've gone into standard dispute procedures and payment is frozen until we're advised otherwise."
Course, this could all just be an excuse by James to stop having to buy all the drinks in the pub.
Source - BBC Totp |
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