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PLAYING OUT LOUD!
NEWS
The Nationwide Mercury Prize Albums of the Year have just been announced with
the judges stating that the shortlisted 12 albums make it an important year for
musical creativity and diversity. Chair of the judges, Simon Frith says: "The
renaissance in British music continues with the emergence of a wealth of new
talents, demonstrated by the presence of eight debut albums on this year's
Nationwide Mercury Prize shortlist. He continues: "It's also significant
that the country's musical excellence includes such contrasting releases as
Coldplay's worldwide number one hit album and Seth Lakeman's self-released folk
record - I'm pleased that both have a place on the same shortlist."
The 2005 Albums of the Year are:
Antony and the Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Coldplay - X&Y
The Go! Team - Thunder,Lightning,Strike
Hard-Fi - Stars of CCTV
KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers
Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger
M.I.A. - Arular
Polar Bear - Held on the Tips of Fingers
Seth Lakeman - Kitty Jay
The Nationwide Mercury Prize provides a snapshot of the year in music. The
shortlist was chosen from an entry of over 170 albums by UK artists. The winner
of the 2005 Prize will be announced at the Nationwide Mercury Prize Show on
Tuesday September 6. There will be programmes on Radio 1, BBC 2 and BBC 4.
Further information is available from the following:
National press: Steve Phillips/Tony Linkin, Coalition PR: 020 8987 0123 Regional
press: Rob Kerford/James Heward, Pomona: 01422 846 900 National radio & TV:
Michelle O'Connor: 020 7384 7373 Regional radio & TV: Liam Walsh/Kelly Money,
Red Alert: 0161 834 7434
Nationwide: Chris Hull: 0771 319 3927
Nationwide Mercury Prize: Dan Ford: 020 8964 9964
See also
www.nationwidemercurys.com
Following are some details of a rock and blues festival which we have somehow
omitted from our Festival Focus section:
Weyfest, Farnham, Surrey - July 23 - 24.
The festival is headlined by the legendary Dr Feelgood, who interrup their
current European tour for this one-off UK appearance. Also appearing are The
Wildcards, Cold Flame from Derbyshire with their critically acclaimed Jethro
Tull tribute set, Warblefly, an exciting folk-rock band, boogie-woogie man Mike
Sanchez with his playing rock'n'roller 4 piece band, Freeway Jam, Jackie Lynton,
The True Decievers and several more acts. Tickets are £25 for weekend. £15
Saturday only, £12 Sunday only
All profits from the weekend go towards Treloars, a locally based charity
dedicated to supporting children throughout the country.
Ticket Hotline - 01252 821603 (office hours) or online at
www.anewdayrecords.co.uk
 Our
tattoed blues-singing friend Stringybark MacDowell has sent us this photo from
his home in Australia. We don’t know what substances Stringy has been
experimenting with, but his email was lucid enough to let us know that he is
currently recording a new album and hopes to be back in the UK next year. His
many fans at the Platform Tavern in Southampton and other venues across
Hampshire and Dorset will be pleased to hear that!
Click on the pictures for a
larger version.
Congratulations to Laura Vane, the diminutive soul sensation from Southampton -
she has just been given the support slot for the Carleen Anderson gig at The
Brook on Wednesday August 31. She’s got her own band together, hand-picked from
the best young musicians in Brighton, where she will also be playing a gig at
the Komedia.
The unlikely musical combination of Madness and Pink Floyd will be heard across
the green fields of Fleming Park this summer when Eastleigh plays host to a
spectacular fundraising event on August 4, as par of the Eastleigh Festival.
The opening night of the Eastleigh Festival is being given over to the Mayor of
Eastleigh’s charity appeal by organiser Peter Chegwyn, with a spectacular, if
somewhat unusual evening of live music from local bands all giving their
services for free. The Mayor, Councillor Bernie Wright is delighted that profits
from the opening night will be going towards the Hamble Lifeboat, The Hamble Sea
Scouts and Homestart Eastleigh.
Voluntary fundraiser for the Mayor’s appeal Kim Garner says: ‘I approached Peter
last year, after a local band offered to put on a charity gig for me, and asked
him if he would give me some assistance in organising a live music event. I was
overwhelmed when he said I could have the whole of the opening night if I booked
all the acts! I have organised smaller live music events in the past but the
Eastleigh Festival is huge, attracting thousands of people from all over the UK.
We worked together to secure what we think is an amazing, if unorthodox line up,
which is a double header with Perfect
Alibi and Two Tonic, and support from Sticklebach. With the one off gig by Pink
Floyd at Live8 sure to spark a resurgence of interest in the music of one of the
greatest British Rock bands ever, Eastleigh is delighted to welcome Perfect
Alibi, celebrating their 15th year, who will be authentically recreating the
music and spectacular laser show so reminiscent of the original Floyd. As a
complete contrast, Two Tonic with their army of loyal followers from all over
the UK will be whipping up the crowd with their stunning, high energy show.
Completing the line up, Sticklebach will be letting their hair down ( quite
literally ! ) with their tribute to the 80’s rock anthems of iconic bands such
as Guns and Roses, Bon Jovi and Queen.
Eastleigh favourite Rolf Harris will be headlining the festival, which also
features The Undertones, The Proclaimers, Kosheen and a host of other artists
which promises to make this the most successful Eastleigh Festival yet. As
an extra attraction this year, campers will be accommodated.
For more information please see
www.eastfest.co.uk for more details Tickets priced from £15 are
available in person from The Mayflower, Southampton, The Point, Eastleigh and
online via
www.ticketsouth.co.uk
Anyone who has seen the controversial band Rockbitch may be interested to know
that several of their members are playing in the all-girl band MT-TV which is
playing a gig at The Joiners in Southampton on Tuesday July 5. Rockbitch
were banned from practically every venue in the UK because of the highly
explicit nature of their act, but we are informed that MT-TV keep their clothes
on, but it should be a pretty sensational gig nonetheless!
Two events coming up at The Railway Inn in Winchester will enhance their growing
reputation for putting on the best of Americana:
Thursday, July 14 at 8 pm - Richmond Fontaine +Blue Book Park
Tickets £9 advance, £10 door
Other parts of the country will have to wail until October, but The Railway have
bagged this brilliant band from Portland, Oregon as they fly in for a major
festival appearance plus this special show. Guests are Blue Book Park, who so
impressed the sell-out audience for The Resentments recently.
Tuesday, July 26 - Old Crow Medicine Show
Old Crow Medicine Show play this special gig before heading off to play the
Cambridge Folk Festival. Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Old Crow Medicine
Show are just about the most exciting live band working today as anyone who saw
them supporting Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings on their world tour last year
will testify. Comprising Willie Watson, Ketch Secor, Critter Fuqua, Kevin Hayes
and Morgan Jahnig, OCMS produce more power with just guitar, fiddle, bass, banjo
and voice than Metallica ever did. These boys are the real deal
More details on both gigs are available from REVILO: P.O. Box 71,
Winchester, SO21 1ZE. Tel / fax. 01962-714520
Revilo website:
http://www.revilolang.com
Personal website:
http://www.olivergray.com
Live music website:
http://www.sxsc.co.uk
Just a reminder that the Dorset Blues Society's 5th. Annual Blues Summer School
takes place in Dorchester from July 25 - 29. Further details from
www.bluesnights.co.uk
or
tomhopkinsandassociates@compuserrve.com .
Looking for different News?
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Featured artists:
see POL Articles
Danni Leigh
Poole
between July 29 - 31
Old Crow
Medicine Show
Railway Inn, Winchester
Tues July 26
Frank Marino
The Brook, Southampton Thursday July 28
Zoot Money
Mr Kyps, Poole Wednesday July 20
Status Quo
Beaulieu
Friday July 22
Howard’s Alias
The Joiners, Southampton
Wed July 13
& Thurs July 14
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