The line-up for this year’s In The City (the UK’s own SXSW-style industry/bands mega-fest, if you’re not in the know – in Manchester) has just expanded… and it’s looking just marvellous.

Here are the latest additions:

Sky Larkin, Is Tropical, Porcelain Raft, Oh No Ono, O. Children, Team Ghost, Chad Valley, D/R/U/G/S, Hype Williams, Mz Bratt, Ruff Diamondz, American Men, Fiction, Breton, Brown Brogues, Ellen and the Escapades, Eagulls, Scorcher, Jodie Conner, Dog Is Dead, Slow Motion Shoes, Lissi Dancefloor Disaster, Beaty Heart, The Bewitched Hand On The Top Of Our Heads, Mujeres, Youthless, Bright Light Bright Light.

They will be joining these amazing selection of bands: No Age, Mount Kimbie, Male Bonding, Yuck, Crystal Fighters, Factory Floor, oOoOO, White Ring, Skepta, Kisses (making their UK debut), Ital Tek, Teeth, Andreya Triana, Mazes, John Weise, Spectrals.

On Margate Sounds

Well here’s something that caught MG’s eye… it’s a one-dayer in Margate, by the name of On Margate Sounds – and it’s taking place at one of the smallest theatres in the world.

There’s music and audio-visuals too, and the audience are also encouraged to become collaborators, bringing their own recorded contributions or noise-making offerings to be used by the artists. What a treat! And the end goal? An online sound library – attendees will be given a CD-R memento of the day with the sounds collected, forming the library’s start-point. Fancy.

Multi-instrumentalist Thomas White heads up the bill, with Two Wings, Liz Green, Monster Bobby, Eaten By Children and Panther Society all turning up for the fun.

Looks like the organisers have gone all out here… and there are few places we’d rather be on a bank holiday weekend than Margate.

It’s happening on Sunday August 29, from midday ’til 11pm at the Tom Thumb Theatre, Eastern Esplanade, Margate, CT9 2LB. Tickets are £12 from We Got Tickets or the venue.

My offshoot Pic ‘n’ Mixx is putting on its biggest show to date!

Tuesday 10 August, Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen
Pic ‘n’ Mixx presents… Lucky Soul + The School + The Lodger with How Does It Feel To Be Loved + Pocketbooks DJs
Tickets (£9): http://www.wegottickets.com/event/86890

After a storming DJ set at Indietracks Festival over the weekend (review coming soon), it’s now time to formally announce this amazing show – I’ve been trying to put on Lucky Soul for ages! It’s a welcome return to the Pic ‘n’ Mixx stage for The School, and a new ‘n’ shiny ‘yo’ for The Lodger. And I’ve got Ian from How Does It Feel To Be Loved (one of the best nights in London, I’ll have you know) playing tunes between the bands, and Dan from Pocketbooks spinning some stuff after the headliners. Woo yeah!

LUCKY SOUL http://www.myspace.com/luckysoulluckysoul
In an alternate universe where Cowellism doesn’t rule (and ruin) everything it surveys, that bubble is already planet-sized and Lucky Soul are already huge. With A Coming Of Age, these pop dreamers have made the record which deserves to make that a reality.

THE SCHOOL http://www.myspace.com/theschoolband
For years, fans of the best pop have waited anxiously for that group that was going to occupy the space between The Pipettes and Belle & Sebastian, heirs of the best pop from the sixties, and the best Scottish pop.  In The School, they’ll find more gems than a jewellery store – and even Molly Ringwald’s a fan!

THE LODGER http://www.myspace.com/thelodgerleeds
Beginning in a Leeds bedsit in 2004 as Ben Siddall’s solo project, The Lodger are now three albums and tour of the UK, Europe, Japan and the USA into their career. Here’s the song I put on every mix CD I make, ever…

With HDIF and Pocketbooks DJs ‘til 1am

Yeah!

Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2010

Hello! So, I’m here to oversee the announcement of the list of people in the running for the annual British music awards it’s OK to like and argue over and then dismiss when the ‘wrong’ person wins. It’s like a music Sports Day, with all the runners and riders in short shorts, ill-fitting vests and trainers your mum put in the washing machine especially for the occasion. You can have a read of who we think might be in the running and then obviously keep reading my rambles to find out who is on the shortlist. WARNING: I can’t spell and I’ve had very little sleep in the past few days, so pray for me.

2009’s winner Speech Debelle, as you’ll all know, went on to have hit after hit, selling millions of albums, touring the world and winning award after award…only she didn’t. She actually crashed into the charts at number 65, played a few barely attended gigs and then quit her label. This is what smug people like me call, “the curse of the Mercury Prize”. Let’s also not forget that previous winners include M People and Gomez, so all bets are off!

I can exclusively reveal that I know who one of the nominees is/are! I probably shouldn’t tell anyone yet as this place is full of security and I worry I’ll be whisked off to some bunker and forced to listen to said artist over and over and over again. Trust me, this is not a good thing. When this band/artist are announced later, I will make sure and make it clear I knew all along they were on the list, such is the power trip I’m starting right now.

Not right now. Right now I’m stuck in reception waiting to be let in…

10:52 - OK, I’m in. Well, I’m in a massive white room. The room has lights as bright as the sun, chairs, those big hoardings they make people stand in front of when they’re being interviewed and people with cameras and head-sets on. There are so many wires and technical looking stuff that lying around and it’s so bright white I’m imagining this is what a Dixons version of God’s waiting room looks like.

11:00 - There are LOADS of people here now! Including someone I know!! We’re laughing and giggling at the excitement of it all. It feels like something might be happening soon. Like, something might actually happen and not just seem like it might happen but probably won’t. There’s A LOT of ‘anging about going on in here.

11:06 – Erm, two things: Firstly, not sure why this is all coming out as one long paragrah. Secondly, I think I’m sat in the wrong bit.

11:12 - OK, so I’m in the basement now. This is a good thing apparently. This is where the magic happens. Unfortunately, I’m sat near a light that appears to be burning my bag…one sec.

11:15 – They’re playing Florence. I think this means her ubiquity has allowed her a nomination this year too, which seems only fair given last year’s debacle. I’m standing up to write this and I’m aware of  my arm going dead.

11:20 – Lord, it’s Kasabian now. Also, there is so much smoke in this basement that I actually think this building is modelled on polar opposites; heaven is upstairs, hell is downstairs and right now, we’re in Hell. In a good way. I mean, i’m grateful to be here, but my lungs are feeling heavy and I swear I just coughed up smoke.

11:22 – I’m sat on the floor now, which is good for my arms, but I’m now being stood on and the smoke is actually encircling me. Can we turn the smoke off? Can someone give the Hospital Club a call ask them kindly to perhaps stop trying to gas us all, cheers.

11:26 – Seriously, not a great deal happens beforehand. There’s some milling about, some ‘networking’, the low hum of people talking about Twitter and Blackberrys, record company people (someone from XL is here! What does this MEAN!?) and free drink. I have yet to have any because I’m sat on the floor writing this for you good people.

11:30 – Bat For Lashes is playing now. It’s that one everyone loves from that album she released. Seriously, so much smoke, I can’t function…

11:31 – Lauren’s here!

Biffy Clyro

Villagers

Corinne Bailey Rae

Mumford & Sons

They’re the first four to be announced! Exciting times right here.

Paul Weller

Wild Beasts

Laura Marling

and someone else, hang on…Kit Downes Trio…LOVE THEM!

Dizzee Rascal

Foals

I Am Kloot

The xx

THAT’S IT! It’s so loud here I can’t think of what to say.

11:37 - OK, so whilst Corinne Bailey Rae plays a song (it was she I was talking about earlier and I feel bad now as her voice is amazeballs), let’s digest. There’s no Gorillaz, no These New Puritans, no Fuck Buttons and no Hot Chip. Also, my friend’s band’s album was in the running and it’s not on the final list either and it’s at least ten times better than that Foals album so there! They’re called Brigadier Ambrose by the way and this is their myspace.

11:40 -

Betting odds coming up!

6/1 – Laura, Mumford, Weller

4/1 – Dizzee and The xx

There was more but he speaks so fast! RUDE. Ohhh, Villagers is here (not his real name).

11:42 – So, what do you guys think of the list? It’s not exactly bursting with surprises. I guess it shows how much more folkier, rootsier (not words!) and, erm, earnest music is back, back, BACK! Three big folky albums in there and I’m enjoying this Villagers song but his album is a bit yawnsome. Now, Marling I like, it all seems genuine, but Mumford & Sons are folk for people who shop in Top Man. I’d rather they were not on this list and let’s just leave it there.

11:52 - OK, we’re in Heaven again now. It’s very bright. I have a bit of a headache, but that might be the smoke, the lack of a drink and then general ‘buzz’. I’m sitting with journos, hunting for a story about the list. Someone mentioned Weller being the oldest nominee, but he has no evidence. I think the story is the lack of dance acts (Dizzee aside, but he’s more ‘pop’ really) and obviously, the rise of ‘new folk’ or whatever we’re supposed to call it.

11:57 – Realised I didn’t write out the album titles before, so here we are:

Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions – 8/1

I Am Kloot – Sky At Night – 10/1

Dizzee Rascal – Tongue N’ Cheek – 4/1

Paul Weller – Wake Up The Nation – 6/1

Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea – 6/1

The xx – xx – 4/1

Villagers – Becoming A Jackal – 10/1

Kit Downes Trio – Golden – 10/1

Foals – Total Life Forever – 8/1

Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can – 6/1

Wild Beasts – Two Dancers – 8/1

Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More – 6/1

12:03 - Corinne is now being shouted at by men who are trying to get her to turn this way and that. Is this how you should treat someone nominated for an award!? NO. I just took a picture of her, but she turned away so now I have a photo of the back of some bloke’s head. ‘Amazing’.

12:06 – We have a comment! And I agree with Greg, it’s not a list that makes me too excited about British music I have to say. It was all a bit predictable. Where’s Giggs? Where are the bands playing traditional folk in their bedrooms, recording all their songs using wisps of grass, tractors and tweed? Still, can I just say that I LOVE that Wild Beasts album and obviously The xx should win it because that album still makes me weep salty, 3am-on-the-bus-after-too-many-shandies type tears. I fear they may get over-looked as the album has been out for eleven months or so, but we’ll see.

12:10 - Paul Weller is here and he looks so unhappy. He’s also got very leathery skin and his hair is like snow. Nice suit though. “Is that Vogue calling? Yes, I would like to write about style for your publication, thank you”.

12:13 - Oh, I think I’ve figured out how to make these into paragraphs! Amazing. Bit late now, but still. Everyone else is mingling about and laughing about sales and release dates. I feel left out because those two things are genuinely what I enjoy talking about the most (ask my housemate…Duncan, you there? If so, can you get me some lunch, I’m proper starvin’).

12:16 - It’s Corinne AND Paul now. Er, why?

12: 17 - This is a bit of blurb about Kit Downes Trio:

After studying at both the Purcell School of Music and the Royal Academy of Music – Kit now plays regularly with his own trio, Stan Sulzman, Troyka, The Golden Age of Steam, Sam Crockatt and Clark Tracey – and has played with Joe Locke, Gilad Atzmon, Empirical, Gerard Presencer, Seb Rochford, Ian Ballamy, Peter Ind, Gwyneth Herbert, John Warren and Eugene Skeef. He has also performed with leading British bands Fraud, Asaf Sirkis’ Inner Noise, Gilad Atzmon’s Orient House Ensemble, Acoustic Ladyland, Nostalgia 77, 2000 Black, Silhouette Brown and Dennis Rollins’ Badbone and Co. He has also worked with up and coming Composer / Songwriter Micachu, with whome he recorded in Abbey Road for Matthew Herbert, recorded for BBC Radio 6 and played at the Sonar Music Festival ’07 in Barcelona. Kit’s work with Empirical has taken him to The North Sea Jazz Festival, The JVC Festivals in New York, Montreal and Newport, and Vancouver Jazz Festival. Empirical won ‘Best Album of the Year 2007’ in Jazzwise and the EBU Award at the North Sea Festival. Kit won the BBC ‘Rising Star’ Award in 2008 and was nominated for a British Jazz Award in both 2008 and 2009, he also won one of ‘Yamaha Jazz Scolarship’ Awards in 2009. Having been together since their first year at the Royal Academy of Music, the ‘Kit Downes Trio’ have been playing together since 2005. Their music concentrates on walking the fine line between improvisation and composition through an eclectic mix of influences. The band, featuring Calum Gourlay (Tommy Smith, Martin Speake, Tom Cawley) on bass and James Maddren (Marc Copland, Stan Sulzmann, Gwilym Simcock) on drums, has always been interested in making it’s music accessible, whilst not sacrificing any of it’s intellect – and doing so through new and original music. It has done this at the London Jazz Festival 2008 and 2009, Ronnie Scotts British Jazz Festival, BBC Radio 3 Live Broadcast, Glasgow Jazz Festival and Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Inspired by a wide range of influences, ranging from Bela Bartok to Keith Jarrett to Rufus Wainwright, the trio endeavors to both celebrate the classic piano trio tradition as well as develop it. They released their first album on Basho Records in November 2009. Kit is also a member of the F-IRE Collective.

12:19 – Clearly the best bit about this blurb is the fact that Kit is also a member of the F-IRE Collective, which makes him sound pretty dangerous. The poor Villagers lad, who is about 12, is now having his retinas burned by all the cameras. One woman just shrieked “LEFT” at him, like some crazed banshee woman.

12:20 - He’s so nervous and willing that if they all shouted “stick that award up your bottom” he clearly would.

12:24 - DIZZEE’S HERE! He did the whole paps thing with a massive smile on his face. As he should, this is his second nomination.

Sorry, that last bit didn’t make any sense. I’m too hungry to concentrate now. I meant, he should be happy, this is his second nomination and he’s won it before. Plus, he had some nice trainers on and we all know that can make the world seem a lot better can’t it?

12:28 – Now it’s Paul Weller and Dizzee! Why must Weller get a picture with every other artist? Does he just want them for his Facebook page?

I think that was there attempt at showing how diverse the whole thing is, like, “this is an old white man with a young black man and they genuinely respect each other’s music and have a common ground”. It’s like a warm hug, is it not?

12:35 - not a great deal happening now. I’m sat at a table by myself and there’s a pile of discarded Mercury press packs…OH HANG ON! The xx are here!

They’re all smiling and wearing neon tank tops and playful wigs! Amazeballs.

Of course they’re not. It’s all black, black, black and some more black, but there was a smile. Amusingly, someone from the photo hoard got told off for shouting.

12:41 - So, what have you guys been up to of late? Went to Latitude at the weekend, which was a lot of fun. Didn’t look in the mirror for four days and got home yesterday to find that my forehead and nose were bright pink! Proceeded to then fall asleep for a ‘nap’, only to wake up four hours later covered in drool and mouthing ‘help me’ to the wall.

12:44 - Three men in leather jackets and sensible denim have wondered into the photo bit by mistake…oh no, it’s I Am Kloot.

12:46 - Ladies and gentlemen, Duncan is in the building! Not this building, but the interweb building and you are wrong my friend, there is no food here. There is only drink and one toilet so if I have another drink I will probs have an accident. What do you make of this list Duncan my love?

12:51 - People near me have bags with free CDs in them. Pah! I don’t want any free CDs, you hear me!!! (Yes, yes I do).

12:55 - I’m actually checking my Facebook now…

12:58 - Two of Wild Beasts are here. One of them has some nice jeans on with no socks!

Poor lambs, they both staggered away as if they had just been blinded, which they probably had been. In other news, some people have BEER!

13:01 - I think I was supposed to Twitter this, but all this technology is doing my head in. Plus, you can all go there yourself and see what people are saying. The general consensus seems to be that The xx should win and that Mumford & Sons are a bunch of combine harvester driving, waistcoat wearing, weedy folk music making silly billies. Literally no-one is talking about Kit Downes Trio or I Am Kloot.

13:08 - Kit Downes Trio are here! AWWHHHOOOOOGGAAA! A lot less photos being taken it has to be said.

13:11 – I’m seriously going to need the loo soon. Should I blog from there? Is that weird?

13:16 - Foals are here now. Yannis is stood at the front as he’s the smallest, which is sweet. That woman is STILL shrieking.

13:17 - Villagers boy is sat at my table. He’s being very sweet, pretending he didn’t know there was a cash prize for this award. Oh darling innocent boy, welcome to the world of capitalism, money-making and cynical live bloggers.

13:19 - So, just to describe the scene. We’re on one side, then there’s the photo bit in the middle and then on the other side are all the interview people. The acts then have to walk around the interview bit doing, er, interviews. I swear down, Corinne Bailey Rae has only just left! She stared about fourteen hours ago.

13:24 – I’m waiting for Laura Marling to arrive but I have the sinking feeling she’s not here. This has made me sad. Although, I think she’d probably collapse in a beautiful heap in front of those nasty people and their long lenses. Villagers embryo is now signing posters. He’s so fresh and new, he just asked the press lady if his autograph was OK.

13:27 - Our uber-Lord/Lady Natalie Shaw has just posted a comment about the lack of synths on the list. It’s all about acoustic guitars, fiddles and straw hats Natalie, there’s no room for electricity or keyboards.

13:31 - Right, all the paps have left now, so I’m guessing Laura Marling isn’t turning up any time soon. Villagers man has left my table and I swear he just said “Thank you journalist” to the man doing to the interview. He realises all journalists have individual names, they don’t just exist under one banner, right? Maybe not. He’s my favourite of all the nominees in terms of accents by the way. In case you were keeping tabs.

13:34 - I’m Romeo done now! This has been a blast, thanks for reading it and baring with me. I’m going to buy a sandwich and go to the loo, but not in that order. Loo first, seriously.

HAVE A NICE REST OF YOUR DAY PEOPLE OF THE INTERNET.

The xx - xx

As Paul The Octopus isn’t returning our calls we’ll have to make do with our own physic cephalopod, Mitchell Stirling as he casts his tentacles over the elite 12 British and N. Irish records that might be receiving nods next week.

Last year I, like most people felt that Doves winning would be to similar to the Elbow win the previous year but didn’t think that would prevent them getting a nod (nor did the bookies, they were favourites). Similarly we all thought that Portishead’s Third was a lock the year before and it didn’t make it. This year we can’t even find odds before the nominations but you can pick up a vibe on a few releases.

The XX – XX: We’d would be frankly astounded if this doesn’t get nominated, it was already being talked about as a potential winner around the time of last year’s ceremony. WE fully expect it to go in as favourite once the nominations are announced as well based on the acclaim it received at the end of the year that wasn’t restricted to the UK indie press, it was lauded by the broadsheets, the older music press and even the likes of FACT, The Wire and Mixmag. We haven’t seen a reaction to a British record like that since Dummy a former Mercury Prize winner. The one to beat we feel.

Wild Beasts – Two Dancers: Discussed in similar terms last autumn as a potential winner when summer rolled round. It has also been applauded thoroughly for the delight it takes in it’s own outsider status from the striking imagery to the arresting melodies. We don’t think it has enough momentum behind it with its September release in the way The XX have though.

Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can: We’ve rhapsodised a fair bit about Miss Marling on this site and to anyone that will listen. It seems critical and public consensus is catching up with me and she’ll likely add the nomination of her first album in 2008 with this one. We also fully expect it to be among the favourites when the odds are drawn up.

Marina and the Diamonds – The Family Jewels and Ellie Goulding – Lights: We’re almost flipping a coin on this one. The top two of the BBC’s Sound of…  poll at the start of the year and in the previous two years the women at the top of that list have had a 50% strike rate with Duffy and Little Boots not making the cut, La Roux and Adele did. We think a similar thing is going to happen this time and although neither album really set my pulses racing we’ll go with Marina for having slightly more of the star quality. Bank on at least one of them to make it though.

Delphic – Acolyte: With the slightly more leftfield guitar-indie of The XX and Wild Beasts it’s hard to think of a typical Conor NME indie type album that might make it so we’ll plump for Delphic on account of the high amounts of tips at the start of the year and the goodwill they still have from their incredible early singles.

Plan B – The Defamation of Strickland Banks: It was a surprise at the time that his ‘British Eminem’ debut didn’t attract the attentions of the judges who went with Sway’s This Is My Demo and likely couldn’t find room for both on the list. The change to an easier on the Radio 2 listener’s ears singing style and lack of calling everyone listening a c**t probably puts him in a good position to land on the list.

Others that could make it.

Like last year we’ll throw in albums we’d like to see on the list first. These New Puritans‘  Hidden would be high up on my nomination sheet, a step up from their debut as impressive as that of The Horrors last year. We are also a big fan of Race Horses‘ Goodbye Falkenburg but fear that if SFA can’t get on the last two lists it’s unlikely another Welsh band that has followed them can. (we’re sure Jude Rogers will try though!) If we’re following the saga of the release of Fanfarlo’s Reservoir correctly, it should be eligible this year if entered but who knows on that one.

We’d love to see Field Music’s third album on there but with the panel choosing not to include the excellent Tones of Town or The Week That Was, we’re not convinced that they’ll be sitting through a double album too often from their listening pile. Their loss, we know. We also would have loved to have seen Twilight Sad, Frightened Rabbit and Mystery Jets make the line-up in 2008 though we think they all suffered in what was a very strong year for the prize. Their most recent albums are all in with a shout of making it but we feel that they aren’t as strong as previous efforts. The Big Pink’s debut seems a very long time ago now but Glasvegas managed to make the list after a long gap last time out. We’re 50:50 on A Brief History of Love doing likewise. We also can’t see Alex Turner making it four from four with Arctic Monkeys‘ Humbug certainly not a bad album by any standard but it’s autumn release handicaps it more than any perceived dip in quality we feel. A couple of albums that could make it on both strength and previous efforts feeling hard-done-by are Foals‘ Total Life Forever and Los Campesinos! with Romance is Boring.

With a presumed nod for Laura Marling we think, despite the wealth of talent in the indie folk box there’s probably only room for one more nomination; it would likely be Mumford and Sons. A band that have had stratospheric rise in the past 12 months with a feverent fan-base that clearly adores them and their intense live show as well as lashings of Radio 1 play their have the wind in their sails despite a large amount of sniping at them. This probably means no place for Noah & the Whale’s The First Days of Spring or Peggy Sue’s Fossils and Other Phantoms as there surely wouldn’t be a third album from that corner of the world. Previous nominees The Unthanks and newcomers Stornoway and Goldheart Assembly are more on the Radio 2/Uncut end of the folk spectrum so they could usurp Mumford and Sons or join them in a heavily folky list.

Moving away from guitars there’s every chance that Hot Chip’s recent effort One Life Stand, a more complete effort than Made In The Dark could be nominated like 2006’s The Warning was. We also think that if Four Tet are ever going to get a nomination than this is year with There Is Love in You, one of the best received albums of the year. In a similar vein Fuck Buttons, Scuba, James Yuill and Broadcast and The Focus Group may feel in with a shout.

Typically there’s a Irish nomination just to remind everyone that Irish acts are eligible prime suspect this year is likely to be the joyful but lightweight indie pop of Two Door Cinema Club or Dublin’s Villagers. Former nominees Polar Bear, Dizzee Rascal, Portico Quartet, Maps, Fyfe Dangerfield, Jamie T and Richard Hawley all have perfectly serviceable albums that could make it. Muse’s last album was terrible but that doesn’t stop the panel from including one record a year to really annoy us. A much better home-grown stadium rock effort would be Biffy Clyro who surely deserve a look-in for persistence alone.

There are a few acts that’ve never been on the list that might make a debut Steve Mason’s Beta Band never made the cut. Nor, surprisingly did Grammy and BRIT nominee Corinne Bailey Rae with her debut. We think she may well atone for that oversight. Paul Weller has his best album since 1993 nomination for Wild Wood but we don’t think he’s the kind of act they’d want to nominate still. What price a nomination for Teenage Fanclub or The Fall after all these years? (We can’t see them wanting Mark E. Smith gurning at Lauren Laverne in September to be honest.)

We have also mulled records by The Cribs, North Atlantic Oscillation, Archie Bronson Outfit, Rox, Bombay Bicycle Club, New Young Pony Club, Massive Attack, Lonelady, Pulled Apart By Horses, Tunng, Kate Nash, The Chemical Brothers and Blood Red Shoes and could only see NYPC or Lonelady sneaking on to the list but we’re not going to tip them.

We wanted to mention Slow Club as a nominee we’d like to see but Charles and Rebecca’s wonderful debut falls outside of the dates for being on this year’s list after looking it up. Anyone who is suggesting Gorrilaz will be nominated may want to do their homework on the band’s previous nomination though!

Our final predictions: The XX, Wild Beasts, Laura Marling, Marina and The Diamonds, Plan B, Delphic, Four Tet, Foals, Biffy Clyro, Mumford and Sons, Empirical and Villagers.

Half a dozen more to cover our tracks: Scuba, Ellie Goulding, The Fall, Corrine Bailey Rae, Hot Chip and These New Puritans.

How accurate will we be?

Broken Bells

From June 11th – 21st, singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson is directing a series of concerts at Southbank Centre’s riverside venues. Included in the series are Loudon Wainwright III (with Richard Thompson), Elvis Costello and Broken Bells (with Lone Wolf).

For the full line-up, go to meltdown.southbankcentre.co.uk.

You can also download a free track from Broken Bells here.

Au Revoir Simone

June 10, 2010

The kind of delicate and dreamy synth riffs played by Brooklyn Francophiles Au Revoir Simone conjure up images of voyages through the galaxy if it was entirely knitted and the stars were made of kitchen foil and cardboard. Their brand of shoegazey synths, solid beat and fragile, soft vocals have the ability to hypnotise and relax the audience tonight. Their unassuming Kraftwerk style stage presence and sweet giggly between-song chatter consisting mostly of “Oh my gosh this is totally awesome you guys, thank you SO much, we love London!” creates a lovely atmosphere in the sold out Scala. It is clear the girls are so grateful to be playing in this venue and did not expect the huge reception they receive from the crowd after every song. It is warming to see that the show is special to them as well as to their audience.

The band’s latest album Still Night, Still Light is packed with hooks, catchy melodies and an overall sense of starry-eyed melancholy all done in a style similar to that of French synth-gazers M83 or a less mechanical and forceful Maps. Their sound translates well to the stage, despite some technical problems and general bad sound quality.

The intimacy of the songs are lost a bit in the venue as the almost whisper-like vocals on some of the tracks don’t come across clearly and the volume of the drums makes  the band sound almost like a dance act with heavy bass and beat. Most of the songs flow brilliantly, though, and the swells of noise really take the room into another world. The peaceful and mellow nature of the music doesn’t really allow for much movement. This is the kind of gig you’d take a date to see rather than go to with a group of mates. Au Revoir Simone are the perfect soundtrack to a loved up summer and are a band to fall in love to and with.

Ending the great show with a surprise cover of ‘Boys of Summer’, Au Revoir Simone thank the audience once again and leave the stage to rapturous applause and whistles. Au Revoir Simone are a great band on record, but might not be worth seeing live unless you know the songs. And if you’re not familiar with Au Revoir Simone’s music then do so, and go and see them live.

Urban Music Awards

The Urban Music Awards announced the eighth annual set of nominees, to be revealed on September 18, 2010. The chart-topping accolade-winners include Tinie Tempah, Rihanna, JLS, M.I.A., Chipmunk and Alexandra Burke.
Some 18 categories form the awards’ core, with Tinie Tempah heading up the nominations with four nods – for Best Newcomer, Best Collaboration with his single ‘Pass Out’, Best HipHop Act and Best Music Video for the single ‘Frisky’.  “I am extremely excited to be nominated for this year. It’s like a dream come true,” he said. “The Urban Music Awards has always been the breaking ground for artists worldwide and i have always wanted to be at the UMA’s. Thanks to all the fans who nominated me and i can’t wait till the show in September”.
The UMAs have come a long way since their origins in 1999, according to their founder Jordan Kensington: “In 1999, it was a hard task convincing sponsors, media, and labels and booking agents to showcase UK urban music. There was virtually no other awards show prepared to support UK urban artists,” he admits. “All awards shows had a more US biased agenda. We risked it all on the belief that if everybody fails to see the quality of our acts, we would work our hardest to make sure the scene got the recognition it deserves and now it’s finally paid off.  UK urban music is now the most popular music genre. Acts that were discovered at the UMA’s are now household names. I am truly proud of our achievements but our work is not yet over as our plans are to engage and connect UK artists with opportunities in Europe and beyond”.

Here are the nominees…

Best Album 2010

Jay Sean ‘All or Northing’
Plan B ‘The Defamation of Strickland Banks’ (Atlantic)
Chipmunk ‘I am Chipmunk’
N-Dubz ‘Against all Odds’ (AATW/UMTV)
Alexandra Burke ‘Overcome’ (Syco Music)
JLS ‘jls’ [Epic]

Best Collaboration

Chipmunk ft. Esmee Denters   ‘Until you were gone’ (Jive)
Taio Cruz featuring Kesha ‘Dirty Picture’ (4th & Broadway)
Professor Green ft.  Ed Drewett ‘I need you tonight’ [Virgin]
Alexandra Burke ft. Pitbull  ‘All Night Long’
Tinie Tempah ft Labyrinth ‘Pass Out’ (Parlophone)
Roll Deep feat. Jodie Connor   ‘Good Times’

Best Dance Act (Europe)

Faithless ‘Not Going Home’ [Nates Tunes]
Pendulum ‘Propane Nightmares’ [Warner Bros]
DJ Zinc ft. Ms. Dynamite ‘Wile Out’ [Zinc Music]
TC   ‘Where’s my money’ [D Style]
Cascada [AATW/UMTV]
Calvin Harris [Columbia)

Best DJ 2010

Swerve [Kiss]
Semtex [1Xtra]
Masterstepz [Choice]
Shortee Blitz & DJ MK [Kiss]
MistaJam [1Xtra]
Manny Norte [Kiss]

Best Gospel Act 2010

Victizzle (Right Way Music Ltd)
Blush UK
Jahaziel
Muyiwa
London Community Gospel Choir
GK Real
DTWG

Best Group 2010 (Europe]

La Fouine [Jive/Epic France]
Roll Deep [Virgin]
GK Real
JLS (Epic)
N-Dubz
Pendulum (Earstorm}

Best European Act

Imro Select (Netherlands)
Thierry Cham (France)
La Fouine (Jive/Epic France]
Amel Bent (France)
Maika (France]
Tal (Sony Music France)
Ms. Platinum (Germany)

Best International Act

Nneka (Africa)
Black Eyed Peas (USA]
Iyaz [Reprise] Trinidad
Jason Derulo [Warner Bros.]
K’Naan [Africa]
BOB ft Bruno Mars (USA)
Rihanna (Barbados/USA]

Best Newcomer

Tinie Tempah
Mclean [Asylum]
Steve Hoang
Aggro Santos
Lady Ny
Professor Green

Best HipHop Act   (Europe]

Ken Ring (Sweden]
Roots Manuva [UK]
Foreign Beggars (UK)
La Fouine (France]
Tinie Tempah (UK)
Professor Green (UK)

Best R&B Act (Europe)

Willy Denzy (France)
Amel Bent [France]
Jay Sean [UK]
JLS (UK]
Stevie Hoang [UK]
Tal (Sony Music France]

Best Music Video

Steve Hoang ‘No Coming Back’
Craig David ‘One more Lie’ ‘standing in the shadows’
Alexandra Burke ft. Pitbull ‘All Night Long’
Mclean ‘My Name’
Skepta ‘Badboy’
Tinie Tempah ft. Labyrinth ‘Frisky’

Best Street Dance Group 2010

Flawless
Diversity
Plague
Status
Boyblue

Best Asian Act 2010

Steve Hoang
Imran Khan
Jay Sean
M.I.A
Jaz Dhami
Mumzy Stranger

Best TV Station 2010

Flava TV
Channel AKA
4 Music
Kiss TV
Chart Show TV

Best Radio Station

Kiss 100
Capital fm
Choice fm
Galaxy Digital
1Xtra
Smooth Radio

Best Radio Show

Ricki & Melvin [Kiss]
DJ  Swerve [Kiss]
Twin B [1Xtra]
Fabio & Grooverider [Radio 1]
Jenny Francis [Choice]
Max [1Xtra]

Best Producer (Europe)

Labyrinth  (UK)
David Guetta  (France)
Red 1  (Sweden)
Chase & Status (UK)
Fraser T Smith (UK)

Pop-up bar - in progress...

They’ve got some exciting stuff coming up in the next few days too. Dubstep and reggae and all sorts, our spies have told us.

This is where it’s located… ^ …

EXCITING, right? Mysterious too. We’ll be playing Inspector Gadget there next week.

Over and out.

Our Lost Infantry tour poster

MG faves Our Lost Infantry have announced details of an upcoming tour. The tour celebrates the release of their double a-side ‘The Arsonist/Scissorfight’, on WET Records (WET002), which is out on June 7. Pre-orders are available now from WET Records and Rough Trade.

They’re hitting the roads in between these lovely places, their diaries would suggest:

25 May – Cellar Bar at South Hill Park, Bracknell.

27 May – Native Tongue, Epsom.

28 May – Chichester Inn, Chichester. £3.
With Visual Assembly.

30 May – Hobgoblin, Staines. £3.
With Cats and Cats and Cats and The Siegfried Sassoon.

1 June – Wilmington Arms, London. £7.
With The Neat and The Incredible Flight Of Birdman (http://www.wegottickets.com/event/77678)

2 June – Mother’s Ruin, Bristol.
With Iveree.

3 June – Backroom at the Marquee, Norwich.
With Olympians.

5 June – West End Centre, Aldershot. £6.
With Spring Offensive and Quays (https://kiosk.iristickets.co.uk/k?WestEnd&OLI )