Global Publicity was nominated for ‘Best Independent PR Company’ at the 2009 Record of The Day Awards for Music Journalism & PR and company founder Nikki Wright-McNeill was also named one of the top 5 people in the ‘Best Independent PR Company Person’ category.

Thanks to all our amazing clients and everyone who voted for us!

We look forward to working with you all in the future!

Nikki & Clare. x

The second edition of TignesFest showcased some of the best new music again this year and proved to be a melting pot for the artists of the future. 

We skied,  we danced, we ate, we drank, we made friends and discovered some great music and danced and danced some more! Oh and I drank lots of Mulled wine!

The group ski lesson was fun on Friday with the lovely Marco doing his best to keep us upright and under control. It was a great way to make new friends and not feel left out since all the bands seems to be great on the slopes as well as behind the mic as were off up the mountains like a shot.

As well as all the amazing bands that included; 2 Bit Thugs (UK), 5amourai (FR) Alma Nofear (SW), Black Peter Group (USA), Danimal Kingdom (UK), Eddy Temple Morris (XFM/UK), FrankMusic (UK), Jackbeats (UK), Kissy Sell Out (R1/UK), Leslie Davis (CAN), Losers (UK), Midimidis (UK), Ou Est Le Swimming Pool (UK), Pablo Decoder (ES), Paral-Lel (FR), Ryan Lauder (SCO), the finale was the White Wedding party!

I was dressed in an itchy bridal gown from a charity shop and Matt was the dressed as the artful dodgeresque wedding photographer. We were also stitched up for the first dance since we recently got married but is made it all the more special. 

Check out what you missed in our photo gallery and video links below…

TignesFest photo gallery...
http://media.getpermission.co.uk/tignestfest09/

TignesFest video highlights…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttgLIrzGjN4
http://www.youtube.com/tignesfest09
 
TignesFest will be back next year showcasing more fresh talent from the UK and Europe for FREE!  We hope to see you there! 

Literally two days after I’d landed back in Blighty from New Zealand, it was time to head to the airport again.  This time, I was headed to Groningen in The Netherlands for the music industry showcase festival and conference Noorderslag, eagerly looking forward to seeing lots of new bands and my friends from Buma Cultuur, the event organisers.  Luckily for me, I hooked up with the legendary Allan McGowan on the flight, and we put the world to rights on the 2 ½ hour train journey from Schipol Airport to Groningen. 

On arrival in Groningen, I collected my pass and bag of goodies at the registration desk and headed to the designated hotel. This year’s event was slightly different for me; on-top of enjoying all the new bands and doing some quality networking, I was overseeing a band called Gravity Co, helping them promote their showcase and getting people to turn up and see them.  No easy task with so many bands from all over Europe playing at the popular event, but I was determined to do my best for them.

Thursday 15th January was the first day of the event and after a slow start, it was buzzing with activity.  Bumping into loads of friendly faces from the year before in-between meetings was great and I got the lowdown on all the inside booking agent gossip from Steve and Emma at ITB during the ETEP dinner.  Next up was the European Border Breakers Awards, which celebrates the success of artists outside their own country.  The awards were presented by industry stalwart Jools Holland and featured performances from award winners including Cinema Bizarre, Lykke Li and a show stealing performance courtesy of Kraak & Smaak.
   
My next port of call was Gravity Co’s showcase at the MuzeikSchool.  I had been putting up posters and talking to people about it all day, so was keeping my fingers crossed that people would venture down.  It reminded me of when I worked for a record label years ago, and the nail biting wait for the radio 1 playlist to be announced each week.  Luckily lots of my industry friends turned up to support me and the band, helping me to keep calm.  Special thanks to Stefan, Inge, Andy, Deitmar, Debra, Charlie and Timmy – you know who you are. :-)  It was possibly the most stressful thing I’d done in ages and after the band had packed their gear away, we went for a well deserved drink or two…or five!!!!!  We sat at the Three Sisters Bar in town (thankfully, close to the venue they had just played) and drank Jaegermeister and vodka shots. Classy!

After the showcase was over, Friday was a breath of fresh air, the feeling of a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders.  After countless more meetings, I gratefully received a handful of top tips of bands to see that night.  I also hasdthe pleasure of introducing the Gravity Co boys to Lucy from Notion magazine, immediately rendering the band smitten forever.  :-)

Once I’d managed to drag them away, we made our way to the legendary Vera, where 3FM radio were doing radio broadcasts; a special and historical venue, where the Likes of the Rolling Stones, U2 and Nirvana had played gigs early on in their careers.  We checked out the Belgium band Black Box Revelation at the venue and bumped into the guys from Best Fest, who also recommended we also go and check out The Asteroids Galaxy Tour at De Speigel (apparently their music had been used by Apple in their ipod adverts) and their singer was a quirky, eccentric little thing!! Next, I wanted to take the band to see one of the biggest and most publicized Dutch indie bands, Moke (who even have the blessing of English legend Paul Weller).  At Huze Maas, a tiny bar acting as a venue, we were met by a massive queue, literally braving the freezing temperatures. On second thoughts, we settled for a nightcap at the hotel instead.  

At breakfast on Saturday Nik from the band chatted to Mark Jones of Wall of Sound, who happened to be taking part in a panel on the future of record labels.  He invited them along, so we all went to the conference together to check it out and soak up the lecture. 

I then sneaked out for lunch with my friend Vesna, who works for the EXIT Festival, where we were given the wrong bill at the restaurant and got away with paying for a fraction of what we had actually ordered (ha-ha).  Needless to say, we hastily made a swift exit, acting like naughty school children as we ran down the street in fits of giggles.

By Sunday, the event drew to a close, with the last night being a special showcase celebration of local, Dutch bands, staged at the spaceage Oosterpoort centre.  After starting the evening well and seeing lots of bands including de Straat and Hit me TV, we ended up in the VIP room with lots of free drinks vouchers.  Unfortunately, I missed ZzZ (who I really wanted to see), but had a good laugh with Mark from the Sziget festival, who was giving the Gravity boys tips on where the best coffee shops were in Amsterdam!!!! (oh dear).

Ending the night with a literal bang, we saw rock femme Elle Bandita give an energetic and wild performance, proving that girls can rock out just as good as the boys.

Sunday was a blur, and I was trying to hold it together after only a couple of hours sleep and having to get the earlier train with the band, who, understandably, wanted to make the most of their first time in Amsterdam.  The train was full of other weary souls from the conference hiding behind their sunglasses, the locals casting strange looks at us as we lugged our cases, guitars and sound equipment onto the busy train.

Eurosonic is a great event, which is unfortunately overshadowed by SXSW in Austin. Like SXSW, but on a more personal level, you can meet all the players in the live music industry in Groningen and see some great bands and have lots of fun while you’re there too. I can’t wait to go back next year…it feels like home. :-)

http://www.eurosonic.nl/

I’d never been to New Zealand before, so I was excited about going to the Rhythm & Vines festival and visiting a new country.  Although the thought of a 26 hour flight was not very enticing, I was sure it would be an amazing experience and gritted my teeth.

We stayed for a few days in Auckland before the festival, taking in the sites and trying everything from sailing around the harbour to eating lots of fresh seafood. A memorable moment was taking in the views of the city from  the sky tower and walk on Rangitoto Island, a dormant volcano that was formed 600 years ago.  It was also our first Christmas away from home and family, which was a bit strange at first, but we made the most of it and adapted quickly.

After Auckland we flew to Gisborne in the smallest plane known to man.  Unfortunately there wasn’t room for our luggage (!), so it had to be sent on the next outgoing plane, but the views across the country as we flew were breathtaking. Our hotel was close to the beach in Gisborne and a short walk to the town centre and the owner Joan was friendly and helped us settle in.  We quickly learned that everyone in New Zealand was genuinely friendly and always happy to talk to you, which wasn’t helpful when you had a lot of work to do and are used to London (where no one smiles or talks to you in the street).

Now in its 6th year, Rhythm & Vines focuses on bringing fun loving people together in one of New Zealand's most scenic and natural locations – Waiohika Estate Vineyards!  The event kicked off on Monday 29th December, with the likes of Franz Ferdinand, The Kooks, Santogold, Jamie Liddell and the Mystery Jets entertaining a 20,000 strong crowd.  The line-up for this year’s event was also the most ambitious yet and included more than 140 national and international acts, 5 stages, chill out zones, food & market stalls, and a 25 metre waterslide!  And yes, there was a girl who went down it completely naked after drinking too much!

“Rhythm & Vines festival is like the north islands' attempt at recreating the atmosphere of what it would be like walking around the set of 'braveheart' crossed with a road-side illegal rave. Tribal flags flap noisily in the wind from the top of the ravines while demonic-sounding fidget house beckons bin the gullies bellow. Bands and the public are treated with the same kind manners by the hard working festival kids and the sentiment is echoed in the crowd responses to the bands across the stages all weekend. If Mystery jets arent on the bill this time next year, i will be forking out for a ticket from my own pocket.” - An Enthused Blaine from the Mystery Jets

Day two included the likes of Ladyhawke, Cut Copy, Fort Knox Five and Busy P with Public Enemy being the crowd highlight. Flava Flav even walked amongst the crowd, dressed in a skeleton outfit before jumping on stage and revealing himself from his disguise.  DJ Nu Mark then rocked it into the early hours of the morning, cheekily splicing the Flight of The Concordes theme tune into his set.

New Years Eve was eagerly anticipated with the locals arriving early, ready to show us how to party New Zealand style. Local heroes Shihad played into the countdown, with a breathtaking acrobatic display and a technicolour fireworks show adding to the electrifying atmosphere.

“Anticipation is high and everyone seems ready to take it to the next level. We’ve had a fantastic 48 hours of cloudless skies and day long sunshine, which certainly helps to lift the mood! The new three day format has been a great success and we even had an English lad proposing to his Kiwi girlfriend on the main stage, it was another first for Rhythm and Vines,” said Festival Founder Hamish Pinkham.

Carl Cox and Digitalism kept the party fires burning till sunrise; being one of the first in the world to see the first sunrise of 2009 was a truly magical moment, as it rose over the hills and shone over the festival site like a bright beacon of light.

“I got to see Public Enemy which was amazing after 20 years, to see them come back and play in the way they did and to see everyone jumping to all their songs was just phenomenal.  I had a really good time. A 3 hour set to the masses.  I’d love to come back and play the Rhythm & Vines Festival and it’s one of the best festivals in the world that I have played at for sure.  Anyway, rock on New Zealand and you should definitely be proud be what you have created.” commented Carl Cox when I recently asked him about his experiences.

After a few days chilling out in Gisborne and sampling the local Hokey Pokey Ice Cream (which I have to say is the best ice cream I have ever tasted), it was time for our scheduled road trip. Our first stop was the art deco town of Napier, the old houses and architecture dating back to the 1930’s.  It was a 6 hour drive through windy roads that weaved through mountains; with no decent local radio stations, the only things that got us through the gruelling journey was the new Kings of Leon album!  

After several coffees to keep us wired for the next leg of the drive, we were back behind the wheel and on our way to Lake Taupo, the biggest inland lake in New Zealand.  The next day we were ready for adventure and our first stop was Rotorua to experience all the geothermal wonders. Steam rose from cracks, gardens and pathways, mixed with the distinctive scent of sulphur in this active thermal area. There were geysers, boiling pools of mud, silica terraces, mud fumaroles. Next we took a ride on the Hukka Jet through the Waikato River, experiencing 360 degree spins and speeds of over 80km/hour!  We even went right through the base of the falls which, of course soaked everyone through!

With adrenaline pumping fast though our veins, the next thing on the agenda was to have a go at skydiving.  As we were waiting for our turn we saw the couple that had proposed during the festival making a perfect landing (and all in one piece) which made me feel slightly more relaxed!! We jumped from 15,000 to get the most out of the freefall and as we dangled our feet over the side of the plane, we knew that there was definitely no turning back.  It was strange though; the freefall didn’t feel like you were plummeting to your death, as there was a cameraman in your face holding your hand and making you do superman and other equally ridiculous poses.  As the shoot opened, I finally relaxed and took in the views over the lake which were, again, simply stunning. After landing my heart was still pumping at double time for a good couple of hours and no matter how much I drunk to calm myself down, I couldn’t seem to replace the adrenaline and get drunk.  An experience I’ll never forget, we’ve even got the video to show our friends and family to give them a good laugh at our silly faces.

After our adrenaline filled days at Taupo, it was time for something more sedated and tranquil and we visited the beautiful coastline on the Coromandel.  Matt tried his hand at game fishing and we took a glass bottomed boat trip along the coastline and took in the sights at the famous Cathederal cove.  If you’ve seen the Film the Prince of Caspian you’ll know what I am talking about.

Our final stop was the beautiful Waiheke Island to visit our friends who recently moved there. Their house has amazing views and you can even pick fresh muscles and oysters at the bottom of their garden at a low tide. The island is also renowned for its wine, so we visited some local vineyards to sample their wears – they passed the test!

Before we knew it, it was time to leave (time goes quickly when you are driving from place to place non-stop).  New Zealand was not what I expected,  but it is a beautiful country full of friendly people, natural surroundings and experiences I will never forget. I hope to have more time to go back and explore the rest of the country soon.

www.rhythmandvines.co.nz
www.tourism.net.nz

There was a real buzz at this years ADE and as well as seeing all the regular faces, there were a lot of people attending for the first time. Even the big name DJ's were out in force, taking part in panels and giving something back to help the new talent with their first step on the ladder.  ADE is without doubt the best place to network and do business within the electronic music industry and it's great to see the event become even more popular year on year with delegates from 42 different countries.

People seemed happy to embrace the challenges of the changing face of the music industry and the conference centre was a place of inspiration and forward thinking. The luxurious Dylan Hotel has proved popular since its introduction, with more meetings taking place in its relaxed and comfortable environment.  Nothing like a night cap by a nice warm fire.   

The ADE conference program has been going from strength to strength with more high profile speakers each year from around the world. This year ADE embraced the creative industries and welcomed renowned speakers such as Jason Alexander (Music Director of CSI); Natasha Kizzie (Head of entertainment at KLP, GB); Jack Horner (Creative director at Frukt Music, GB); Sergio Pimentel (Freelance music supervisor) and Eric Korte (Saatchi & Saatchi, US).

ADE's festival kicked off on Wednesday this year and for 4 nights more than 700 dj's and acts performed at 44 clubs and venues throughout the city of Amsterdam. With over 40 events taking place each night, the festival provided 4 nights of hedonism to get your creative juices flowing again.  I was even persuaded to go clubbing Dutch style which meant going from club to club whilst sitting on the back rack of a bicycle and hanging on for dear life.  I'm sure I am far too old for such behaviour and although it was freezing, it was a night I will always remember. Lucky for me I also had my nice young assistant to hang on to. :-)

Although the days seemed to pass by in a blur, running from panels to meetings to clubs -  it was a productive 4 days with a positive outlook towards the future of the industry. Let's hope we can continue that way throughout 2009 and don't forget to enjoy all the amazing music that's out there.  As after all, that's what we keep doing it for isn't it?  

Here's ADE bossman Richard Zijlma to sum things up "It seems we've have found the perfect recipe for what a music conference should be, high profile delegates, worldwide coverage and of course lots of great music. We are really proud to see the support we get from the electronic scene to make it all happen. I seems we've have set a standard, ADE is the international conference for this scene and the place to be!"

See you in October 2009!

There are so many international festivals to choose from these days it is hard to know where to start.  But some stand out from the crowd as they take place in unique and inspiring places and one such festival is the Melt! Festival in Germany. Set against a breathtaking backdrop of five huge hulking coal mining diggers that tower into the sky, Melt! is a unique music festival on the Ferropolis peninsula surrounded by Lake Gremmin.  Taking place from the 18^th – 20^th July we headed set out to experience a true industrial rave and see if the festival lived up to the hype.

Flying to Berlin and hitching a ride on the staff bus, we headed south for an hour towards the small country town of Dessau. The skies were grey and uninviting but as we neared the festival site the diggers appeared in the distance the excitement of arriving lifted the mood.

The festival site was everything I thought it would be and the diggers were truly amazing.  Converse had taken over one and created a bar and viewing platform at the top, where the views were breathtaking.  There were 5 stages to choose from but on the opening night it was all about the Main stage and the Gemini stage.  Lightseed Champion and Blood Red shoes kicked things off on the main stage, while Late of the Pier took the Gemini stage and whipped the crowd up into a frenzy with a little help from the bouncy wooden flooring.  I didn't really know what to expect from a German crowd, but as they started crowd surfing during the first song, a fun packed weekend was in store for sure. 

Unfortunately the weather was against us as the rain came down, but the full moon light up the sky and danced on the waters of the lake.  A quick dash to the Melt! Klub stage to dry off and check out a band called why? Then back to the main stage for Kate Nash and the Editors. They were full of energy and soon made the crowd forget about being wet, getting them jumping up and down and singing along instead.  If that wasn't enough there were still loads of other great acts to check out including Robyn, Gus Gus, Miss Kitten & the Hacker, M.A.N.D.Y, Ellen Allien and Goldie.

After an explosive first night the second night did not disappoint, with acts including Stereo MC's, Franz Ferdinand and Roisin Murphy on the mainstage. Roisin put on a mesmerising performance with several changes of outfits and nailing every song.  Kissy Sell Out and Mr Oizo had things bouncing on the Gemini stage and Uffie & Feadz feat. Technotronic and brought back happy memories of the early days of house music. As dawn began to break the skies cleared and the sun began to rise over the Big Wheel stage while DJ Mathew Jonson supplied the cool electronic beats. It was worth staying up to see the site bathed in sunshine for the first time and all the happy, smiling faces.

The final day of the festival was more subdued as the sun was shining and festival goers were soaking up the rays by the lake.  Los Campesinos, Neon Neon and, Get Well Soon warmed things up while the crowd eagerly waited for Melt favourites Hot Chip and headliner Bjork.

Melt! has established itself on the European festival landscape and is an unforgettable musical experience that transcends all genres.  With its unerring feel for the sound of now Melt effortlessly mixing guitars, beatboxes and vinyl grooves so perfectly; indie boys dance with raver girls while hip hop heads wave their glowsticks.  It also has the best back stage area for friends, press and artists to mingle with a great view of the lake and good food. It may not have had the weather, but it had the music and the atmosphere so fingers crossed for sunshine next year as this festival is one not to be missed.

www.meltfestival.de

With the third edition of SeeMe over we are sad to back at work, but are safe in the knowledge that we made some lasting friendships in a region where the music scene is growing fast.

"SeeMe is a unique mixture of business and pleasure. Interesting panels, great place for networking and meeting new people. This is exactly what the booming Eastern European territories needs. A promise to the future." Kim de Jong, Krafty, Netherlands

Taking place from 5th – 7th June at the Historic Central Military Club, SeeMe is the main event in the region for industry professionals and music fans alike to join together, exchange ideas and keep up-to-date with the latest trends and developments.

The rain did not dampen our spirits as we arrived during a torrential downpour at Sofia airport, as we were greeted by the smiling faces of the SeeMe team. We were promptly whisked away to a restaurant called Opera which was a very grand restaurant/bar, before heading to the hotel for a good nights sleep to prepare for the conference and parties that lay ahead. The hotel was a new boutique hotel called the Kolikovski, which was ideally located in the city centre and within walking distance from the all the major attractions making it the perfect place to stay during the conference.

Up bright and early to register at the conference to collect our passes and goodie bag, it was straight into the welcome and key note speech from Nick Halkes, from Incentive. It's always good to see key industry people taking part in these events and helping new scenes develop and grow.

'The SeeMe team were incredibly hospitable and I found it exciting and rewarding to be hearing new music and meeting new people in a region of the world that shouldn't be overlooked' enthused Nick.

There were many interesting panels during the conference covering topics such as how to release a track and make it successful in a digital age, the power of media in promoting music and how to break in the International Markets. There was also a heated round table discussion about copyright and illegal download sites which was interesting as they have much bigger problems with illegal downloads than in Western Europe. After all that talking the final day of the conference was all about the music, with hands on workshops from DJ equipment companies such as Ableton, Kam and Pioneer who gave live demos and invited the audience to get involved and have a go. The highlight was the listening session, where producers put their tracks in a box during the event for them to be listened to and commented on by the panel which included Barbara Tucker/USA, Eddie Halliwell/UK, Jesse Voorn/NL and Paul Woolford/UK.

"SeeMe shows that they definitely know what dance is all about in Eastern-Europe. They kicked some unbelievable ass and it was my pleasure to be involved." Comments DJ Jesse Voorn.

Following each day of panels and networking the clubs of Sofia opened their doors to all delegates and party people. The main event on the opening night was at Yalta with live performances from Keith Thompson, Barbara Tucker and local songstress Maria Ilieva. The highlight was a duet by Keith and Maria, who they met at last years SeeMe and decided to produce some tracks together, which is a great example of the connections that can be made at the event. Other parties worth checking included Jesse Saunders at Mascara, Freeze Magazine party at Bubbles and the Hit Beat Records party at Life House.

After being eased into things gradually, Friday took things up a gear with DJ's from all over South East Europe taking to the clubs and showing off their skills behind the decks. The highlight was Marco Carola at the Escape club with the party continuing till well after day break.

The finale on Saturday with the first edition of the SeeMe Awards, which was held in the grand ballroom at the Central Military Club. The winners were revealed in 17 categories covering everything from best DJ to Best Event. And everything in between. It was great to see talent from all over the region being rewarded with winners from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. There also had local and international artists and industry professionals presenting awards as well at the city's Major.

And after all the celebrations what better way to continue the party than at the SeeMe official party which was held at the newly renovated subway infront of the central station. It was an amazing outdoor space with 3 different stages. DJ's included Jeff Mills, Eddie Halliwell and Paul Woolford who rocked the main stage with clubbers dancing around an enormous fountain in the centre of the dancefloor. Meanwhile local DJ's and Drum & Bass Arena crew had it going off under the Subway.

"The event and road trip is legendary already – what a fantastic event – with the most fantastic crowd – the energy was awesome and the vibe was pure party" enthused Drum & Bass Arenas Karl Neilson.

As the sun began to rise it was time to head to the afterparty at Chervillo which is one of the most popular clubs in Sofia and has a pretty outdoor terrace for chilling and chatting. It was the ideal place to end the event with everyone who didn't have an early morning re-united after making their way from other clubs and parties.

SeeMe has come on in leaps and bounds since its launch and it is rewarding to be part of something that helps the scene and the talent within it to develop.

Ed Real from Trackitdown sums thing up nicely by saying 'SeeMe was an excellent 'boutique' conference which gave us the opportunity to spend much more time with everyone there which I think will serve to strengthen relationships for the future.'

SeeU at SeeMe next year!
www.seeme-sofia.com

Tignestastic!

With the first edition of Tignesfest over we are sad to be back in the UK, but have lots of great memories that will keep us smiling for the rest of the year!

 

"I had the time of my life at TignesFest 2008, the best snowboarding I've ever experienced in the most beautiful place I've ever seen. Truly jaw dropping. The music was so special too. The Shoes and Primary1 were a revelation, Autokratz' set was a stunner and A Human's impromtu show was a moment I will tell my grandchildren about. I'll keep these memories with me and I'll still be smiling about them on my deathbed" enthuses Eddy Temple Morris.

 

Taking place from 17th – 20th April, Tignesfest included a bit of everything from DJs to live bands to exclusive acoustic sets and set in the breathtaking backdrop of The Alps.

 

After a three hour coach ride from Grenoble airport, sprits were high as we reached the resort of Tignes - which also happens to be one of the highest ski resorts in the world!  Everyone received a warm welcome at Pignata for pizza and wine before checking out the sights and sounds.

 

Marine Parade's darling, Alex Metric kicked off the proceeds with an exuberant Ableton set in Le Ski Bistro – a ski shop by day and a bar by night – there was spirits spilled, hips jostling and crowd surfing galore, followed by South Central who then shook the foundations of the Melting Pot only to be out 'hooded' by The Bloody Beetroots (what is it with the hoody conglomerates). Both duo's battled it out and the outcome was a night of unadulterated electroclash mayhem.

 

Up bright and early on Friday to clear hangovers with some cool, fresh air, gathering at the Ski Bistro Shop for paraphanalia to hit the slopes.  Band members rubbed shoulders with press and punters as everyone crowded into the shop to get kitted out with skis, snowboards and ski boots.  Tignes has some of the best pistes for all levels but were they ready for the TignesFest entourage and Eddy TM in his X Men like suit.

 

As quickly as they'd arrived, everyone dispersed onto the green, blue and red runs.  And for those who wanted to take it more sedately, there were dog sleighs and cable cars.  The views from the mountains were truly breathtaking and there were endless slopes to explore.  You could even ski to neighbouring resort Val D'Isere.

 

As the sun began to fade, sadly a thick blanket of cloud moved in and the weather took a turn for the worse. Undeterred The Loose Cannons took to the outdoor stage and kicked off the proceedings.  As the crowds began to gather they were treated to performances from James Yuill who's smooth and haunting voice was the perfect introduction to what was set to be a cocktail of new and up and coming bands showcasing their talents. The Shoes threw down some fierce electronic sounds rocking the stage and enthused that it was a "unique experience performing in the snow... cold outside but warm inside!!" 

 

As the snow came down harder so did the beats with Poney Poney thrashing out their tunes to the delights of the crowd.  Primary 1 went a step further, with Joe Flory braving the cold and enduring a strip tease by taking off a layer of clothing for each track they played.

 

Eventually the conditions became too difficult to continue, which was much to the disappointed of the bands that had not yet played, including the Autokratz, Cristal Palace Band, A Human and Trash Fashion.  And although the temperatures were below freezing it was truly magical watching everyone dancing in the snow. 

 

Luckily the promoters did some quick thinking and the Avalanche-inducing blizzards did not prevent them from putting on a show. They moved the party to a club, and Autokratz took to the decks. And whilst they were banging out the tunes and entertaining the crowds and other acts who weren't able to perform, A Human decided to play an impromptu set as they had travelled so far and were determined to play.  Fashioning a drum kit out of a beer crate, sledge and an upside down stool with four glasses on the legs and delivering a short but beautiful set that was one of the many special moments of TignesFest.

 

 "J Human used a sledge and a bar stool with plastic glasses on as a drum kit, Mellay Human smashed his Guitar in half, Ben human played his base so loudly nobody could breath and CMore Human used his keyboard as a drum, whilst doing Christ like poses against a wall." Enthuses Dave A Human. "In short we were all a little giddy from the altitude" And that we were after downing a few yega bombs as recommended by the locals.

 

Saturday was another full day on the slopes and then onto Apres Ski where the acoustic sets were a true delight! First up was Naomi Roper at the Loop Bar.  With not a snowflake in sight and the sun shining, she played a sultry acoustic set to a receptive crowd.   Then it was off to Café Rouge for French artist Chris Lung.  She sang in English and French and played guitar accompanied by percussive drums and a Keith Richards on speed lookalike playing the harmonica.

 

Moving to the Couloir, a buffet was laid out to keep our energy levels up for the night ahead.  Boy-8Bit was on the decks and Alex Metirc was treated to a huge chocolate cake decked out with sparklers to celebrate his birthday. "The best weekend I've had in ages! Great music, great people and an awesome location!" exclaimed the birthday boy. 

 

Cut to the Melting Pot, for The Loose Cannons, Alex Skt and a sprinkling of drum and bass from the Dark Jedis and the night was at an end, meanwhile at Bagus Bar, Poney Poney, Primary 1 and The Shoes were having a disco classic IPod off to the revellers delight.

 

Suffice to say, TignesFest was a weekend full of fun where new friendships were made and great new music was played, despite the weather!  Really looking forward to next year's event.

 

www.tignesfest.com
www.myspace.com/tignesfest

 

Wednesday 9th January:

It's the day before Noorderslag and I have been having a last look through the website to make sure I haven't forgotten anything. I haven't been before so it's helpful that there is so much information on the website. But I'm sure there weren't that many delegates last time I looked and now I feel a little daunted by the size of the whole event.  All the major players are listed and it reads like a who's who of the live music industry. 

I have no idea what bands I will go and see yet, but I am hoping to get some tip offs and what's hot when I arrive.  I saw Calvin Harris and the Hooisers listed to play, but I feel I should discover some international bands instead. I also saw that the Reverend and the Makers are playing, but since they are on such heavy rotation on XFM with their new track, I feel I've had enough of them to last me lifetime.  Anyway, I've got my schedule, loads of business cards and boundless enthusiasm so I am ready to go!

Thursday 10th January:

It's 7am and time to get up as I have a long day of travelling ahead of me.  After some last minute emails I'm out the door and driving to Gatwick. Yes I know I should be thinking of my carbon footprint and taking the train, but you can't deny there is nothing better than door to door travel without lugging your case on the tube and train when you are half asleep.  I arrived at the airport ahead of time and was awarded boarding group A when I checked in for my Easyjet flight, which has to be the first time ever!  The flight was on time and smooth besides the obligatory group of rowdy drunken English blokes ready for a weekend with the lads getting wasted. Touching down at 3:30pm local time I had plenty of time to get the train to Gronigen, which was a relief as I have only been on a train to Amsterdam before and wanted to make sure I got the right one. When the train arrived, I have to admit I was a bit disappointed as it wasn't one of the cool yellow double deckers.  Oh well, you can't have it all.  As the train pulled away from the platform I started to feel exited, as I was only 2 ½ hours away….Noorderslag here I come!

On arrival at the station I followed the detailed directions and was at the Oosterpoort conference venue in no time.  It was now 7pm and I had been travelling for 9 hours. I picked up my badge and another heavy bag of goodies to add the case and bag I was already carrying and headed to the hotel.  I was staying at the Hampshire Plaza hotel which was to the South of city and converted from an old telecom company building with a huge triangular glass front. After grabbing a quick bite to eat I began to wade through all the goodies in the bag in my room.  I put the Electrofy your life CD in my laptop and enjoyed the beats while I was unpacking.

After looking though the Eurosonic Schedule of bands playing, I noticed that there were 3 bands with the name blood in their name. There was Bloodgroup, Blood Red Shoes and The Bloody Honkies.  The Bloodgroup from Iceland took my eye, so I headed into town to the Het Parliament, which was a small and intimate venue with big, funky chandeliers. The band were a five piece electronic act headed up by Lilja on vocals.  I wasn't sure what to make of them as they kicked off with their first song, but their rhythms and beats soon had my toes tapping and my head nodding.  My favourite track in their set was Hips again.  They had a lot of energy and it's a shame they didn't have a bigger stage to work with as it didn't seem to do them justice. Next it was onto the Huize Mass venue which turned out to be like a tardis as it looked so small from the outside.  A poppy Swedish girl group called Those Dancing Days were on in the bar when we arrived. Then it was UK group the Hoosiers turn to wow the crowds in the bigger room at the back. I like their new album and was intrigued to see if they could cut it live.  I was more than impressed and there were the best band I had seen all night. A tight sound and the lead singer had real charisma and boy can he sing.  Yes even all the high bits all note perfect.  I also liked his banter inbetween songs.  10/10.  Other UK bands playing that I didn't have time to check out were; The Blackout!, Lightspeed Champion, The Ting Tings, Sonny J, Ripchord, The Dykeenies, The Metros, Calvin Harris, Friendly Fires and Does it offend you yeah?

Next stop was Vera where I checked out the live radio broadcast by Dutch Radio station 3FM and Norwegian rock band The Grand.  Headed back to the hotel about 2am as I thought I should pace myself on the first night.

Friday 11th January:

I got the shuttle bus from the hotel to the conference centre and got to see some of the city in daylight, although the rain didn't do it justice.  The conference venue was much bigger than I was expecting with many different seminar rooms and lots of people everywhere.  The first panel I attended was a keynote speech by Carl Leighton Pope (need to include a bit about him)

His upbeat speech discussed issues such as how touring used to sell records and now it has reversed as records are used to sell a tour. He also asked if nee is the new good and if new acts are the arena acts of the future?  He also noted how the domestic music market had grown and that emerging markets were no longer emerging with greater regeneration and investment.  He finished by saying that labels run by managers and artists are the future and that those who embrace change will be successful.

The next panel of interest was Conference Call: Long Live Live with!? With Carl Leighton Pope, John McIIdowie/Barfly, Maarten Steinkamp/Sony BMG, Eric van Eerdenburg, Lowlands Festival and music lawyer Hans Bousie.  They discussed everything from ticket sales to artist development, the 360 model and the lack of good managers. The general consensus was that manager collectives would be the model of the future as they can look at all artist revenue streams and there were lots of laughs along the way, mostly at Harvey Goldsmiths expense.  It was also suggested that a that a variable price ticket model e.g Easyjet could work with die hard fans being able to buy tickets first at a cheaper rate and those that leave it till the last minute to decide pay more.

Now that my head was buzzing with information and banging with a natsy headache, I thought it was time to grab a quick bit to eat and get ready for another night of non stop band action. Groningen is a picturesque town and the centre is only a ten minute walk from the Oosterpoort. There are lots of nice restaurants to choose from, but we chose Henrys which had a gastro pub type feel and had an amazing value 3 course meal for €21.50! Bargain! 

All fuelled up and ready to go, I first check out The Bloody Beetroots at the Simplon. They are an electro punk band from Italy who were recruited by Alex Gohper and Etienne de Crecy as official remixers.  Their sound reminded of Dark Funk only tougher with guitars.

Then I rushed to the Muziek School where Pete and the Pirates were playing in association with BBC Radio 1, who were recording their set for Huw Stephens show.  I'd never heard of them before but they are a 5 piece band from Reading in the UK and play guitar led indie/rock.  My favourite track in their set was 'My Understanding'.

I also wanted to check out The Future Heads as I like their new track, but had missed them so went back to the hotel.  Other UK bands playing were, Shangra La, Stone Gods, The Heavy, Reverand & The Makers, Chrome Hoof, A.Human, Eleckrons, Palladium, The Pistolas, Unkle Bob, Alexi Murdoch, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, The Whip, with DJ sets from The Infadels and Kissy Sell Out. 

Saturday 12th  January:

Understandably it was a bit thin on the ground for breakfast at the hotel today and I am surprised I made the 10am deadline myself. Nothing a greasy fry up can't fix though.

The first panel I checked out was the interview with Ed Bicknall.  This was a light hearted way to kick off the final day as he told lots of funny stories from his career.  He was a larger than life character who did impressions of all the people he talked about, revealed his nicknames for artists such as Cliff Richard and Sting and gave his thoughts on the industry today.  It was interesting that he had the opposite view to Carl Leighton Pope on the 360 model with Ed not trusting record labels as they don't know enough about all areas of the business and have a high turnover of staff. He also said that the number of people who want to make music and consume music is growing and asked if greed will kill the live music industry like it did the record industry?

Next up was Ed Bicknall interviewing Leon Ramakers who is one of the founders of Mojo Concerts in the Netherlands. Leon revealed that when he started out he never thought he could be rich from doing this, but now feels it is to much about the business, and thinks you also have to follow your instinct.  It was also noted that there is a growing trend of people and corporate organisations paying for acts to perform for birthday's parties etc.  They also said you can't predict the future – as who would have thought of Google, myspace and utube a few years ago?

After that I decided to check out the Original Festival Concepts panel with c/p Pop, De Parade, Summer Darkness and Exit festival represented.   It was thought that there are too many festivals and they won't all be able to be sustained in the future and being different is important to make events stand out in a crowded market place.  The festivals were also interested in attracting international visitors and their uniqueness helps them achieve that, with the Exit Festival, attracting 10,000 festival goers from the UK in 2007.

For dinner I was invited out with the Noorderslag crew, as I know them form going to the Amsterdam Dance Event which they also organise. The are a great bunch of people who are passionate about music and put on amazing ans well organised events.

After dinner I headed to the Oosterpoort which had been transformed from the conference centre that is was by day, into a multi stage venue showcasing all the best Dutch bands.  First I headed to see the Dave Gilmour Gils who play a deep blend of electro and prog rock. Their music had me jumping around and I was now ready for the night ahead.

Next I ventured to the Buma Cultuur stage where Pete Philly & Perquisite was playing.  I am not a big fan of Urban music but I loved his mix of hip hop, jazz samba and classical music.  On stage he performed with a full band consisting of an electronic cello, double bass and drums and it was really different to anything I'd seen before.

Then I saw the end of a set by Voicst who sounded more like the UK indie bands I am used to listening to.  They had an upbeat sound and I loved their song Everyday.

I bumped into a friend from Germany and he wanted to check out the Claw Boys Claw, so I hung out with him to for a while.  He told me they were an old band who had reformed and they were obviously popular as they room was jam packed.  They opened with a Jethro Tull song and I thought the band was great, but wasn't impressed with the lead singer's voice or his choice of checked shirt.

After squeezing my out of the room, I walked through the venue I heard some Jazz funk music that caught my attention. It was an artist called Alain Clark and it was nice to hear to hear that sound as I am a big fan of the James Taylor Quartet. 

There were so many different styles of music and artists under one roof and next I came across Agua de Annique, who was on stage with 3 male band members dressed as airline pilots.  Well all girls love a man in uniform….  Her music was mainly rock ballads, which isn't really my thing, but she had a big crowd watching her.

The night was flying by and it was great that you could wonder from room discovering new bands and sounds.  I ended up back at the Buma Cultuur stage where a band called Moke were playing.  They had a UK Britpop sound and the band members were smartly dressed in black with Paul Weller haircuts.  This may not be a coincidence, as I am told that Paul Weller was so impressed with their tunes he asked them to support him.

For the evening finale I was told by the organisers told me I could not miss C-Mon and Kypski. They are a 4 piece breakbeat outfit consisting of keyboards, guitar, drums and scratch DJ.  Their sound includes elements of hip hip, electro, pop and rock and I really enjoyed watching them as they were fun and had lots of energy.

As their finished their last song it was 3am and the end of the live acts, but not the end of the night.  As the general public left the building I was told I should stay for the afterparty and who was I to refuse? The 3FM dj's were spinning the tunes and I felt right at home which tunes by the Wombats and Franz Ferdinand booming out of the soundsystem.

Before I knew it, it was 5am and I thought I'd better make a move to get a few hours beauty sleep.  I'd had a great time and will definitely come next year and bring some friends as I know they'd enjoy seeing all the bands too.  I hope I can get up later so I don't miss my train back to Schiphol.

www.noorderslag.nl