ALBUM REVIEW: Oli Brown, Heads I Win, Tails You Lose

Oli Brown’s critically acclaimed debut, Open Road, was hailed by some as one of the best from a British Blues guitarist for some time. This undoubtedly would have put a lot more pressure on him to repeat his successes with his second.

However, the eagerly awaited follow up, ‘Heads I win, Tails You Lose’ does not disappoint at all. The album features that unique Oli Brown sound; clean guitar, great riffs and a more confident, mature and sophisticated vocal.

The production is by the legendary Mike Vernon and it is a symbol of the regard that Brown is held in that one of the great British Blues producers came out of retirement to work with the talented youngster, after hearing his debut album.

The album highlights the quality of Brown’s songwriting in Evil Soul, with its wired sound and fine guitar work and the more subtle and emotive, Speechless, shows how his vocal style has developed. He returns to his trademark funk on Keeping My Options Open and a low down, dirty groove and soulful chorus on Real Good Time.

Brown refuses to shy away from covering classic numbers like Fever, which sounds nothing like the old Brenda Lee classic and his funky adaptation of No Diggity. He slows it down on Love’s Gone Cold, one he wrote himself, and shows again how much he has grown as an artist as he lays down a spare and soulful Blues.

The excited chants on the closing track, On Top of the World, see Oli bringing his unique rapping style to fore. It’s a fantastic way to end a fantastic album. Oli Brown is a real talent and his popularity as a live artist continues to grow, and this album just proves that there’s no stopping him.

Tracklisting:

1. Evil Soul
2. Makes Me Wonder
3. Keeping My Options Open
4. Speechless
5. Fever
6. Not a Word I Say
7. I Can Make Your Day
8. Real Good Time
9. Take a Look Back
10. No Diggity
11. Love's Gone Cold
12. On Top Of the World

Acoustic Village Line-up Revealed for Wickerman Festival

International acoustic act, Emmet Scanlan and What the Good Thought, and Rachel Sermanni are set to headline the Acoustic Village at 2010 Wickerman Festival.

The Galway based 5-piece are a colourful fusion of Scots, Irish, Swedes and Italians. The unusual mix of instrumentation and nationalists is reflected in their music which is described as 'Veering away from the norm but embraced by the majority.'

Also topping the bill is Highlands based, Rachel Sermanni, the young songstress will entertain the acoustic faithful with her unique take on lyrical folk music. Audiences can expect fiddles, piano and according to her website ghostly noises and shoobaps.

While talented trio, The String Contingent, hail from Sydney and Aberdeen, will present the Wickerman audience with a highly individual blend of baroque chamber music, Scottish fiddle and bluegrass.

Other confirmed acts joining them in the Acoustic Village at the ninth Wickerman festival include alternative country soloist Jill Jackson (ex Speedway) and perennial festival favourite Andi Neate.

This year sees the Acoustic Village swap places with the Bass Camp Dance Village; this puts the acoustic acts within a stone's throw of the festivals quiet camping field.

The Wickerman Festival takes place on the 23rd & 24th July at East Kirkcarswell Farm, near Kirkcudbright on the Solway Coast.

Other acts confirmed for the Scottish festival so far include Ocean Colour Scene, The Saw Doctors, The Futureheads, Codeine Velvet Club, The Grass Mountain Hobos, The Undertones, Sons & Daughters, The Sex Pistols Experience and many more.

Further headline acts for the main stage, dance arena and scooter tent are expected to be announced soon.

For details of the full acoustic village line-up and other information, Click here.

ALBUM REVIEW: Kate Nash, My Best Friend is You

There’s been talk surrounding follow up to, Made of Bricks, suggesting a change to Nash’s style. However, there’s no radical change to turn fans away, there's definitely a more abrasive edge to My Best Friend Is You which takes some getting used to.

Nash’s sophomore album, produced by former Suede man, Bernard Butler, features a more assured, mature piano pop sound, while maintaining her quirky style.

In Butler, she’s found her dream producer with his trademark sound of big impact, sweeping strings framing her cockney accent. It works beautifully as Nash raises the bar on her melodies, evident on vibrant lead single, Do Wah Doo, and opener, Paris, with its waterfall piano and thrilling strings, its here she’s in her comfort zone.

The softer moments work well on the touching, I Hate Seagulls, the pretty, You Were So Far Away, and, Pickpocket, a fragile ballad with just piano for accompaniment.

Although not afraid to step out of that zone, the most divisive track is likely to be, Mansion Song, with a 90-second foul-mouthed rant about groupies, sex and cocaine, before exploding into a drum-heavy jam and unleashing a gut-busting scream.

My Best Friend Is You proves Nash is remarkably adept, and not afraid to dip her toe in other areas, testing punk and grunge. Moving away from the freshness of her debut, this album finds Nash on the road to merging her punk side with her pop.

Tracklisting:

1. Paris
2. Kiss That Grrrl
3. Don't You Want To Share The Guilt?
4. I Just Love You More
5. Do-Wah-Doo
6. Take Me to a Higher Plane
7. I've Got a Secret
8. Mansion Song
9. Early Christmas Present
10. Later On
11. Pickpocket
12. You Were So Far Away
13. Seagulls

Open Mic UK 2010 - Registration Open

Over eight thousand acts from across the UK auditioned last year and this year the competition is set to be even bigger. Open Mic UK is the definitive national music competition for singers and solo artists in the UK.

Each year the competition travels the length and breadth of the UK in the search for the UK's best singers, singer-songwriters, rappers and vocalists. The competition is open to all genres, whether you’re into R’n’B, Rap, Acoustic, Pop or Classical.

Acts can perform either covers or original material, those who pass the audition stage will go on to perform in live shows across the UK, in front of live audiences and judging panel, for the chance to sing in the Grand Final at the O2 in London.

The panel is made up of industry insiders, A&R, vocal coaches and guest celebrities. Open Mic UK gives you plenty of opportunities including the chance to perform live in front of some of the country's top producers, Label execs, promoters and DJs.

There’s over £50,000 worth of prizes up for grabs and the winner will be offered a recording contract and up to £30,000 investment. Competing acts will also have the chance to perform live in some of the best music venues in the country.

Auditions start in August 2010 and places are limited. If you think you’ve got what it takes then register for Open Mic UK 2010.

For details on how to register for this year’s competition or further information, please go to, www.openmicuk.co.uk

Warning to Festival Fans over Fake Ticket Sites

Festival Republic has re-issued its plea to people looking for tickets for this year’s Reading and Leeds Festivals to only use websites, outlets and partners as authorised on their websites www.readingfestival.com, www.leedsfestival.com.

It has been widely reported that there are many fake sites for all this summer’s festivals. Just last week Festival Republic had two bogus fan pages closed down after they claimed to offer free Reading Festival tickets. This particular scam involves people registering for free tickets and is essentially a third party phishing personal information such as email addresses.

All official ticket agents, partners and web pages are listed on the Reading and Leeds websites under the ‘Ticket’ section. Festival Republic have also listed unauthorised websites and agents that they are currently aware of on their websites, but more are being set up and closed down all the time so the promoters are urging fans to remain alert.

In a statement, Festival Republic says, "Please do not register with any third party claiming to represent Reading and Leeds Festival, if you are unsure please call the information line 0207 009 3001."

Lily and Dizzee Lead Nominations for 55th Ivor Novello Awards

Lily Allen and Dizzee Rascal lead the nominations for this year’s Ivor Novello Awards with two mentions apiece, it was announced earlier today.

Allen’s number one hit, The Fear, was named in two categories; Best Song Musically and Lyrically and PRS for Music Most-Performed Work Award. There was a surprise nomination in the Best Song category, for The Leisure Society's Nick Hemming.

Former warehouse worker, Hemming, received an unexpected nomination last year when he was a virtual unknown. This year, his song Save It For Someone Who Cares, is nominated in the same category, again.

While rapper Dizzee Rascal is nominated for Best Contemporary Song for his Armand Van Helden collaboration Bonkers, as well as the album award for Tongue N’ Cheek.

Established in 1955 in honour of composer and songwriter Ivor Novello, the Awards seek to recognise the best British artists in both fields. 2010 sees the introduction of a new category, Best Original Video Game Score.

Committee member Mark Fishlock said of the category:

"The Ivors has always sought to reflect the ever-changing world of songwriting and composing. The video games market has matured beyond recognition and big budget orchestral scores are regularly being commissioned. Writing music for games also requires a number of specialist skills compared with conventional film scoring, such as non-linear and multi-layered composition."

The 55th Ivor Novello Awards take place at London's Grosvenor House on May 20.

To see the full list of Nominees, click here.

UK Record Store Day 2010

Record Store Day 2010 takes place this Saturday (April 17) and organisers have said the event will feature the largest number of exclusive releases for the day yet.

Started in 2008 after learning about the US event, that encourages music fans to support their local independent record store. Organisers of the UK leg have said that 'Everyone from The Stones to Foals' is taking part.’

A recently unearthed Rolling Stones track is to be released as a limited edition 7" single, just 1,000 copies have been pressed for Record Store Day. The Beatles, Pet Shop Boys and Goldfrapp are also releasing limited edition recordings for the event.

Britpop stars Blur are releasing exclusive new material, Fool's Day, is the first song recorded by the band since guitarist Graham Coxon quit in 2002. Again, only 1,000 copies will be available in participating stores, making it an instant collector's item.

As well as selling rare material, there will also be a number of instore gigs taking place in record shops across the UK, to mark the event.

Click here, for a full list of exclusive Record Store Day releases available this Saturday in shops across the UK.