Ben Howard is crowned Red Stripe Music Award winner 2009
Falmouth based Ben Howard played to a packed house at London’s HMV Forum last night (Tuesday May 5th) and impressed the 2,500 strong crowd and judges with his original and award winning singer-songwriting style.
Hand-picked from over 150 bands that have played around the UK since early January 09, Ben has won himself secured slots at the following summer festivals: Brighton’s Great Escape (14, 15, 16th May), Lovebox (18, 19th July Victoria Park) and Blissfields (3rd-5th July).
Ben played alongside rhythm and blues masters Gomez who headlined fresh from their 12 date UK tour, playing a storming finishing set. Ben Howard pipped four other emerging bands Gideon Conn, Philadelphia Mainline and First Degree Burns to win this year’s title.
The competition was fierce and resulted in some serious debate for the judging panel made up of Michele Stodart from the Magic Numbers, Steve Proud of 14th Floor Records, Paul Bonham of Crown Music Management and Flash Taylor from Sony Publishing.
Steve Proud comments: “The level of talent and diversity at this year’s red stripe music award final was huge. It genuinely took us an age to decide on the winner and at several points during the discussion, all four almost had it”.
Ben who dropped out of university in Falmouth in December to concentrate wholly on his music said: “What has amazed me is that they usually go for bands but here I am just with my acoustic guitar.”
On winning Ben continues: ‘It was a privilege to play this event, and a proper bonus to win it, what a night!”. To secure a place at the final Ben played in the Porthtowan showcase on March 6th.
The evening was compered by Radio One’s very own BBC Introducing Huw Stephens and supported this year by The Fly Magazine, The Great Escape and Fender and Merc clothing, who will be awarding the winner with £5000 worth of kit and plenty of clothing to boot.
The Red Stripe Music Award is now in its third year and remains central to Red Stripe’s support of live music.
Picked from over 150 bands that have played around the UK since January 09, here are some comments from the panel of the bands who played alongside Gomez at the final:
BEN HOWARD (Porthtowan)
www.myspace.com/benjaminjohnhoward
Despite being born in London, Howard has spent most of ten years in Totnes,
Devon and is currently studying in Falmouth.
“There’s not much original territory to be ploughed by singer-songwriters, so you have to admire the innovative, enthralling efforts of Ben Howard, who uses his guitar to build swirling, percussive beats around plaintive plucking and melancholic vignettes. He’ll be the calm at the centre of the final’s storm.” Jonny Kirkham, Red Stripe
GIDEON CONN (Manchester)
www.myspace.com/gideonconn
Although based in Manchester, Gideon Conn is well known on the London scene having
toured extensively around the UK, and played at UK festivals, including Glastonbury.
He has self-released a number of EPs, and released his first single I Want You Around
achieving radio play on XFM BBC Radio 1 as well as supporting popular American
singer-songwriter Jason Mraz.
“Gideon’s original approach stood out a mile – he makes impossible-to-pigeonhole ditties that are as effortlessly simple as they are hooky-as-hell. It’s folk one minute and hip-hop the next, quirky pop music that sounds like it’s being played through Fisher Price instruments – excellent.” Niall Doherty, The Fly Magazine
PHILADELPHIA MAINLINE (London)
www.myspace.com/philadelphiamainline
Formed in late 2005, the Hackney-based duo have built an arsenal of ballsy and bluesy
songs, resulting in a huge fan base. The 2 piece ‘scuzz blues’ band boasts one part finger shredding riffs and vocals backed by thunderous drum explosions. The band has taken London by storm with gigs at 93 Feet East, Dublin Castle, The Luminarie and The Windmill
“PML played one of the first RSMA shows back in January, but the blues-roar of their performance at The Windmill that night meant that they were always going to be in contention for the final. They make music that’s retro without sounding dated, and it’s easy to forget when your ears are being pummelled by their Hendrix-y riffs that there’s only two of them onstage.” Jon Mcildowie, Mama Group
FIRST DEGREE BURNS (Bristol)
www.myspace.com/firstdegreeburnsuk
First Degree Burns (FDB) are an eight piece band whose influences stem from the
concrete roots of Bristol, via France, Jamaica and much in between. Channelling a
plethora of musical styles and influences, be it Dub, Skank driven Ska, Roots Reggae,
Two Tone, Rock, Metal through the all inclusive umbrella of Hip Hop, they’ve created a
fusion which they proclaim as “Skip Hop” – up tempo and regarded as ‘danceable’.
“Amid a sea of guitar bands that took part in this year’s RSMA, First Degree Burns were a refreshing alternative, their take on brassed-up ska-punk injecting a Specials-on-speed groove into proceedings.” James Bruce, Supervision Management.
Check out an exclusive interview with Gomez on www.redstripe.net.
The Red Stripe Music Award is supported this year by Fender, Merc clothing who will be awarding the winner with £5000 worth of kit and plenty of top clothing.
Red Stripe Music Award venues and dates:
16th January (Fri) Cardiff, Barfly
16th January (Fri) London, The Windmill (Brixton)
17th January (Sat) Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
23rd January (Fri) Exeter, Phoenix
23rd January (Fri) Glasgow, Box
24th January (Sat) Aberdeen, Moshulu
24th January (Sat) Edinburgh, Cabaret Voltaire
30th January (Fri) Bedford, Esquires
6th February (Fri) Bristol, The Croft
7th February (Sat) Brighton, Audio
7th February (Sat) Oxford, The Cellar
13th February (Fri) Southampton, The Talking Heads
19th February (Thu) Wrexham, Central Station
20th February (Fri) Liverpool, Zanzibar
20th February (Fri) Accrington, Attic
27th February (Fri) Reading, Purple Turtle
28th February (Sat) Chelmsford, Barhouse
5th March (Thu) Cornwall, Bunters
6th March (Fri) Cornwall, Blue
12th March (Thu) London, Dingwalls (Camden)
12th March (Thu) Birmingham, The Rainbow
12th March (Thu) Sheffield, The Harley
14th March (Sat) Newcastle, The End Bar
20th March (Fri) London, Halfmoon (Putney)
21st March (Sat) Norwich, B2 Venue
28th March (Sat) Manchester, Moho
18th April (Sat) London, Hootananny (Brixton)
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La Folie are having a launch party on the 8th of June at The Forum in Sheffield! £2 advance tickets/£3 on the door! Plus the added bonus of if you film some stuff from the night of us, you or anything else connected and send it us, we will send you a free copy of 'Risus Sardonicus'
Hello Thanks for being our Friend! We are a 3-piece from Nottingham called Satnam's Tash who play Punk/Theatrical/Rock recently finishing a tour of Germany, ending in Berlin. We've also been played on FatCat Radio Recently. Here is a music video we made ourselves of one of our songs!
And here is a video of us playing Live from our last tour of England!
Please feel free to drop by anytime and leave a comment or just say hello! Hope you enjoy them and we'll speak again soon. x
would jus like to say thank you for the freindship (YOU are my favarote freind!..lol)
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the album - No Take Twos - will be avalible to download on itunes, amazon and all major download sites from the 15th of May. I will post a link for my page on release day.
Static Rain is a 2 piece band from the beautiful Yorkshire town of Keighley. Band members Tony Garthwaite and Jacob Barlow formed the band in 2008, driven by a joint passion for both electronic music and retro synths. The music they produce can be described as electronic pop with catchy choruses and memorable riffs that are prominent in all of their songs, making them popular with a very wide audience.
Following their initial success on MySpace, Static Rain continues to build a solid fan base and a strong reputation as a live act. The band is currently looking for gigs from June 09 onwards throughout the whole of the UK.
For bookings and enquiries please e-mail
digitaltat@hotmail.co.uk
Static Rain is a 2 piece band from the beautiful Yorkshire town of Keighley. Band members Tony Garthwaite and Jacob Barlow formed the band in 2008, driven by a joint passion for both electronic music and retro synths. The music they produce can be described as electronic pop with catchy choruses and memorable riffs that are prominent in all of their songs, making them popular with a very wide audience.
Following their initial success on MySpace, Static Rain continues to build a solid fan base and a strong reputation as a live act. The band is currently looking for gigs from June 09 onwards throughout the whole of the UK.
For bookings and enquiries please e-mail
digitaltat@hotmail.co.uk
La Folie have a very exciting gig coming up on the 8th of April down at the Leadmill in Sheffield! We're being supported by Sound of Guns and Pistola Kicks! Get in touch with us if you want some tickets...hope you like the flyer too...
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