The Open Mic UK Winner is… Teenage MC: Shak
A sixteen year-old MC from Coulsdon has been named as the winner of the national Open Mic UK competition at The O2 in London!
Shak was crowned champion in front of a capacity crowd in the Indigo2 on Saturday night taking home a recording and development contract. His own take on Mac Miller’s Best Day Ever won over the judges making him the winner of the 16 and Under category and the overall winner.
The sixteen year-old A-level student admits it still hasn’t sunk in; ‘I’m still shocked. I hoped I’d win but didn’t expect it. I woke up on Sunday and thought “what happened last night”, I still couldn’t believe it’!
Shak has now won a management contract with investment towards a single release and a comprehensive consultation package including social marketing, image and brand with Future Music.
The judging panel for the Grand Final included names such as Radio 1′s Annie Nightingale, Pete Cunnah, Shola Ama, BGM’s Michael King, Chris Grayston from Future Music and E Plus from Choice FM. Also picked by them as winners were Sham from Brixton who won the 17-22 category, and Sheena McHugh from Coalville who took home the 23’s and over title.
Shak studies Politics and Philosophy and a BTEC in Music at Central Sussex Haywards Heath, but his life took a big twist when he was announced winner of the prestigious Open Mic UK at The O2. Other previous winners include Birdy who has enjoyed chart success at the age of just 15, and Hatty Keane who has gone on to support the likes of Ed Sheeran, Wretch 32 and Tinchy Stryder since her success a year ago.
The towering performer, who stands at 6’6”, says the Open Mic UK competition has transformed him as an act; ‘It’s been amazing. At each stage of the competition I didn’t expect to go through, but I’ve improved at each show. The experience has helped my confidence no end, now I want to be an artist, I want to work in music and perform, and it’s all I want to do.’
For more information on Shak follow him on Twitter @ShakWeef – or check out his music on his YouTube channel YaBoiShak.
More than 9,000 acts signed up to Open Mic UK this year and Shak has proved himself to be best of the lot. For your chance to play at The O2 and win next year’s competition enter now at www.openmicuk.co.uk.
Ambershift Release Debut Album & Single
Ambershift have released their debut album and single – available digitally at www.itunes.com/ambershift.
AMBERSHIFT are also giving away a free album track at their website www.ambershift.net
The Durham four piece recorded the album in Newcastle at Base HQ Studios with engineer Rich McCool, they then got Chris Sheldon ( Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro Therapy, Feeder,) to mix it all and are now releasing it on their own label ELVET BRIDGE RECORDINGS which Durham people will know about!
The band have built up a big following across the North East through constantly gigging please check the web for up and coming gig info.
Dave Lord formed AMBERSHIFT in Jan 2007 as a new year’s resolution to get his act together. The name came from drinking sessions on the streets of Newcastle and the banks of the Tyne… The original line up was Dave Lord on lead vocals and bass, Phil Hodgson on Drums with Andy Wright and Paul Moutter on guitars. This line up recorded a demo album which was sold at gigs in the winter of 2007 but was never released anywhere else. One track though, ‘Another Trigger’ featured on a north east Compilation CD called ‘Planet Durham’. This was released in 2008 on the Dot.45 label and seemed to get us noticed down South, particularity by record plugger Dylan White. He called us up as he was coming to Newcastle to do a music seminar so we met him on the way for a chat about the music biz in a Durham service station and he became our manager…
Gigs came and went including supporting the likes of The Futureheads, Electric Six, Nine Black Alps, The Black Velvets, Soho Dolls and The Sea. The line up though changed with Andy and Paul leaving to be replaced by Andy Green on Keyboards and Ben Clement on Guitar. With this new line up the band went into Base HQ studios in Newcastle and recorded this album.
More info at www.ambershift.net and www.myspace.com/ambershiftk
Video filmed from the edge of space: King Capisce
With little more than a weather balloon, some foam and a HD camera, UK band ‘King Capisce’ captured some amazing footage from the edge of space. They have decided to release this as a music video for their track ‘Boundless’ – taken from the bands’ critically acclaimed self-titled debut album.
The video starts with a hand-held release in Yorkshire, and floats all the way to the edges of space, taking some inspirational pictures of last-years extreme winter weather and of out beautiful, fragile planet along its journey. With Capisce’s dynamic, cinematic music over the top, this is a stunning example of what independent artists and musicians can achieve.
Find their latest single here: King Capisce: If Not Now, Then When?
Live and Unsigned Band Competition 2012
The ultimate unsigned band competition of 2012 is beginning this saturday! here’s a taster to get you hooked:
Live and Unsigned – 12 reasons to enter in the New Year!
There are 12 great reasons to consider entering The Live and Unsigned competition:
1. There’s up to £100,000 of prizes up for grabs throughout the competition, with the winner’s package including a UK tour of up to 100 shows.
2. There’s also a new additional prize of £10,000 cash for the winning act to spend as they wish on the development of their act this year.
3. The winning act will then receive a further publicity package worth up to £10,000 including possible coverage in Kerrang! Q Magazine, NME, Mojo Magazine and many more!
4. The winning act will be included on a CD which will be distributed to 40,000 people!
5. There are over 75 slots up for grabs for this year’s contestants, with organisers from festivals such as Beach Break Live and Norfolk Spectacular selecting acts throughout the competition!
6. As well as UK festivals, acts have the chance to win slots at international festivals such as Canada’s Supernova festival, Latvia’s Summer Sound Festival and Tour Music Fest in Italy.
7. There are other prizes up for grabs throughout the competition, including Blackstar and TC Electronic amps, and studio time!
8. Acts will showcase their music live to industry judges from BBC Radio 1, Kerrang! NME, BBC Introducing, regional press & record labels. Previous judges include Radio 1’s Annie Nightingale and Kerrang! unsigned presenter Alex Baker.
9. The Live and Unsigned 2012 competition is to be filmed and broadcasted by Sky TV as part of an exclusive documentary, giving acts the opportunity of television exposure for their music!
10. Whether treading the same boards as Jimi Hendrix at Sheffield City Hall or following in the footsteps of Coldplay at the Newcastle Journal Tyne, the Live and Unsigned live music showcases bring contestants to the best music venues in their area!
11. The competition’s Grand Final is incorporated into London’s biggest indoor festival Live Fest, meaning finalists will be playing at the world-famous London O2 on the Indigo2 stage!
12. Finally, the Live and Unsigned competition is really fun! By entering, acts will be part of the UK’s biggest unsigned artist competition, and will meet thousands of great acts along the way.
If you want to be a part of the Live and Unsigned 2012 competition, visit the competition website to enter. www.liveandunsigned.uk.com.
Arch 1 New Year and Beyond
I opened the mysterious-looking metal door…behind which was a curtain opening out into a compact little club that feels like someones front room.
The band played blues, many classics, but what was really amazing was that many of the musicians were multiskilled, the bassist also created a stunning laser lighting concept and handled smoke machines. One of the guitarists also sang and then went on to play some stunning riffs on a sax. The owner sings and also
works the bar and so it goes on. The quality of the music was a good blend of classic blues, the musicans were of an excellent calibre and it was enjoyable to watch in such an intimate atmosphere, created very individually by both the architecture of
being under an arch and also the interesting decor. Its very cosy, unpretentious and entry was free, drinks were reasonably priced and tea and coffee are served there.
Tucked away just round the corner from Star Lane DLR, this is one of Londons largely undiscovered hidden treasures. This venue also has regular events such as jam sessions and lots of other stuff going on throughout the year.
On a Light Note...Bassist / Laser Tech Jim
Janet Devlin pre X-Factor video
The pretty and admirably shy Janet Devlin is perhaps a shining light from the crapfest of X-factor this year.
If like us, you want to hear more of her, here she is singing ‘Adele – Someone like you’.
Lady GaGa on The Jonathan Ross Show
Whether you’re a fan or not of the international superstar that is Lady Gaga, you may want to check out the video of her on the Jonathan Ross show from this past weekend.
She comes across pretty well, click play… you know you want to!
Lady GaGa – Jonathan Ross Full Interview [2011] by news-de-stars
Get Your Writing on The Music Mag
Good afternoon to all!
The Music Mag has been pretty quiet recently. Apologies for this and your music fix will be fed pretty soon!
This is a great opportunity to get your writing seen by hundreds of readers every day – either for your love of music or for bragging rights…
Just email ‘craig (at) themusicmag (dot) com’ with a review, a rant, your opinions, your band or whatever you fancy and it will appear here in cyber space for all to see!
Corporate Branded Gigs
BBC6 posted an interesting podcast regarding big fees for Corporate Branded Gigs and whether it is selling out. Credit to them for this interesting listen:
With music sales no longer a stable source of income, bands and artists are saying “yes” more than ever to corporate branded gigs and private parties.
It’s a lucrative business with some acts charging as much as £1 million for a show.
Starting with Groove Armada, who were once signed to Barcardi’s record label, Adrian Larkin takes a trip into the world of corporate gigging.
BBC Introducing Artists to play at Wychwood Music Festival
The Wychwood Festival has partnered with BBC Introducing to provide a unique platform for emerging artists by renaming a stage at the annual event.
The partnership will see Wychwood’s third stage rebranded as the BBC Introducing in Gloucestershire stage, and will invite the six counties that border Gloucestershire to submit bands that they endorse to play on it.
The annual festival takes place at Cheltenham Racecourse from Friday, 4 June, to Sunday, 6 June, 2010.
BBC Introducing shows from BBC Radios Oxford, Bristol, Wales, Coventry & Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Hereford & Worcester and, of course, Gloucestershire will each submit ten bands to a judging panel.
The panel will consist of BBC 6Music’s Tom Robinson, BBC Radio 1′s Bethan Elfin, The Independent newspaper’s music critic Elisa Bray and Wychwood’s Festival Director Graeme Merrifield who will pick the final line-up of 28 bands from the 70 submitted.
The partnership is the first time that a number of regional BBC Introducing outlets have joined forces to provide a unique platform for emerging artists by giving them a direct route to BBC Introducing at a national level, via the judging panel, and an opportunity to be included in the line-up of one the UK’s leading festivals.
BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Introducing presenter Rob Champion said: “We’re so happy to be working with the Wychwood Festival as well as our colleagues from the six bordering BBC regions on such an innovative partnership.
“I can’t think of a better opportunity, not only for our up and coming artists in Gloucestershire, but for those in the wider area.
“Wychwood is a big deal for local bands here, it represents a major achievement to play at such a prestigious, vibrant and eclectic festival and I can’t wait to be there!”
The ten Gloucestershire artists and bands that could now be performing at Wychwood are: Zen Elephant, Aspen Sails, Charlie Baxter, Divine Secret, Elliot Withers, Jim Lockey & the Solemn Sun, Lounge Fly, Roving Crows, The Echoes and Young Vinyls.
The final line-up of 28 bands over the three days as decided by the judging panel will be announced soon.
