Laura Mvula to perform intimate concert at The Hippodrome in Leicester Square

Laura Mvula to perform intimate concert at The Hippodrome in Leicester Square

Much feted soul star and double Brit Award nominee Laura Mvula will perform an intimate show at The Hippodrome Casino in Leicester Square on Friday August 29th, with all funds raised being donated to Centrepoint, the leading charity for homeless young people.

Just 100 tickets will be released for this exclusive, hour-long show, which will see Mvula perform tracks from her Mercury-nominated debut album Sing To The Moon, recently re-recorded with the acclaimed Dutch jazz orchestra The Metropole Orkest. 

With the assistance of its patron Prince William, Centrepoint supports 8,400 homeless young people a year across London and the north of England. All of the money raised will ensure that homeless 16-25 year-olds not only have a safe place to stay, but receive the vital support in finding work and tackling health problems that they need to leave homelessness behind.

Laura Mvula said: "I'm really glad that we're able to support Centrepoint by doing a show. It's such a great organisation and being able to use music to help get young homeless people off the streets is a huge privilege. Hopefully we raise lots of money!”

An Audience With Laura Mvula is at The Hippodrome Casino on Friday August 29th. Tickets are £100 and are available from www.hippodromecasino.com.

Soul Legend Roberta Flack To Headline Cheltenham Jazz Festival

Roberta Flack To Headline Cheltenham Jazz Festival

Making her first trip to the UK since 2006, four-time Grammy-winning soul star Roberta Flack has been added to the bill for this year's Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Joining an already star-studded lineup that features the likes of Jamie Cullum, Laura Mvula, Jools Holland and Gregory Porter, Flack will draw on an incredible back catalogue of music that includes massive radio and chart hits such as “First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", “Killing Me Softly With His Song" and “Feel Like Making Love".

Widely considered to be one of the preeminent vocalists of her generation, Flack has received worldwide critical acclaim for her singing and peerless musicianship and is an exciting addition to the Festival's programme. 

Festival Director Ian George:

“That Roberta Flack is flying over from America to perform at Cheltenham Jazz Festival is a real coup for the town. We always try to programme global megastars and anyone who went to last year’s Dionne Warwick gig can testify how incredible it is to hear such a legend performing in the Festival’s own Big Top. Roberta’s show will bring even more star quality to an already stellar line-up”.

Flack will perform in the Big Top on Saturday May 3rd at 9pm.

Due to phenomenal demand, Jamie Cullum will perform an additional show on the opening day of the festival. Showcasing brand new material from his forthcoming new album, Cullum will be backed by an 11-piece big band. 

Tickets for Roberta Flack and Jamie Cullum are available from £30 at www.cheltenhamfestivals.com or on 08448808094. Tickets go on sale to members on Monday March 10th at midday and then to the general public on Tuesday March 11th.
The 2014 Cheltenham Jazz Festival takes place from Wednesday April 30th to Monday May 5th and is hosted in a tented festival village in Cheltenham’s Montpellier Gardens.

Jamie Cullum, Laura Mvula, Jools Holland and more For Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2014

Opening on International Jazz Day, the Cheltenham Jazz Festival returns at the end of April with an incredibly unique and diverse programme packed with jazz, world and blues legends, superstar international acts and outstanding emerging talent.

Running across six days from April 30th – May 5th, this year’s festival presents a star-studded line-up featuring the likes of Grammy and Golden Globe-winning Jamie Cullum, who will premiere his eagerly anticipated new album backed by an 11-piece big band, a special 70th birthday concert from jazz fusion trailblazer Billy Cobham, five-time Grammy-winner Robert Cray, the incomparable Laura Mvula, who returns to Cheltenham as this year’s Artist in Residence, as well as shows from big hitters such as Jools Holland, Curtis Stigers, Tinariwen, Kurt Elling, Gregory Porter and Frank Sinatra Jnr.

The younger generation will be represented by the likes of rising-star US trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire, the inspirational Zimbabwe-born vocalist ESKA, BBC Sound of 2014 nominee Nick Mulvey, and acclaimed New York-based instrumental fusion band Snarky Puppy, who are teaming up with DJ Gilles Peterson for the return of the festival’s popular club night. Among an impressive roster of British talent being showcased will be the much talked about reunion of acclaimed big band Loose Tubes, one of the UK’s most renowned improvisers Paul Dunmall, accomplished pianist Jason Rebello, and the boundary-pushing Julian Siegel Quartet.

The festival continues its association with BBC Radio 2, who will broadcast live on-site across the weekend. Slots include a gangster-themed Friday Night Is Music Night, celebrating the golden age of jazz and featuring the inimitable talents of Kurt Elling, Curtis Stigers and Liane Carroll, and a special Jamie Cullum radio show, which will go out live on Saturday afternoon.

In addition to a world class line-up of acts, the Beyond the Band tent will feature talks, workshops and masterclasses and will transform into a ‘silent cinema’, hosting a range of jazz inspired films.

Festival Director Ian George:

“We’re proud to once again be delivering a really diverse Festival programme that covers the entire jazz spectrum, incorporating blues, soul, funk, world music and more. We welcome musical megastars alongside the brightest emerging talents, all set against the beautiful backdrop of regency Cheltenham.”

The 2014 Cheltenham Jazz Festival takes place from April 30th – May 5th and is hosted in a tented festival village in Cheltenham’s Montpellier Gardens, featuring a Big Top stage, the Jazz Arena, and a food, drink and market area.

Tickets go on sale to members from February 24th and on general sale from March 3rd.

MOBO Awards 2013 winners list

Tonight saw the 18th Annual MOBO Awards take place at the newly opened SSE Hydro arena, as the hottest names in RnB, soul, gospel, hip hop, reggae and many more descended on the venue for its first televised, multi-artist event. 

The evening saw gongs handed out in 13 diverse MOBO categories featuring nominees such as Disclosure, AlunaGeorge, Rudimental, Jessie J, Jessie Ware and Wretch 32 amongst others who were all in the running for one of the coveted awards with success stories; Laura Mvula and Wiley in the lead with four nominations each.  Each winner was given an 18ct gold leaf MOBO trophy carefully redesigned for this year’s 18th anniversary celebrations.

Throughout the evening, Glasgow and BBC3 audiences were treated to exhilarating performances from Tinie Tempah who took home the Best UK Hip Hop/Grime act award and Laura Mvula who picked up two awards for Best Female in association with Tresor Paris and Best RnB/Soul Act.  While winners for Best Newcomer Award in association with HTC, Krept and Konan made no secret of their delight at taking home the gong, which will no doubt help them on their journey to further industry success. The dynamic duo has been recognised as one of the UKs most promising urban artists and has become one of a handful to be awarded a prestigious MOBO award while still unsigned. Without a doubt, the award for performance of the night went to garage collective, So Solid Crew, who closed the show with an amazing rendition of their number one hit ’21 Seconds’. The high-energy 10-piece collective’s show-stopping finale was a fitting celebratory end to MOBO18.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB), said: “As a UNESCO City of Music, Glasgow enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the world’s top music cities and we’re home to the most lively and passionate audiences for music events in the UK, which is why shows like the MOBO Awards want to come here.

“This year, MOBO made history as the first music awards event and live multi-artist production to be held at our magnificent new SSE Hydro arena, which provided a stunning backdrop for the show.

“Hosting the MOBO Awards is a fantastic endorsement of the city’s ability to successfully deliver major music events and demonstrates increasing recognition by event organisers that coming to Glasgow will enhance their brand on the global stage.”

MOBO Awards founder and CEO, Kanya King MBE said, “It has been an exciting road this year that has seen artists both new and established demonstrate their worth and talent. For us at MOBO, the awards are about recognising the exciting and inspiring artists out there and giving them a platform to perform on.  This year has been a great representation of the wealth of talent MOBO music has to offer.  It’s an amazing industry to work in and we love being at the forefront honouring the past and supporting the future.”

As a UNESCO city of music, Glasgow enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the world’s top music destinations.  The MOBO Awards returned to Glasgow for the third time this year as the result of a successful partnership between the MOBO Organisation, EventScotland and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.

Full winner list and full information below:

     

        Best African Act – Fuse ODG

        Best Album – ‘Home’, Rudimental

        Best Female in association with Tresor Paris – Laura Mvula

        Best Gospel – Lurine Cato

        Best International Act – Kendrick Lamar 

        Best Jazz – Sons of Kemet

        Best Male – Wiley

        Best Newcomer in association with HTC – Krept & Konan

        Best Reggae Act – Sean Paul

        Best RnB/Soul Act – Laura Mvula 

        Best Song in association with PRSforMusic – ‘La La La’, Naughty Boy

        Best UK Hip Hop/Grime - Tinie Tempah

        Best Video in association with SBTV - ‘La La La’, Naughty Boy

        Be MOBO – Stephen Lawrence Trust

Texas, Logic, AlunaGeorge and more added to T in the Park 2013 Line up

Iconic Scottish group Texas plus hot new acts Logic, AlunaGeorge, Laura Mvula, Deap Vally, Jagwar Ma, Ruen Brothers, MS MR, Brooke Candy and Josephine are set to perform T in the Park’s 20th year celebrations over 12th – 14th July, after festival organisers DF Concerts and founding partner Tennent’s Lager added yet more must see artists to the bill today.

Texas played T in the Park’s Balado debut back in 1997 – the same year their massive number 1 hit album White on Blonde catapulted them to global success. They returned to headline in 2001, and are set to play a huge homecoming show at the festival’s 20th year celebrations. After a 6 year hiatus, they release a brand new studio album entitled The Conversation on 20th May, and will showcase their long-awaited new material as well as treating fans to massive anthems such as I Don't Want a Lover, Say What You Want, Black Eyed Boy and Halo when they return to T in the Park in July.

Maryland rapper Logic’s recent rise through the industry has seen him snag a 2013 Freshman spot in hip-hop bible XXL Magazine, sign to Def Jam and work with No I.D. (the veteran producer and now A&R figure who helped mold the careers of Common and Kanye West). He makes his T in the Park debut this July.

AlunaGeorge are being tipped for big things this year, after they enjoyed huge success with their track Attracting Flies. They featured 2nd in the BBC’s Sound of 2013 list (after fellow T in the Park act Haim, who topped the list) and their hotly-anticipated debut album is due for release this summer.

Birmingham’s Laura Mvula is also one of this year’s hottest new stars. Her debut album Sing to The Moon shot into the top 10 in March and she gained critical acclaim with a coveted Brits Critics' Choice nomination. With her UK headline tour gaining rave reviews, her unique vocals and jazz-meets-soul style are set to go down a storm in Kinross this July.

Earlier this month, LA rockers Deap Vally opened for fellow T in the Park act Yeah Yeah Yeahs in Las Vegas and absolutely smashed their set at Coachella. Next stop is Kinross, when they bring their raw rock ‘n’ roll sound (created with only a guitar, drums and vocals) to the 20th year celebrations this summer.

Alternative-indie duo Jagwar Ma are Sydney’s answer to Madchester and as a result are causing a stir with their debut single, The Throw. With their 90’s inspired tracks Jagwar Ma are tipped to be huge in 2013.

Scunthorpe’s Ruen Brothers uploaded their track Aces to BBC Introducing on Radio Humberside in January and have been causing a stir ever since. The hotly tipped sibling duo are sure to get the crowd going with their 60s-esque rock ‘n’ roll.

New York’s MS MR went down a storm at SXSW slot in March, with an incredible set sure to follow at T in the Park’s 20th year this July. Their debut single Hurricane created a huge buzz in the blogosphere, with their first album Secondhand Rapture set to propel them to greater levels of stardom when it’s released in May. They’re most certainly ones to watch at T in the Park 2013.

US rap sensation Brooke Candy was first discovered after appearing in Grimes music video and was described by Vice Magazine as “the post-apocalyptic Lil’ Kim”; she has opened for the likes of Azealia Banks and put on an explosive performance at the NME Awards Show in February.

Josephine is a soulful chanteuse from Manchester, whose self-reflective debut album Portrait was voted in the top 50 albums of the year by Q Magazine, with the title hailing her “an extraordinary talent.” She’ll showcase her soulful vocal prowess when she makes her T in the Park debut this July.

Over 85,000 festival-goers per day will descend on Kinross over 12th – 14th July for the 20th year of T in the Park, which will feature some of the greatest acts, including headliners Mumford and Sons, Rihanna and The Killers, plus Frank Ocean, Snoop Dogg, Beady Eye, Foals, alt-J, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Courteeners, Jake Bugg and The Lumineers, plus many more still to be announced.

Fans can guarantee they’re part of the 20th year of T in the Park by getting their tickets now from www.tinthepark.com or www.ticketmaster.co.uk or by calling 08444 999 990. Experience the 20th year of T in the Park and join 85,000 music lovers per day as part of the greatest audience in the world this July. Boutique camping options in The Residence are also available for those looking for luxury living at T in the Park – check out www.theresidenceexperience.co.uk

For regular T in the Park news, check out www.facebook.com/tinthepark and follow us on Twitter @Tinthepark