Fearne Cotton music

iTunes Festival Reviews; Amadou & Mariam and SMD

Tuesday 28th July

I must say I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from Tuesday night’s act at the Roundhouse. So far I have witnessed a relatively eclectic mix of artists, yet I was under the impression that tonight’s gig would be something quite else. Having heard promising reviews of the Mali born, musical duo I was looking forward to seeing the blind African couple hit the stage with their latest LP “Welcome to Mali”. Stereotypically, I had assumed that the night would be an extravaganza of traditional up-beat African music filled with an array of drums and dancing. What I found was something rather different. Yes these influences were all present yet Amadou and Mariam completely mixed up the formula creating an astonishing hybrid with electric guitars and keyboards. In theory, this shouldn’t really work but in reality it was nothing short of amazing.

At one point, when Amadou was vibrantly getting into his electrifying guitar solo against flashing lights and a neon lit back-screen it felt more along the lines of a Led-Zeppelin gig! What made this work was the balance the duo had to their music. Yes they incorporated very diverse styles encompassing a wide music spectrum, but after performing together for nearly three decades it was evident that they have the sound musical judgement to know what works and what doesn’t.

Standing side by side, softly bouncing in sync, there was something so likeable about this talented duo. As Mariam lovingly stroked Amadou’s head the sweet intimate gesture displayed the deep bond between the couple. It is this special connection between husband and wife that makes their music so exceptionally unique. Their popular appeal has resulted in the couple supporting top British acts Coldplay and Blur with Damon Albarn partly producing their album. Although the night’s focus was directed towards Amadou and Mariam, hence the namesake, the music was very much a collaborative effort with every band member playing their part. The two backing dancers showed off some wild dance moves encouraging the crowd to join in which created an incredible atmosphere in the Roundhouse.  Without coming across all philosophical, as the sweet tones of Mariam’s delicate voice echoed around the dome, it was impossible not to feel positively uplifted about life.

Wednesday 29th July

Supporting Simian Mobile Disco was ‘experimental’ DJ, Gold Pander. Experimental is definitely a fitting adjective to use yet let me hasten to add that being experimental does not necessarily result in a positive outcome! Gold Pander drew likeness with an over-excited child who was so intensely self-absorbed in what he was doing that he couldn’t see the wider picture. Unfortunately I could. The set was just a bit too random to work as he over complicated most tracks mixing in too many beats that didn’t quite fit. For what I had predicted would be the rowdiest night so far the crowd seemed some-what subdued with the only person jutting some moves being Gold Pander himself. Whilst on stage he only uttered a few words but at least he spoke them wisely - “Simian Mobile Disco up next, woo! There’re better than me woo!”

After a disappointing opening I desperately hoped that Simian Mobile Disco would live up to their hype.

The contrast between the luke-warm reception of Gold Panda and the blazing atmosphere Simian Mobile achieved was immense. With an innovative sphere shaped set up the talented duo of James Ford and Jaz Shaw dashed around their decks like two mad scientists at work.

Their chemistry was electrifying as the dynamic duo bounced off one another, their natural music instinct completely in-tuned creating a wicked concoction of electro beats. As they expertly mixed material from their latest album Temporary Pleasure as well as their hits such as Hustle the crowd’s reaction was a perfect imitation to the beat of the music. When they built the beat up, the audience went literally crazy. With strobe lights, smoke machines and full volume speakers the night turned into a full on dance rave. The pair presented a true collaborative partnership and as I saw them smile over their decks to each other in mutual appreciation I thought it’s only the beginning for Simian Mobile Disco.

A Bit of Mika Anyone?

The camp king of pop Mika is headlining at the Camden Roundhouse for the closing night of the iTunes Festival 2009!

The Grace Kelly singer will be showcasing songs from new album ‘We Are Golden’ as well as belting out the classic hits you all know and love!

Supporting Mika will be Swedish singer/songwriter Erik Hassle, who has been generating an awful lot of buzz recently. In case the hype around this young red-head from Stockholm has passed you by, check out  this article to read about the man many are calling the new Robbie Williams. Tonight may be your chance to see a soon-to-be major star in an intimate venue!

For your chance to win 1 of 5 pairs of tickets to the final show of the festival, all you need to do is answer this very simple question!

Complete this lyric from one of Mika’s most famous songs;

‘I could be brown, I could be blue….’

A) I could be high as a kite

B) I could be violet sky

C) I could be hopelessly confused

Email your answer to officialfearnecotton@iviva.com with the subject line Mika. Good Luck!

Terms & Conditions - “Win a Pair of Tickets to see Mika”

1. The “Win a Pair of Tickets to see Mika” prize draw is only open to residents of the UK aged 18 years or over, excluding employees and their immediate families of iViva Ltd, ICOM Ltd, James Grant Media Ltd, their agents, or anyone professionally connected with the draw.

2. By entering the prize draw, entrants agree to be bound by the terms and conditions and by any other requirement set out on this website.

3. Entries must be submitted by midnight on Thursday 30th July 2009. Winning notifications will be sent out by 2pm on Friday 31st July 2009. In the event that the winner does not reply to the winning notification within 4 hours of sending, the promoter reserves the right to re-draw the prize, in which case the original winner will forfeit any rights to a prize.

4. To enter the draw entrants must answer the question and send the answer to officialfearnecotton@iviva.com. Entrants will also be required to submit their mobile number for the purpose of notification if applicable. Entry is only available online at www.officialfearnecotton.com. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received. Paper entries are not valid. Entrants must complete all of the required fields.

5. Entries must not be made via agencies of third parties and any such entries will be invalid.

6. For names of winners please send a stamped addressed envelope to “Win a Pair of Tickets to see Mika”, Lazenby House, 32 Kingly Street, London, W1B 5QQ

7. The winning entrant will receive a pair of tickets to the Mika concert at the Camden Roundhouse in London (The Venue) on Friday 31st July 2009. No transport, accommodation or other costs will be paid.

8. Prizes are not for resale, and are not redeemable in whole or in part for cash.

9. Winners will be required to attend the Venue, with proof of identification, by 8.15pm on the day of the Event, in order to claim their Prizes.

10. The Concerts may be filmed, so Winners may be recorded and filmed, and have their voices and likenesses used in recordings and films for commercial purposes on a worldwide royalty free basis.

11. The management of the Venue reserve the right to refuse admission to the Venue.

12. We will not be liable in the event that the advertised artist or the Event itself is cancelled.

13. Winners must comply with all rules and regulations of the Venue. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of the Prize.

14. The winner must be prepared to be photographed and included in all relevant publicity and his or her name may be revealed in any list of winners made public by the promoter.

15. There will be no cash alternative in whole or in part to the stated prize and unless agreed in writing by the promoter the prize will only be offered directly to the winner.

16. Any personal information you provide to is when entering this prize draw will be subject to our Privacy Policy.

17. The promoter is iViva Ltd (registered number 06655415) 6 Lansdowne Mews, London, W11 3BH

More Golden Reviews….

Our intrepid reviewer strikes again with a look at a special performance from Madeleine Peyroux, and a no holds barred and very funny look at one of the girliest nights of the iTunes Festival - Enjoy!

Dublin born rockabilly singer Imelda May kick-started the evening with her feisty and energetic nature, getting the crowd to jig along with her up-tempo songs. The excitable singer displayed her powerful voice with confidence and made it overly apparent that she was extremely happy to be at the Roundhouse, even performing her own impromptu encore of the Gloria Jones hit Tainted Love.

Regardless of the sizeable venue and ample audience, Madeleine Peyroux delivered an enchantingly personal and intimate set which was perfectly fitting for a Sunday evening slot. The crowd appeared captivated with her soft-edged, husky voice and slightly demure presence, as she indulged her fans with a collection of bittersweet love songs. Although the theme of love is notorious for producing rather disheartening lyrics, Peyroux generated an uplifting spin on the ever changing and ever complex theme of love. Her optimistic break-up song It’s Alright directly conveyed Peyroux’s inner emotions with heart-felt lyrics which openly intensified the intimacy of the gig. The love song I must be saved was well received, as her relatable lyrics have the ability to strike a chord with anybody who has suffered from a broken heart.

Dressed in a dull over-coat and Charlie Chaplinesque bowler hat, Peyroux wittily joked and laughed with the crowd creating an informal and relaxed setting. Although often likened with Jazz singer Billie Holiday, Peyroux is a unique talent of her own accord who draws together many styles and influences including her busking days in Paris, to create an individual style which is inimitable. Towards the end of the set Madeleine showed her appreciation for her accompanying band with individual introductions which were followed by rhythmic solos displaying each members musical flair. All in all, a deep-felt and beautiful evening.

Monday night at the Roundhouse presented an oestrogen filled line-up which attracted a predominately testosterone audience, for reasons I’m sure I could make a guess at! First up was Sophie Ellis-Bextor who strutted on stage in an exceedingly short tutu setting the dress code for the night to come. The enthusiastic response to her hit songs Take Me Home, Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love) and Murder On The Dance Floor ironically displayed the fickle nature of the pop industry as Sophie, once a coveted pop siren who beat Posh Spice to the number one slot, was now supporting the younger and sexier The Saturdays. Personally I’d be a bit miffed myself, yet Sophie seemed in high spirits on stage, lapping up the audience’s attention. What was unfortunate was when she showcased her new material - the single Starlight - her voice was, regrettably, completely drowned by her band.

Up next was the new girl band on the block, Girls Can’t Catch. If The Saturdays are cynically dubbed as the poor man’s Girls Aloud then it is hard to see much hope for Girls Can’t Catch. This may seem a pretty negative assumption as the girls are still establishing themselves in the industry but it just felt as though there was some sparkle missing. Although they played their part with synchronised dance movements and plentiful crowd interaction they were lacking in inventiveness and originality which left me with a severe case of déjà vu.

In keeping with their title as the night’s headliners The Saturdays kept the crowd waiting with an extended instrumental introduction to their hit If this is love. With provocative video clips projected on the huge screens the girls waltzed onto the stage in long, dark trench coats. I was certain that these would be thrown off in the next few minutes … I was right. Cheesiness aside, I have to say, I quite like The Saturdays. Their songs are fun, poppy and always great to dance along to. Maybe they did include too many covers within their set: Just Can’t Get Enough, I Kissed A Girl and Shut Up And Drive (to name a few) but they delivered them with great promise. They also sang their acoustic radio 1 live lounge cover of Madcon’s Beggin with Una accompanying with the guitar. Although I wasn’t witnessing the next Jimi Hendrix in the making (she strummed approximately 4 chords) it added a new dimension to the evening and mixed things up from the predictable and mundane.

The question arises; will these girls stand the test of time? We can only wait and see. What I am more certain about is that this review would certainly be a lot more complimentary if I was of the male species…