Ellie Goulding Review

Ellie Goulding is an electroacoustic/ pop singer whose distinct, wispy and pretty unusual voice helps differentiate her from other aspiring singers of today. In 2010 Ellie Goulding won the Critics Choice at the Brit Awards which gained her a lot of positive attention, causing her already large fan base to grow. 

In March 2010 Ellie Goulding released "Lights" which went straight to number one in the UK album charts. The album includes many great songs such as Starry Eye, Guns and Horses, and The Writer.

With the success of "Lights"  Ellie Goulding re-released the album in November and renamed it "Bright Lights." The new re-released album includes six new songs and proves to be just as popular as Lights. Ellie Goulding recently revealed she would be releasing a second "more emotional" album sometime in 2013.

I was lucky enough to catch the end of Ellie Goulding's set at Glastonbury Music Festival and was pleasantly surprised how good she was live. Although she seemed pretty overwhelmed by the large crowd and said very little between songs, she still managed to give a great performance.

Since seeing Ellie Goulding live, she has gone on to headline at a number of big venues/festivals and even been chosen to sing for the White House and at Prince William's and Kate Middleton's Wedding.

Tour dates:
2nd March. Odyssey Arena Belfast - Belfast.
5th March. Nottingham Capital FM Arena - Nottingham
8th March. Liverpool Echo 2 - Liverpool
9th March. London the O2 - London
12th March. Theatre at Madison Square Garden - NYC
13th March. Theatre at Madison Square Garden - NYC

For more information about tickets and tour dates (European, Australia, New Zealand and N.American) check out: http://elliegoulding.com/live-dates/

Bestival Music Festival

Want to go to a music festival? Well you still can.

Bestival is a four-day music festival held in the Isle of Wight at the beginning of September. Starting in 2004, this festival has grown from a medium sized festival to becoming the best major UK festival in the UK (voted 2010, 2012).

Although I have yet to attend this festival myself many of my friends have, and they all absolutely love it (so much so they are all going again!). When people talk about Bestival, the general consensus is "Glastonbury without all the walking!" - what more could you want...other than maybe the promise of no rain!?

Another reason why people choose Bestival is because you can STILL buy tickets. While all the other festivals this summer sold out months ago, you can go on their website and purchase a ticket for the great value of £180.

Obviously regardless of the price (and the weather) everyone looks at one thing when it comes to festivals: the line up. The 2013 Bestival headliners are: Elton John and His Band, Fatboy Slim and Snoop Dogg. Also playing are Franz Ferdinand, Jessie Ware, Tom Odell, Disclosure, Bombay Bicycle Club,  Belle & Sebastian, James Blake, The 1975 and many many more. For more line up info check out: http://2013.bestival.net/line-up

So if you are regretting your decision to resist festivals this year, or you feel one or two festivals just isn't enough, than this is a great solution for you.

For more information regarding this festival check out the website: http://www.bestival.net/

The XX

I am a huge fan of this band.

The XX, an indie pop band from the UK, have achieved great success since the release of their debut album "XX" in 2009.  With a Mercury Music Prize under their belt, it comes as no surprise to why their is so much hype and excitement for their upcoming second album Coexist (due to be released on September 11th.)

Popular tracks by this band include VCR, Crystalised, Basic Space and Heart Skipped Beat. Although great tracks, a personal favorite of mine is their remix version of "You Got the Love" featuring florence and the machine.  When I saw this band live I was ecstatic when Florence Welch turned up on stage to perform with The XX (see live performance below).

Since I saw this band perform at Glastonbury Music Festival, the The XX performed in a tent. I have never in my life (apart from when Mumford and Sons performed) seen so many people crammed in so closely together before. The atmosphere was pure electric.

The XX, made up of  Romy Madley Croft, Jamie Smith and Oliver Sim, had the whole crowd entranced. This  somber trio, who wore their usual all black attire, performed each of their tracks flawlessly.

Their set list included Intro, Crystalised, Islands, Heart Skipped A Beat, Fantasy, Shelter, VCR, Do You Mind, Basic Space, Night Time, Infinity and Stars. I had a fabulous time, and would definately encourage everyone to buy tickets - its a must!

Tour Dates:
2nd August. Terminal 5 - NYC
8th September. Bestival 2012 - Newport, UK
10th September. O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire - London, UK
11th September. Coal Exchange - Cardiff, UK
12th September. Usher Hall - Edinburgh, UK
26th October. Paradise Theater  - Bronx, NY
28th October. Paradise Theater - Bronx, NY

For information regarding other tour dates and tickets, check out: http://www.songkick.com/artists/515434-xx/calendar?page=1

Glastonbury Festival UK

If I had to recommend one summer festival it would be Glastonbury.

Glastonbury Music Festival is the largest open-air music and performing arts festival in the world, attracting around 150, 500 people of all ages and nationalities. When I went two summers ago I was lucky enough to see Stevie Wonder, Gorillaz, Florence and the Machine, and my personal highlight Mumford & Sons.

I must add, having attended this festival, its not for the feint hearted. Although a lot of fun, it does require you to camp for 5 days and 4 nights, with each day being very long and very busy. The crowds are big, the lines are long, the toilets are smelly, and since its held in England, you are always at the mercy of the weather - usually rain! Despite this however DO NOT BE DETTERED.

Every year the line up is always superb, the atmosphere is electrifying, the people are friendly, and there is always plenty to do. There are not many places that can boast about the acts that have played on the Glastonbury stages - Van Morisson, Blur, Oasis, Johnny Cash, Coldplay and U2, are to name but a few.

In addition to seeing loads of great bands you can also explore the sites. You can watch movies and make crafts in "the Park," send your kids to play in the "Kidz Field," and dance all day and night in the "Dance Village." If that is still not enough for you, every night after the music finishes (usually around midnight) there are a number of different "Villages" you can visit. The different villages cater to all tastes - whether you wish to dance to the early hours of the morning, or simply just wander around and explore with friends.

For more information or to register for tickets check out: http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/

John Peel Stage

Pyramid Stage

Arcade Fire and Mumford & Sons Music Gig.

 Both these bands are awesome and a must see! Arcade Fire is an indie rock band made up of seven musicians from Quebec. They have released three albums "Funerals," "Neon Bible" and "The Suburbs" and won many prestigious awards, the most recent being "Best International Album" and "Best International Group" at the 2011 BRIT Awards. If you like bands such as The Strokes, Broken Social Scene and/ or The National, than Arcade Fire is a band for you. One thing that must not go unsaid is their excellent reputation for consistently delivering outstanding gigs. With this in mind I urge you to buy tickets quickly as they usually sell out fast.

The supporting acts for Arcade Fire are Beirut, The Vaccines, and Mumford & Sons. I have to admit that even if the headliner was rubbish I would still try to get tickets to this gig simply to see Mumford & Sons again!

I love everything about Mumford & Sons; their songs, their charisma, their attitude, and their voices. I have seen Mumford & Sons live twice, once at Glastonbury Music Festival and once in New York. They defiantly didn't disappoint! Each gig was performed flawlessly.

Not only are these four Londoners great live singers, but they have great personality's which always come out during their shows. This is a band that can certainly work a crowd, to the extent that they had the whole crowd eating from their hand, creating a euphoric atmosphere. During both gigs Mumford & Sons performed their popular hits Sigh No More, Little Lion Man and The Cave as well as new material such as the unreleased song, Below My Feet.  

Since finishing their US tour, Mumford & Sons have been working on their next album - so I urge you all to get tickets to see them as it is certainly a gig not to be missed.

For more information about this gig, and to buy tickets visit: http://tickets.telegraph.co.uk/arcade-fire-tickets/hyde-park-london/30-june-2011/E-119489/

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Kele Okereke Music Gig

My number 1 band to listen to is Bloc Party, an indie rock band from London, UK. I started listening to this band in 2003 when I came across the song "Banquet" which is my favorite of all Bloc Party's songs. I have seen this band live and thought they were incredible. Watching them live was awesome as they performed their songs with so much energy that they had the whole crowd buzzed and the atmosphere was electrifying. The main performer of the band, Kele was definitely the natural performer and so when it was announced that the band were going on hiatus and he was going solo I was excited to see what he would do.

I have not been left disappointed. Kele Okereke released his first solo album "The Boxer" which includes the songs "Tenderoni" and "Everything You Want." Whilst I was at Glastonbury Music Festival over the summer Kele performed a great set. He sang both his own stuff and material from when he was in Bloc Party such as "Flux." This is definitely a gig not to miss out on.

Tour dates:
19th March. The Plug- Sheffield, UK
19th - 21st Aug. V Festival - Staffordshire, UK