My first comment

I got a comment, (the titles pretty self explanatory)

my head just floated out the window!

joking, the comment actually didn't really make much sense to me, but it was very much appreciated...

I have had a reader!

Frank.

video from my hotel...courtesy of la beeb...

Made this video for the BBC Blast site...but its a bit too long so I've stuck it on here instead...apologies for the cheesy intro but I've gotta get some practice in eh?!

Loungin' on the Farm

So this weekend I popped over to Merton Farm in Canterbury, Kent to cover Lounge on the farm festival for BBC Kent.

The festival is a well kept secret, not marketed widely and an event that largely relies on word of mouth...but after the weekend there I believe that word will spread like wildfire. The festival, now it in it's third year has clearly defined principles of promoting Kent produce and establishing Kent on the music map. The organisers are also opening a venue in Canterbury called, funnily enough, The Farm to try and pull in

 acts that normally skip Kent and just play London instead.

This was also my first event where I was doing photography so whilst I wait for a new battery (it wasn't my SLR but my Dads.) I have my fingers crossed about how the pics will turn out...as I ran out of power I had to shoot the last band, The Coral on my 5.0 megapixel digicam!

So basically in comparison to the shambles of Z008 I had an AMAZING time. I got to interview at least 20 different acts, some established, some up and coming. I even managed to catch up with Johnny Foriegner who I've wanted to meet for ages and they gave me a beer. It was good times. I think after I met the Coral (they came out when I was 12 and I'm now 19) It kinda sunk in and I had to run away to let it all sink in!!!

On the saturday evening I was due to interview the New York Dolls but things were running a bit late. Tom from BBC Kent Introducing went before me so I managed to blag an interview with Blaine from the Mystery Jets and we had a nice informal chat and as I'd just bought a Ukele he and Will signed it for me...

When I was talking to Blaine I asked how they got Laura Marling involved in the recording of 'Young Love' as I'm a huge fan of hers, I also wanted to know how they perform the song live without her. It turns out that either Will sings the song on his own or they get a girl from the audience to do it....

and that is how I blagged my way onto the main stage infront of up to 1,000 people singing 'Young Love'!!! I got to watch the gig from the side of the stage and push Will on concealed in a gigantic amp case (rock and roll eh?!)

I admit that I was nervous before I went on, would people boo me or, as I hadn't come from the audience, believe that I was 'with the band.'

The band had to have two songs cut because of the curfew time the cow shed (yes it was a big barn!) had been given so I was on sooner than I expected. I literally walked on intro-free, stood and waited to sing whilst trying to look as it I fit in and then sang!

I now understand why acts always mention their monitors etc because at first, I couldn't hear myself at all..infact I couldn't for most of it but I just tried to keep going as if nothing was wrong. The biggest issue was the height of the microphone being too tall for me, but, not wanting to move it I did the whole thing on tip toes!!!

Other highlights of the weekend included seeing one of my favourite new acoustic acts, Kal Lavelle (and her thanking her family 'and Frankie' at the end of her set,) shooting Johnny Foriegner (pictures!), meeting my new photographer friend Lizzie (superstar!) interviewing Los Campesinos and then later them talking to me like I was just a normal person, not an annoying press person, the med-veg kofta pitta thing I ate, Dani Groombridge, a 14-year old superstar in the making who played the 'School of Rock' tent and came running up to me mintues before her battle of the bands final asking me how to rescue her voice (So I ran and made her salt water and felt proud of my good deed.) 

I'm going to keep writing about this subject for ages I bet but i'll pop photos up soon and provide links to other stories about it.

Frank. x

Punch Me

...no not literally!

Tomorrow (at 9am no less) I'm interviewing Ammo of Punch records so I'm currently doing research...or at least I will once I've finished fiddling with clothes/my room/music.

I'm meant to be going out tonight but that means I need to pack for Kent (Lounge on the farm festival this weekend for BBC Kent) asap so I can just get up in the morn and get to Gibb street with all my stuff so I can get the train from New street to Maidstone straight after...its hectic being me you know...just as its probably hectic being you (whoever you may be.)

Yesterday I continued my run of 444Club gigs at The Rainbow when I met up with Simon Harris to 'sort his life out.' He basically has a solo project, a gypsy/folk band called 'the brightsize gypsies' and a band that plays events like weddings. The problem is he's not sure how to get things off the ground so I'm going to help him with things such as mailing lists etc...He does lots of stuff in Brum but some of it is quite removed from the rest and he's finding it difficult to keep up with it all I think. I just hope I can help!

Frank.

I got a golden ticket....

Ahhhhhh!

So excited!

I won the Oxfam 4Talent glaso comp where you had to send a reply to Oxfam 4Talent's twitter 'What gets your knickers in a twist'...

I said 'Interviewers asking artists who they're doing, not what they're doing.'

And it worked!!! I officially love twitter now! (mine is www.twitter.com/frankieloves)

So my prize is to head of to Bestival in September and do an interview for a podcast which I'm really excited about, I just hope I can make a lasting impression!

Next week I'm off to Lounge on the Farm to do some interviews with more bands, I'm really really hoping to get Art Brut, I met them before and they were absolutely lovely. I also know that my friend Ben is playing in a band called Wheeler Street so it will be great to check them out and get them to give us a few words for the BBC.

At the moment i'm looking round the bombshell that is my new room and wondering what the best way to sort it would be. I still have a few things to move from my flat and interviews a plenty to transcribe, however tonight I'm not going out and it feels odd. Someone help me out please?!

Frank.

Zoo twothousand

I'm soggy and sat in the 'press tent' at ~Kent's Z008 fest.

its a contraversial issue to be honest but the whole thing is an absolute blunder.
Basically the first day opened four hours late and bands had to be moved around etc... I eventually found out that the stage crew hadn't been paid and were striking. Also, Mark Ronson had not been paid his performance deposit (as other bands had not) and had to be paid with a bin bag full of coins (lets face it, his fee would hardly fit in a Tescos carrier bag now would it?)

On the second night the second stage, the Tap and Tin tent, also went down (A stonkingly good Gallows headlining set the night before had people climbing up the support beams) and I was frantically trying to find out whether Young Knives were still playing. Meanwhile a huge number of bands were striking back stage due to a lack of payment and leaving. Allegedly The Rascals turned up with Alex Turner in tow and then left again. Frank Turner also cancelled (he even posted a blog on his myspace about it.)
After no arranged interviewed via the PR company on Friday I had been gathering notes in my book from bands I managed to grab and chat with (such as Fighting with Wire and The Holloways.)
Luckily the PR people finally pulled through for us and I got to interview members of British Sea Power, headliners The Cribs and most amazingly of all...Ash! (The bassist got straight to the point of having not been paid but said they'd come from NY so it was pointless to not play.)
I also found out that Young Knives actually were playing after being told they weren't on site and ran over after Ash's amazing set to catch them. I even got an interview but as I tried to write it down it's going to take a lot of work to read my nearly illegiable scrawl.

Today its soaking. Karina, my BBC Blast mentor got to interview Funeral For A Friend and I met up with Maker, The Holloways, Marner Brown, In Case of Fire (lovely guys) and Mexico Falls.
So now I'm in the press tent waiting for a call from Chatham band 'Underground Heroes,' and also waiting to find out about whether The Hives will be doing interviews...

Frank.

Supersonic

At the moment I'm in the Custard Factory Kitchen with Sebastian Hau-Walker discussing ideas for distribution for Supersonic Festival on the 11th. We're looking for places to put leaflets/give them out/stick up posters

If you've got any ideas or want to help then please drop Sebastian a line at

sebastianhau-walker@hotmail.co.uk!

Frankie.