Cool Britannia

Oasis leads the way with seven nominations.. The complete list follows.

The 2009 nominations are:

Best British Band supported by Shockwaves
Bloc Party
The Last Shadow Puppets
Muse
Oasis
Radiohead

Best International Band supported by 4music
Crystal Castles
The Killers
Kings Of Leon
MGMT
Vampire Weekend

Best Solo Artist
Ladyhawke
Laura Marling
Lightspeed Champion
Jay-Z
Pete Doherty

Best New Band supported by Bench
Glasvegas
Late Of The Pier
MGMT
Vampire Weekend
White Lies

Best Live Band supported by Red Stripe
The Killers
Kings Of Leon
Muse
Oasis
Radiohead

Best Album supported by HMV
Bloc Party – ‘Intimacy’
Glasvegas – ‘Glasvegas’
The Killers – ‘Day & Age’
Kings Of Leon – ‘Only By The Night’
Oasis – ‘Dig Out Your Soul’

Best Track supported by NME Radio
Kings Of Leon – ‘Sex On Fire’
The Last Shadow Puppets – ‘The Age Of The Understatement’
MGMT – ‘Time To Pretend’
The Ting Tings – ‘That’s Not My Name’
Vampire Weekend – ‘A-Punk’

Best Video supported by NME TV
The Last Shadow Puppets – ‘My Mistakes Were Made For You’
Late Of The Pier – ‘Heartbreak’
Oasis – ‘The Shock Of The Lightning’
Radiohead – ‘House Of Cards’
Vampire Weekend – ‘A-Punk’

Best Live Event
Glastonbury
Isle Of Wight
Reading and Leeds
T In The Park
V Festival

Best TV Show
Gavin & Stacey
The IT Crowd
The Mighty Boosh
Never Mind The Buzzcocks
Skins

Best Film
The Dark Knight
Juno
Quantum Of Solace
Twilight
Wall-E

Best Dancefloor Filler
Bloc Party – ‘Mercury’
Crystal Castles – ‘Courtship Dating’
Dizzee Rascal & Calvin Harris – ‘Dance Wiv Me’
Friendly Fires – ‘Paris’
Late Of The Pier – ‘Bathroom Gurgle’

Best DVD
Arctic Monkeys – ‘At The Apollo’
Foo Fighters – ‘Live At Wembley Stadium’
Kaiser Chiefs – ‘Live At Elland Road’
Muse – ‘HAARP’
The Rolling Stones – ‘Shine A Light’

Hero Of The Year
Alex Turner
Barack Obama
Brandon Flowers
Noel Fielding
Noel Gallagher

Villain Of The Year
Amy Winehouse
George Bush
Gordon Brown
John McCain
Pete Doherty

Best Dressed
Alex Turner
Alexa Chung
Brandon Flowers
Noel Fielding
Noel Gallagher

Worst Dressed
Amy Winehouse
Brandon Flowers
Johnny Borrell
Katy Perry
Pete Doherty

Worst Album
Britney Spears – ‘Circus’
Coldplay – ‘Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends’
Jonas Brothers – ‘A Little Bit Longer’
Razorlight – ‘Slipway Fires’
Scouting For Girls – ‘Scouting For Girls’

Worst Band
Fall Out Boy
Jonas Brothers
Oasis
Scouting for Girls
Tokio Hotel

Sexiest Male
Carl Barat
Keith Murray
Matt Bellamy
Miles Kane
Pete Doherty

Sexiest Female
Alison Mosshart
Hayley Williams
Kate Jackson
Lykke Li
Stephanie Dosen

Best Website
Bebo
Facebook
Last FM
MySpace
YouTube

Best Venue
Brixton Academy
Manchester Apollo
London Astoria
Glasgow Barrowlands
London O2 Arena

Best Album Artwork
The Cure – ‘4:13 Dream’
Guillemots – ‘Red’
The Killers – ‘Day & Age’
Muse – ‘HAARP’
We Are Scientists – ‘Brain Thrust Mastery’

Best Band Blog
Foals
Lightspeed Champion
Little Boots
Noel Gallagher/Oasis
Radiohead

The Arctic Monkeys are two thirds closer to their follow-up to 2007’s “Your Favourite Weapon.” The third release for the Sheffield boys is being produced by Josh Homme, frontman of Queens of the Stoneage.

Although an unlikely pair, Arctic Monkey Alex Turner admits sessions are going well. “It’s been great fun,” Turner said. “We went out to the desert for a little bit, we did two sessions with Josh, we had a great time.”

Turner added, “It’s quite an inspiring place, there’s a certain element of dust in the sound of it.”
Turner told Australian network Triple J to expect the album by the summer.

The Arctic Monkeys debuted new material January 12 in New Zealand at the Wellington Town Hall. The boys performed “Dangerous Animals,” “Pretty Visitors,” “Go Cart” and “Crying Lightning.”

“Would You Like Me To Build You a Go Kart? “

Three cheers for UK bands coming to America! First.. Bloc Party

March 13 - 14     Toronto, ON            Kool Haus
March 15     London, ON                     Centennial Hall
March 17     Ottawa, ON                      Bronson Centre
March 18     Montreal, QC                   Metropolis
March 19     Boston, MA                       House of Blues
March 21     Philadelphia, PA              Electric Factory
March 22     Washington, DC               9:30 Club
March 24 - 25     New York, NY         Terminal 5
March 27     Miami, FL                        Ultra Festival
March 28     Chicago, IL                      Riviera Theatre
March 30     Minneapolis, MN            First Avenue
March 31     St. Louis, MO                  The Pageant
April 26     Vancouver, BC                  Commodore Ballroom
April 29     Edmonton, AB                   Shaw Conference Centre
April 30     Calgary, AB                       Big Four
May 2         Saskatoon, SK                  Odeon
May 3         Winnipeg, MB                  Burton Cummings Theatre

Is anyone else sick of Lily Allen? In the last week I think I have read more about her than in the last year. Yes, I greatly enjoyed her first album, and was looking forward to her new one, however I’m so sick of hearing about her I think I may boycott it. I can deal with someone being plastered all over the tabloids and gossip sites, like Victoria Beckham, but she does not ask for that attention. Lily Allen uses the stupidest and trashiest ways to get attention for her new album.

I do not care that she accidentally flashed Damon Albarn, sent topless pictures on accident to Ricky from the Kaiser Chiefs, had a lesbian threesome, went into a psychiatric hospital after suffering a miscarriage last year or has a third nipple. If her album was any good she would not need to draw all this attention to herself, the media will pick up on it, especially because she is such a big pop star.  I do not think Katy Perry should have called her fat, trash is the better word.  To think girls look up to Lily Allen across the world and this is what she does with her celebrity status. It’s  disgusting really.

Her dad said it best when he said she needs to learn “to shut her f***ing mouth.”

(I’ll admit.. I LOVE this dress! )

2009 Brit Award Nominees:

Best Album: Duffy (Rockferry), Coldplay (Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends),  Elbow (The Seldom Seen Kid), Radiohead (In Rainbows), The Ting Tings (We Started Nothing)
Best Female Solo: Duffy, Adele, Beth Rowley, Estelle and M.I.A.
Best Breakthrough Act: Duffy, The Last Shadow Puppets, Adele, The Ting Tings, Scouting For Girls
Best single: Duffy (Mercy), Coldplay (Viva La Vida),
Best Live Act: Coldplay, Elbow, The Verve, Scouting For Girls, Iron Maiden
Best Group: Elbow, Coldplay, Girls Aloud, Radiohead, Take That
British Male: Ian Brown, Paul Weller, James Morrison, The Streets, Will Young
British Single: Adele  - ‘Chasing Pavements’, Alexandra Burke - ‘Hallelujah’, Coldplay - ‘Viva La Vida’, Dizzee Rascal - ‘Dance Wiv Me’, Duffy - ‘Mercy’, Estelle feat Kanye West - ‘American Boy’, Girls Aloud - ‘The Promise’, Leona Lewis - ‘Better In Time’, Scouting For Girls - ‘Heartbeat’, X Factor Finalists - ‘Hero’
International Male Solo Artist: Beck, Neil Diamond, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Seasick Steve
International Female Solo Artist: Beyonce Knowles, Gabriella Cilmi, Katy Perry, Pink, Santogold
International Group: AC/DC, Fleet Foxes, The Killers, Kings Of Leon, MGMT
International album: AC/DC – ‘Black Ice’, Fleet Foxes – ‘Fleet Foxes’, The Killers – ‘Day and Age’, Kings of Leon – ‘Only By The Night’, MGMT – ‘Oracular Spectacular’
British Producer of the Year: Bernard Butler, Brian Eno, Steve Mac
Outstanding Contribution to Music: The Pet Shop Boys
The Critic’s Choice: Florence and The Machine

The Courteeners are running into problems with their label. Lead singer, Liam Fray is in huge disagreement with their label over the direction of their new album. 

The sophomore follow-up to “St. Jude” is promised to have a new sound, but the label is looking for a specific style.

“There’s nothing wrong with St Jude but this time I want things to evolve,” Fray told the Daily Star. “I’ve got nine songs at least. Some sound in my head like singles, but they probably won’t to the label’s ears. They want Snow Patrol songs.”

Fray promises fans will find “Bojangles,” “Revolver,” and “Three Months” on the new album. “Bojangles” and “Revolver” have been performed live. “Three Months” is “about how three months is the point in a relationship where you can tell if it’s got a future or not.” Fray told the Star.

Tune into the Brit Awards to see Kylie Minogue hosting alongside Gavin and Stacey stars James Corden and Mathew Horne. Official nominations will be announced tomorrow for the Grammy equivalent show.

However, so far we know there will be performances by Duffy, Kings of Leon and Girls Aloud. U2 is also going to perform their newest single, “Get on Your Boots.” I am going to say what many people are afraid to. “GREAT! (please note the sarcasm) Another U2 album!” I have not missed them and will officially not listen to the radio for at least two years until every single is released and done being overplayed.

Onward with the awards.. The Pet Shops Boys will receive the lifetime achievement award and Florence and the Machine is picking up Critic’s Choice.

Viewers will vote throughout the show, airing in February, for single of the year.

Last year’s big winners? Take That!

One of the most unique tours I have ever heard of: Paul Weller in the Woods.  Okay, that’s not the official title, but it should be, it has a nice ring to it.
Paul Weller will be playing a series of shows in the woodlands of the United Kingdom this summer. The British singer-songwriter is doing this as part of the Forestry Commission Live Music 2009.

Forest venues will include: High Lodge in Suffolk’s Thetford Forest, Dalby Forest in North Yorskshire and Cannock Chase Forest in Staffordshire.

Weller previously played in the woodlands back in 2004. According to Tourdates U.K., other performers throughout the season will be Jools Holland with his Rhythm and blues Orchestra.

The Red Light Company’s long awaited debut album, “Fine Fascination” will be released March 2.  Lavolta Records will release the album, produced by Adrian Bushby of U2 and Foo Fighters fame. “Scheme Eugene” and “Arts & Crafts” are two singles already released from this album. The singles have gained respected nods from MTV and Radio 1.
The complete track listing is:

Words Of Spectacular
Scheme Eugene
Arts & Crafts
First We Land
With Lights Out
New Jersey Television
The Architect
Meccano
When Everyone Is Everybody Else
The Alamo

The Red Light Company have opened for the likes of The Pigeon Detectives, Kaiser Chiefs and Glasvegas. However, they are touring through March.

Fri 23 January Wakefield Escobar
Sat 24 January Manchester Ruby Lounge
Sat 7 March Liverpool, Evol
Sun 8 March Hull, Adelphi
Mon 9 March Dundee, Fat Sams
Tue 10 March Glasgow, Nice n Sleazys
Wed 11 March Newcastle, Cluny
Fri 13 March Sheffield, Leadmill
Sat 14 March York, Fibbers
Sun 15 March Leeds, Cockpit
Mon 16 March Nottingham, Bodega
Tue 17 March Birmingham, Academy 3
Wed 18 March Manchester, Roadhouse
Fri 20 March Southampton, Joiners
Sat 21 March Cheltenham, The Frog and Fiddle
Sun 22 March Bristol, Thekla
Mon 23 March Cardiff, Barfly
Tue 24 March London, Borderline
Wed 25 March Norwich, Arts Centre

Radiohead left their original label in 2007 prior to the official release of their album, “In Rainbows.” Like may other Britrockers, Radiohead had conflicted views and did not like the changes at the label.

After Radiohead left the label, it still re-released the new album “In Rainbows” and a “Best of”collection. March 24 EMI plans to re-release Radiohead’s first three albums, “Pablo Honey,” “The Bends,” and “OK Computers,” as double disc sets. I can’t help but wonder if the band put its stamp of approval on the project.

Each CD will have the original album and a second disc containing corresponding B-sides. “Pablo Honey” and “The Bends” will have special collector’s editions that have a DVD with the releases completing one whole live concert.

 EMI is also re-issuing the bands 12 singles on 12″ vinyl in April.