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Five Day Forecast – w/c 23 Jan 2012

By | Published on Monday 23 January 2012

Andy Malt

“How is your fitness regime going?” I was asked last week. “Fine”, I lied. Which must mean it’s almost February. Still, we have one full week of January left, and I’m going to attempt to use it to salvage what’s left of my plans to go to the gym more. Problem is, most of my spare time at the moment is broken down into how many episodes of ‘The Killing’ I could fit into it, and besides that there are just too many other distractions. I mean look at all these things that are happening this week…

01: First Great Escape convention announcement. For the last few months, we’ve been beavering away, putting together the music industry convention section of The Great Escape 2012. Like last year, we have been attempting to pull together people who spend their days trying to push music forward in some way. We’re still a way off the festival, which takes place in May, but we’ll have the first announcement of some of the speakers who will be speaking later this week. Tickets are available now.

02: Radio 1 goes to Hull. Radio 1 and 1Xtra are committed to new music. So committed that their presenters are prepared to go to Hull for four days. If that doesn’t prove it, nothing will. Zane Lowe, Nick Grimshaw, Annie Mac, Pete Tong, Nick Grimshaw and Trevor Nelson will all be broadcasting shows from around the Yorkshire city from Thursday to Sunday, with performances from some hot new talent to boot.

03: BASCA professional development sessions. The British Academy Of Songwriters, Composers And Authors will stage the first of two events scheduled as part of its professional business development programme, both aimed at songwriters or composers looking to take more control of their own business affairs. This week’s will look at the logistics of managing your own career, and at the service providers which can help in that process, and will take place on Tuesday.

04: New releases. My favourite new release this week is Porcelain Raft’s debut album, a collection of beautiful, swirling dream-pop I strongly urge you to check out. And while you’re at it, you should listen to the playlist he put together for us last week, featuring ten of his favourite songs. Also out this week are new albums from DJ Food, First Aid Kit, Chairlift, and MJ Hibbett And The Validators with their indie rock opera ‘Dinosaur planet’, plus Radiohead release their ‘From The Basement’ DVD featuring a studio performance of their ‘The King Of Limbs’ album, and the first screenings of The Chemical Brothers‘ live film will also hit cinemas.

05: Gigs. My gig of the week is the latest outing of Nordic showcase night Ja Ja Ja at The Lexington in London, where you’ll be treated to performances by Giana Factory and Philco Fiction, both of whom are fantastic. As well as that, you could also check out Zulu Winter at XOYO on Thursday, Childish Gambino at CAMP on Wednesday and Thursday, and Explosions In The Sky all over the flippin place, finishing up at Brixton Academy on Friday.

And finally, if you happen to have a spare radio studio knocking around, please lend it to Mr Trick and Wrongtom so that they can continue broadcasting their show.

Andy Malt
Editor, CMU



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