Search Results for: mercury prize

In 2004, U.K.-based independent label Memphis Industries released the sample-heavy, intentionally lo-fi and daringly jarring “Thunder, Lightning, Strike,” the Go! Team’s debut full-length CD. The buzz was deafening, so in 2005, the label entered a joint venture with Sony BMG to distribute the album internationally, with the major’s Columbia subsidiary handling it in the United States. It’s a turn of events that every band dreams of — unless that band is the Go! Team. The brainchild of Ian Parton, the Go! Team was never supposed to be mainstream. Parton set out to make “dirty” pop songs — danceable, catchy tunes… Read more »

The Streets, a.k.a. innovative English rapper Mike Skinner, have the U.K.’s No. 1 single and album, just days after being nominated for the country’s prestigious Mercury Music Prize. The one-man band’s album, “A Grand Don’t Come For Free,” moved up one place to No. 1 in its 11th week on the survey, while second single “Dry Your Eyes” entered the chart at No. 1. Last week’s No. 1 single, “Lola’s Theme” by Shapeshifters, fell to No. 2. The only other new entry in the top 10 was the remix of Lou Reed’s “Satellite of Love” by London outfit Dab Hands,… Read more »

British rock band The Darkness struck a blow for the big hair, skin-tight catsuits and wailing guitar solos of the 1980s Thursday, outshining rivals at Britain’s biggest heavy metal awards. The much-hyped quartet won two awards, for best album and best live act, at music magazine Kerrang!’s 10th annual ceremony in London. It was a far cry from the band’s humble roots in rural Suffolk, eastern England, where lead singer Justin Hawkins and the band used to perform before tiny audiences in bars. “We’ve always behaved like stadium rockers, even at the beginning when we were playing in pubs,” Hawkins… Read more »

PJ Harvey won Britain’s most prestigious popular music award on Tuesday, but was unable to accept it in person after being stranded in the United States following devastating attacks on New York and Washington. The British singer-songwriter told the Mercury Award ceremony in London by telephone from Washington: “It has been a very surreal day. All I can say is thank you very much I am absolutely stunned.” Referring to the day’s tragedy she said: “The whole city is in a state of shock.” U.S. authorities halted all civilian flights until at least midday on Wednesday after three hijacked domestic… Read more »

The recent announcement of an upcoming PJ Harvey tour resulted in immediate sold out shows in Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Francisco and Chicago. An additional date in New York (September 5 at the Hammerstein) has been added as well, as the New York September 4 show is also selling quickly. Furthermore, Harvey has added a date in Denver, CO. PJ Harvey returns to the U.S. following European festival dates and an arena tour with U2. The acclaimed artist will perform in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington D.C., Chicago, San Francisco, Denver and Los Angeles in support of her current… Read more »

Following European festival dates and an arena tour with U2, acclaimed artist PJ Harvey returns to the U.S. for an intimate headline tour in September. Harvey will perform in Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other cities in support of her current release, Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea. Harvey will also make a guest performance on The Tonight Show on September 19th. Stories has received tremendous critical praise in the U.S. and internationally since its release last October. In addition to numerous press accolades (the release was on the Top 10 lists of premiere… Read more »