About - Live Earth, South Coast Idol

Various music news features cropped up every so often on the Native.tv website. Here's a handful I managed to salvage.

Words - Suzy Sims
Previously published on Native.tv http://www.native.tv in 2007
(c) Niche News & Publishing Ltd

ABOUT - LIVE EARTH

You're going to be hearing an awful lot about Live Earth soon, if you haven't already. All the newspapers are talking about this. But what exactly is going on?

It’s a big concert!
Indeed it is. It will be held on July 7th, which number fans will notice is 07/07/07. Confirmed for the UK leg at Wembley Stadium are Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snow Patrol, Bloc Party, Duran Duran, Beastie Boys, Black Eyed Peas, Corinne Bailey Rae, Madonna, Razorlight, James Blunt and Foo Fighters. The Police have reformed to play the US gig.

Isn’t it another Live 8?
Er, not quite. Live 8 raised awareness of poverty. Live Earth is set to raise awareness of climate change. It’s not out to raise money like other charity telethons - it’s meant to help educate us on what is happening global-warming wise; what potential dangers are there and what we can do to help.

Do concerts not use electricity etc then?
Ha ha ha. You cynics. Live Earth is aiming to be unique amongst giant, resources-guzzling gigs by using greener, carbon-neutral methods of transport and 'eco-friendly' electricity. Organisers hope it will set a precedent for future events.

Where is it being held?
The UK leg (as we just said) will be at Wembley Stadium. But this will be a 24 hour gig thanks to various time zones and a hell of a lot of organising. Other shows will be in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Australia (Sydney), USA (New Jersey), South Africa (Johannesburg), and Japan (Tokyo).

Who’s the brains behind it?
Kevin Wall, founder of SOS (Save Our Selves) and Worldwide Executive Producer of Live 8. Now there’s a job title to have on your CV. Also a certain Mr Al Gore, former US Vice President and a frequent campaigner for combating global warming. Seen his film ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ yet?

Save Our What Now?
SOS, or Save Our Selves, is all about starting a mass movement to combat our climate crisis (says the website blurb). The more the merrier, as it were. They believe the problems caused by global warming can only be addressed by us, and it has to be on a mass scale to make any significant difference.

“SOS is more than a distress call. The most important part is how people respond. As we move forward, SOS will not only issue the call, but will provide the solutions individuals, corporations, governments and the world can use in answering it.”

So there.

So how do I get a ticket?
Hold your horses. Sadly you can't just nip out and buy one. First of all you have to register your details at this address. You’ve got from noon on Friday April 13th until Monday April 16th (again at noon) to do this.

Those who register will then go into a ballot. The lucky chosen few will be sent a reference number and ticket hotline details by Wednesday April 18th. This will allow them to purchase one pair of tickets – providing they do so before Friday April 20th.

Tickets are £55 each.

I’m not paying that!
Fear not, you can help save the environment in marginally cheaper ways. Spend the money on some energy-saving light bulbs. Look into carbon offsetting when you have to fly. If flying’s not necessary then take the train, you can get some good deals booking in advance. Don’t forget to recycle all those bits of card and paper you were going to throw out.

I want more information
Oh, do you. Well try these links:
Live Earth - the official site
Alliance For Climate Protection – doing their best to educate the public on climate change and what can be done
MSN - They’ll be streaming the concert live
Control Room – owned by Kevin Wall. Watch online concerts
RecycleNow – about recycling at home
Climate Care – includes carbon footprint calculator
The Royal Society – science behind climate change

-----

ABOUT - SOUTH COAST IDOL

South Coast Idol is a music talent contest. After a series of exciting heats, the finals are rapidly approaching us, like a runaway train (but less dangerous). Let's tell you a little more about what's happening...

South Coast Idol? Where’s Simon Cowell?
Strangely enough, Simon Cowell does not run every single music talent contest. Neither does Louis Walsh.

So what’s this about?
Actually it’s the biggest music talent contest in the UK outside of ‘X Factor’. Unsigned bands, singer/songwriters, groups and solo artists. By mid-January, some 10,000 had registered.

There are two categories – under 17s, and old people (aka over 17s). Entrants have a short time to impress the judges. A lucky few will be invited to perform at the regional semi finals, and an even luckier few will be attending the finals. Last year, the finals sold out.

What does the winner get?
A very welcome management contract and a £20,000 advance.

Who are the judges/celebrity acts?
The judges and celebrity acts at each heat vary, but have included Mark Hill (ex-Artful Dodger), DJ Terry Mills, Musical Youth, 4Tune, Steve Brookstein, and the lovely Cheryl Baker. The shows also attract a healthy number of industry professionals who lurk around looking for the next big thing.

This time round, adult heat winners were Blue Soul Pharmacy (Croydon), Chris Pugh (Lymington), Loaded Dice (Shepperton), Moontown (Dorchester), Sam Harding (Bristol), Sarah Covey (Swindon).

Youth heat winners were Delleile Ankrah (Liverpool), Fizz Reynolds (Waterlooville), Hardy Heroes (Portsmouth), Jay Orme (Kingston), Michelle Nunn (Kent), Sam Smith (Cambridgeshire) and Spite (Devizes).

There were also a large number of triumphant runners-up, who we won't list here (nothing personal, just due to space restrictions).

I don’t want to enter but it sounds interesting.
That’s why there are heats, so you can go along, lend your ears and support local talent. The heats also feature surprise celebrity performances.

I’m not a Southerner.
Next year the competition will be going national. Regional heats are being planned for Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guildford, Leeds, Liverpool, London (North), London (South), Manchester, Portsmouth, Reading, Sheffield and Southampton.

The next round of auditions begins in November, so get practising. You can register now.

Can you tell me about the final?
Yes we can. It’s at Portsmouth Guildhall on Saturday 26th May. Actually there are two, an afternoon showcase for the under 17s and an evening showcase for the over 17s. The afternoon one will include performances from Eton Road, Ben Mills and Lee from Steps. The evening one will include performances from East 17, Gilkicker, Dane Bowers and Mark Hill.

Tickets are £17, or £22 for front row seats. Cheapskates – sorry, we mean ‘early-birds’ – can get tickets for £15 up to and including 30th April. Get them from the Guildhall website or call the box office on 02392 824355.

I want to find out more.
See the official website for more information and pictures.