Exclusive: Eavis Speaks

Glasto organiser confirms headliners

08 Feb 2008 - Emily Eavis has told 6 Music that The Verve and Kings Of Leon will be joining Jay Z in headlining the 2008 Glastonbury Festival.

Glasto organisers never normally name any acts on the bill prior to tickets going on sale, but in the face of considerable media speculation Eavis has confirmed the Followill brothers will play on Friday night (27 June) while the recently reunited Verve will close the festival on Sunday (29 June).

In an interview for The Music Week, she says, “All three of those bands are amazing headliners. Kings of Leon should be one of the biggest bands on the planet. They’ve got such an amazing live following, but they haven’t really been given that final nod.

“We have a history of putting bands on the Friday night stage that are reasonably big, but come off an amazing success. They’re really one of those bands that can pull that off as far as I am concerned.”

On the subject of The Verve, Emily added, “I really think it'll be an epic end to the festival. The Verve are such a brilliant British band and they've really come through the festival, playing on different stages for years.

“We've been waiting for the right moment for them to headline. It’s the most eclectic line up we have had for a long time.

“We feel so proud of our line up this year.”

"It's the most eclectic line up we 've had for a long time. We feel so proud .”
Emily Eavis

The line-up news comes after Michael Eavis revealed last week that Jay-Z will headline the Pyramid Stage on Saturday night (28 June).

Responding to reports that Jay Z’s booking was an attempt at attracting a younger crowd, Emily explained, “We just felt like we wanted to do something different this year.

“It’s nothing about young people, contrary to mixed reports, it’s about doing what we think is really interesting, different and good.

“I know its divided people, but the reaction has been incredible. He’s amazing live. He is such a legend and it will be great seeing him.”

The ticket registration process is open at the Glastonbury website until 29 February.


Matt Everitt

Rocking Against Racism

New club night launched, but without anticipated Doherty appearance

08 Feb 2008 - Rumours that Pete Doherty would perform at the inaugural Rock Against Racism London club night were dashed on Friday (8 Feb).

But that didn’t stop an impressive number of club goers, pleasure-seekers and social activists from turning up to support Rebels, Roots & Rockers – the first of a monthly run of music and social awareness nights set up by the Rock Against Racism organisation.

Jerry Dammers delivered a hearty ‘punky reggae’ DJ set in one section of the JAMM venue while live performances from The Krak (featuring, ironically, former Babyshambles drummer Gemma Clarke), The Mentalists, The Thirst and headliners The Others rocked the larger adjoining room.

To be fair, Pete was never officially confirmed on the bill, but hopes of his arrival were fuelled by his association with Brixton four-piece The Thirst.

The quartet met the Babyshambles frontman after working with producer Jake Fior.

That led to some informal sessions that they hope will result in material appearing on their debut album and Pete’s solo set.

"We didn’t know about this until we read about it in the paper yesterday."
Mensah from The Thirst on the Pete rumours

But speaking before they took to the stage, The Thirst’s singer/guitarist Mensah denied that the band had started the rumours for their own benefit: “We didn’t know about this until we read about it in the paper yesterday. We were like, oh, ok! We didn’t even know what was going on.”

Rebels, Roots & Rockers is one of a number of events that will mark the 30 ^th anniversary of Rock Against Racism’s 1978 Victoria Park carnival when 100,000 people marched from Trafalgar Square to Hackney in opposition of the National Front. Marchers then watched performances from The Clash, Tom Robinson and Steel Pulse.

Before welcoming each band to the stage tonight, host Geoff Martin reminded the audience of RAR’s legacy.

He told 6 Music News that 2008’s run of commemorative events were all-important: “Bands really want to be associated with this sort of campaign because they know how important it is.

“We’re trying to rekindle some of that energy and enthusiasm that created Rock Against Racism in the carnival 30 years ago.”

Jacqueline Springer

Hawley's NME surprise

Songwriter takes awards shows to Manchester

09 Feb 2008 - The performance by the king of retro rockabilly, Richard Hawley, at Manchester Academy last night was the second in a series of NME Shockwaves Awards Shows to take place in the city over the next couple of weeks.







Hawley’s brand of kitsch rock 'n' roll was a slightly controversial booking in the run up to the NME Awards, considering the magazine’s typically teenage readership. Hawley acknowledged the unusual scheduling just before the gig when he told 6 Music how he felt honoured to have been chosen to play.







"It’s been really nice to be asked to do this especially me as a 41-year-old father of three," he said. "I find it quite funny. It’s a case of NME Brute not NME Brats [the awards used to be called the Brats]."







Hawley’s audience might have had an average age above the magazine's other gigs, but they were treated to some top class northern banter as Hawley made this not so intimate venue seem much cosier with his down to earth, razor-sharp wit and anecdotal interludes.







“Right then, let's ballad,” he joked at the beginning of the show, before launching into a set list which consisted mainly of songs from his latest album

Lady’s Bridge

.







There were a few covers and special solo performances, but highlights for the audience included Hawley’s rendition of Lonesome Town by Ricky Nelson and his popular upbeat skiffle number Serious. Hawley was also joined on stage at different times throughout the gig by special guest and local Mancunian Clive Mellor, whose virtuosic harmonica playing helped bring the set to life.

"It's a case of NME Brute" -

  Richard Hawley

These NME Awards gigs come ahead of this year’s Brit Awards ceremony where Hawley will be battling it out with Mika, Mark Ronson, Newton Faulkner and Jamie T in the Best Male category. The pressure is on but it doesn’t seem to phase the Sheffield songsmith.







“Everyone around me is more arsed about the Brit Awards than I am," he said. "I’ve been before to the Brits and its kind of like watching people that you take seriously every day make absolute fools of themselves. And I find it quite funny to watch people get that hammered.”









"London's rubbish"








In fact, Hawley is a self-confessed cynic and especially when it comes to music awards.







He said: “You never think of awards when you’re making a record. The funniest one was Arena Man of the year. I got nominated and I won it. So me wife kept texting me saying, ‘Oy, Arena Man of the Year, get some milk will you? We’ve run out.’ Or, ‘Oy Arena Man of the Year, pick the kids up will you? I’m getting my hair done.’ I don’t know, as long as they don’t detract from the music and don’t make me a big head [awards] are okay.”







He might not be precious about awards then, but it’s good to see he is still precious about his northern roots. Hawley told 6 Music how pleased he was that this series of NME awards shows will showcase talent in cities other than London for the first time.







He said: "What’s really good about it is that they are taking it out of London and that it's not London-centric. So we’re in Manchester tonight and we’re in Glasgow tomorrow and that’s good because London’s rubbish isn’t it?”





Elizabeth Alker

Hawley's NME surprise

Songwriter takes awards shows to Manchester

09 Feb 2008 - The performance by the king of retro rockabilly, Richard Hawley, at Manchester Academy last night was the second in a series of NME Shockwaves Awards Shows to take place in the city over the next couple of weeks.







Hawley’s brand of kitsch rock 'n' roll was a slightly controversial booking in the run up to the NME Awards, considering the magazine’s typically teenage readership. Hawley acknowledged the unusual scheduling just before the gig when he told 6 Music how he felt honoured to have been chosen to play.







"It’s been really nice to be asked to do this especially me as a 41-year-old father of three," he said. "I find it quite funny. It’s a case of NME Brute not NME Brats [the awards used to be called the Brats]."







Hawley’s audience might have had an average age above the magazine's other gigs, but they were treated to some top class northern banter as Hawley made this not so intimate venue seem much cosier with his down to earth, razor-sharp wit and anecdotal interludes.







“Right then, let's ballad,” he joked at the beginning of the show, before launching into a set list which consisted mainly of songs from his latest album

Lady’s Bridge

.







There were a few covers and special solo performances, but highlights for the audience included Hawley’s rendition of Lonesome Town by Ricky Nelson and his popular upbeat skiffle number Serious. Hawley was also joined on stage at different times throughout the gig by special guest and local Mancunian Clive Mellor, whose virtuosic harmonica playing helped bring the set to life.

"It's a case of NME Brute" -

  Richard Hawley

These NME Awards gigs come ahead of this year’s Brit Awards ceremony where Hawley will be battling it out with Mika, Mark Ronson, Newton Faulkner and Jamie T in the Best Male category. The pressure is on but it doesn’t seem to phase the Sheffield songsmith.







“Everyone around me is more arsed about the Brit Awards than I am," he said. "I’ve been before to the Brits and its kind of like watching people that you take seriously every day make absolute fools of themselves. And I find it quite funny to watch people get that hammered.”









"London's rubbish"








In fact, Hawley is a self-confessed cynic and especially when it comes to music awards.







He said: “You never think of awards when you’re making a record. The funniest one was Arena Man of the year. I got nominated and I won it. So me wife kept texting me saying, ‘Oy, Arena Man of the Year, get some milk will you? We’ve run out.’ Or, ‘Oy Arena Man of the Year, pick the kids up will you? I’m getting my hair done.’ I don’t know, as long as they don’t detract from the music and don’t make me a big head [awards] are okay.”







He might not be precious about awards then, but it’s good to see he is still precious about his northern roots. Hawley told 6 Music how pleased he was that this series of NME awards shows will showcase talent in cities other than London for the first time.







He said: "What’s really good about it is that they are taking it out of London and that it's not London-centric. So we’re in Manchester tonight and we’re in Glasgow tomorrow and that’s good because London’s rubbish isn’t it?”





Elizabeth Alker