Live Fest
Encyclopedia
Live Fest is a bi-annual music festival held at The O2
in London
. According to its organizers, it is the largest indoor music festival in the United Kingdom
. In the first festival on July 23, 2011, some of the headlining acts included Zane Lowe
, Tinchy Stryder
, Roll Deep
, The Hoosiers
, and Funeral for a Friend
. Prominent genres of music at the festival include urban, pop
, rock
, and indie.
in London
. Programming take place over five stages within The O2, including Proud2, Inc Club,and the IndigO2. The O2 Arena is the second largest arena in the UK, and in 2008 it took the crown of the world's busiest music arena from the MEN Arena. During the festival the IndiO2 stage is dedicated to emerging and unsigned UK musicians with the Grand National Finales of the Live and Unsigned and Open Mic UK
music contests. The Live and Unsigned finale occurs in mid-summer, while Open Mic UK typically occurs in January. The next Live Fest has been announced as January 21, 2012. The mascot for the festival is a green alien called Bob. Prominent genres of music at the festival include urban, pop
, rock
, and hardcore
. According to Irwin Sparkes, the festival's headlining lineup for pop acts is particularly strong.
Headliners
Original headliners N-Dubz
cancelled a week before the festival after a judging conflict for the The X Factor
. Other acts included Paradise Point, Saturday Night Gym Club, My Electrik, Ras Kwame
, David Benassi, Lazy Grafters, Back Acid Soul, Kasha
, Flowdem and Fdot1 who brought neo-soul queen Kyra Simone, hot female rappers 2Amplified, lyrical upstart Dray Delta and vocal sensation David Mensah up on stage with him to perform tracks from his album Money MusicK. According to organizers, over 200 acts performed across the five stages. At the Live and Unsigned 2011 Grand final occurring concurrently at the IndigO2, The Trinity Band
was voted the winner by a panel of judges.
Amy Winehouse
was announced dead just hours before the end of the festival. Artists such as Zane Lowe
and Roll Deep
were among the first to announce the news to their audience, and played tributes in their acts.
The O2
The O2, visually typeset in branding as The O2, is a large entertainment district on the Greenwich peninsula in South East London, England, including an indoor arena, a music club, a Cineworld cinema, an exhibition space, piazzas, bars and restaurants...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. According to its organizers, it is the largest indoor music festival in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. In the first festival on July 23, 2011, some of the headlining acts included Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
, Tinchy Stryder
Tinchy Stryder
Kwasi Danquah III , better known by his pseudonyms Tinchy Stryder and Star In The Hood, is a Ghanaian British recording artist, music executive, A&R executive, and businessman...
, Roll Deep
Roll Deep
Roll Deep are an Urban Music Awards-winning London-based grime music collective. They were founded in 2002, by a group of MCs including Wiley. Roll Deep were also closely associated with Boy Better Know with members in both. Their debut album, In at the Deep End, was released in June 2005...
, The Hoosiers
The Hoosiers
The Hoosiers are an English pop/rock band, consisting of members Irwin Sparkes , Martin Skarendahl and Alan Sharland ....
, and Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend are a Welsh post-hardcore band, from Bridgend. Formed 2001, they have released five studio albums, seven EPs, sixteen singles, one DVD, and one compilation album.-Formation and Early Years:...
. Prominent genres of music at the festival include urban, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, and indie.
Overview
Live Fest is a bi-annual music festival that takes place at The O2The O2
The O2, visually typeset in branding as The O2, is a large entertainment district on the Greenwich peninsula in South East London, England, including an indoor arena, a music club, a Cineworld cinema, an exhibition space, piazzas, bars and restaurants...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Programming take place over five stages within The O2, including Proud2, Inc Club,and the IndigO2. The O2 Arena is the second largest arena in the UK, and in 2008 it took the crown of the world's busiest music arena from the MEN Arena. During the festival the IndiO2 stage is dedicated to emerging and unsigned UK musicians with the Grand National Finales of the Live and Unsigned and Open Mic UK
Open Mic UK
Open Mic UK is a live music competition in the UK for singers, vocalists and solo artists. Acts compete at regional auditions to get the chance to perform live at live music showcases to reach an annual national final, which is held at the IndigO2 in London as part of Live Fest...
music contests. The Live and Unsigned finale occurs in mid-summer, while Open Mic UK typically occurs in January. The next Live Fest has been announced as January 21, 2012. The mascot for the festival is a green alien called Bob. Prominent genres of music at the festival include urban, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, and hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
. According to Irwin Sparkes, the festival's headlining lineup for pop acts is particularly strong.
July 23, 2011
The first Live Fest took place on July 23, 2011. Urban acts were largely held at Proud2, while most of the headlining bands performed at IndigO2. According to organizers, some 6,000 people attended.Headliners
- Zane LoweZane LoweZane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
- Tinchy StryderTinchy StryderKwasi Danquah III , better known by his pseudonyms Tinchy Stryder and Star In The Hood, is a Ghanaian British recording artist, music executive, A&R executive, and businessman...
- Roll DeepRoll DeepRoll Deep are an Urban Music Awards-winning London-based grime music collective. They were founded in 2002, by a group of MCs including Wiley. Roll Deep were also closely associated with Boy Better Know with members in both. Their debut album, In at the Deep End, was released in June 2005...
- The HoosiersThe HoosiersThe Hoosiers are an English pop/rock band, consisting of members Irwin Sparkes , Martin Skarendahl and Alan Sharland ....
- Missing AndyMissing AndyMissing Andy are a British indie band based in Essex. The group comprises Alex Greaves, Jonathan Sharpe, Rob Jones, Steve Rolls and Elliot Richardson. The band's debut single "The Way We're Made " reached number 38 on the UK Singles Chart and number 7 on the UK Indie Chart in September 2010, after...
- Hatty KeaneHatty KeaneHatty Keane is an English R&B and pop singer. In January 2011 she won the under-18 category of Open Mic UK at the age of 16. She signed to BGM and Future Music shortly afterwards. In June 2011 she performed alongside Tinchy Stryder at Live Fest at the O2 in London, and in November 2011 performed...
- Greig Stewart of Guillemots
- Tempa TTempa TTempa T born , also known as Tempz/T. is a Ghanaian British Grime MC originating from East london and member of underground Grime Crew "Slew Dem Crew". Tempz is particularly known for excitable nature, his angry lyrics, raw energy and muscles the hype that he creates with his tracks. He released a...
- Pegasus BridgeLAB RecordsLAB Records is a British-based independent record label operating from Manchester, England and founded by Mark Orr and Nathen McVittie. Orr originally conceptualised the label whilst in sixth form in 2005, and began working in the music industry as a music promoter under the title ‘Life’s A...
- Funeral for a FriendFuneral for a FriendFuneral for a Friend are a Welsh post-hardcore band, from Bridgend. Formed 2001, they have released five studio albums, seven EPs, sixteen singles, one DVD, and one compilation album.-Formation and Early Years:...
- Kids in Glass HousesKids in Glass HousesKids in Glass Houses are a Welsh rock band from Cardiff, and are considered a significant part of the Cardiff music scene. The band's name is inspired by the lyrics "not throwing stones at you anymore" from Glassjaw song "Tip Your Bartender". The band achieved success on the strength of the singles...
- Bez from Happy MondaysHappy MondaysHappy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
- Gary PowellGary PowellGary Armstrong Powell is a British drummer. He is primarily the drummer for The Libertines, as well as doing the same for the band formed by his bandmate Carl Barat after the Libertines split, Dirty Pretty Things and Guyanese artist, Eddy Grant...
of the The LibertinesThe LibertinesThe Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career... - Nate Young
Original headliners N-Dubz
N-Dubz
N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...
cancelled a week before the festival after a judging conflict for the The X Factor
The X Factor (UK series 8)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. The eighth series began airing on ITV on 20 August 2011. Louis Walsh is the only judge from the previous series to return, as the other three, Simon Cowell, Dannii Minogue and Cheryl Cole, all left to join other...
. Other acts included Paradise Point, Saturday Night Gym Club, My Electrik, Ras Kwame
Ras Kwame
Ras Kwame is a British radio DJ and presenter. He started in the music industry as a club DJ playing hip hop, R&B and reggae in the early 1990s. He then moved on to promoting for Kiss100's groundbreaking Starlight Club night and the Mean Fiddler’s Subterranea Club, bringing over talent from the US...
, David Benassi, Lazy Grafters, Back Acid Soul, Kasha
Kasha (UK Rap Artist)
-Introduction:Kasha is a rap artist and song writer from Charlton, London, UK. He is currently signed to and partial owner of a production group called Vivid Imagery. Kasha is a conscious rapper widely claimed for his positivity and honest stance on music...
, Flowdem and Fdot1 who brought neo-soul queen Kyra Simone, hot female rappers 2Amplified, lyrical upstart Dray Delta and vocal sensation David Mensah up on stage with him to perform tracks from his album Money MusicK. According to organizers, over 200 acts performed across the five stages. At the Live and Unsigned 2011 Grand final occurring concurrently at the IndigO2, The Trinity Band
The Trinity Band
The Trinity Band is a five piece musical group founded in 2004 from Derby, England. The band consists of Rukus , Dwaine Hayden , Craig Dawkins , James Dawkins and Pete Sharpe ....
was voted the winner by a panel of judges.
Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse
Amy Jade Winehouse was an English singer-songwriter known for her powerful deep contralto vocals and her eclectic mix of musical genres including R&B, soul and jazz. Winehouse's 2003 debut album, Frank, was critically successful in the UK and was nominated for the Mercury Prize...
was announced dead just hours before the end of the festival. Artists such as Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
and Roll Deep
Roll Deep
Roll Deep are an Urban Music Awards-winning London-based grime music collective. They were founded in 2002, by a group of MCs including Wiley. Roll Deep were also closely associated with Boy Better Know with members in both. Their debut album, In at the Deep End, was released in June 2005...
were among the first to announce the news to their audience, and played tributes in their acts.
External links
- Live Fest on TwitterTwitterTwitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
- Live Fest on FacebookFacebookFacebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...