Street Cred Magazine - June 2020

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JUNE 2020

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y e k n o M e c n Da s w e i V n o i l l i B 1 s e s s

Tones

a p r u S g n o S t i H s ’ I And

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Stars pose on their doorsteps for lockdown project

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op stars including Rag 'N' Bone Man, Roachford and Joy Crookes have all taken socially-distanced doorstep portraits, as they tell the BBC how they've been surviving the lockdown.

Spice Girl Mel C posed with her laptop and headphones, saying they've been "my window to the world" while isolating.

Rapper Raxstar held a framed photo of his cousin and uncle, both of whom died after contracting coronavirus.

He said: "Losing them has been a big blow to our whole family.

"I want to keep their memories and spirits alive in everything I do going forward."

While most of the artists said they'd continued making new music during the lockdown, others

have been inspired to pursue new ideas.

Soul singer Ray BLK has discovered a hidden talent for nail art.

"As I haven't been able to go to the nail shop to get my nails done, I have people making custom nails, and I thought: 'This is so amazing being able to have all these great designs, and being able to do them myself at home.'

"It's been quite cool discovering new things."

Dance act Georgia, meanwhile, dragged a vintage kit of 1980s synth-drums onto her front porch, after setting up a virtual drumming circle to help her pass the time.

"We started a project called Grooves in Different Rooms, which hopefully I'm going to livestream on my Instagram soon," she said.

"It's going to be 20 different drummers positioned around the

UK, some even in Europe, and we will livestream a jam."

Other artists who took part in the project included Tom Walker, Beverley Knight and Celina Sharma.

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BAFTAS to go ahead behind closed doors

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his year’s Bafta Television Awards will be broadcast from behind closed doors after originally being delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The honours are usually handed out at a glittering ceremony which is attended by the biggest television stars in the UK. But this year, Richard Ayoade will host the event from a closed studio with the winners to give their acceptance speeches virtually.

The event had been scheduled to take place on May 17, but it will now happen on June 31.

With nominations being announced, the qualification dates for the programmes have remained the same.

In a statement, actor, presenter and writer Ayoade joked: “I am as surprised as you are that this is still going ahead”.

While many of this year’s major film and television awards – including the Oscars, Bafta Film Awards and the National Television Awards – took place before the virus began to wreak havoc throughout the world.

Manchester’s finest, Aitch has released a new EP, POLARIS. The hefty 8-track project is proof of just why the 20 year old is the name on everyone’s lips.

Paying homage to his northern roots, the EP is named after the Polaris star, located at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper, approximately 408 light years from Earth. Polaris is also known as the NORTH STAR. Following on from his highoctane performance of “Raw” at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Aitch hit his already ecstatic fans with another dose of new music - this time in the form of “30'', a single made with the intention of giving energy that landed late last night with a Mancheter-filmed, fast and furious visual. Just a few hours earlier Aitch had generated fan hysteria with the announcement of POLARIS. Featuring never before heard tracks “Safe To Say”, “Zombie”, “Triggered”,

ENTERTAINMENT

RSC’s Critically Acclaimed Production Of Romeo And Juliet To Premiere On TV The Royal Shakespeare Company production of Romeo and Juliet (2019) will be broadcast on BBC Four at 9pm on Sunday 7 June as part of Culture in Quarantine.

The critically acclaimed production premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon in Spring 2018 and transferred to the Barbican in November of the same year.

The Company then embarked on an extended national tour of the UK in the Spring of 2019, which included visits to Norwich Theatre Royal, Newcastle Theatre Royal, Alhambra Theatre, Bradford, Nottingham Theatre Royal, Blackpool Grand Theatre, New Theatre, Cardiff and Glasgow Theatre Royal.

Romeo and Juliet is the first of six RSC titles to be broadcast as part of the BBC’s Culture in

Quarantine programme running across television, radio and online.

It aims to increase access to the arts at a time when the buildings that support them are closed, and to support artists and arts organisations in the process.

The six productions are currently part of the UK education syllabus and the broadcast will be supported by a week-long programme of GCSE lesson plans themed around Romeo and Juliet taking place from Monday 15 – Friday 19 June as part of BBC Bitesize Daily.

Focussing on Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth, the lessons will offer special insights from RSC actors and directors about how to decode Shakespeare’s language and bring 400-yearold plays to life for today’s audiences.

“Like Them” and the ode to his home-town “Moston”, the unexpected project serves as a dexterous display of skill from the elite Mancunian rapper.

POLARIS also features Aitch’s hit single “Rain”, a collaborative release with AJ Tracey, which after charting Top 5, has stuck in the UK Top 20 ever since.

With his witty and rapid wordplay and versatility, Aitch is a shining light on the UK music scene; a chart dominating force to be reckoned with.

Awe-inspiringly adapting his trademark flow to any beat, Aitch has enlisted production on POLARIS from long term-collaborator and fellow Mancunian Whyjay,, as well as big time producer Kenny Beats, Cubeatz and Nils, the Grammy nominated Tay Keith, AOD and the incredibly talented Nastalgyia x Sykes.

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Students use the power of music to support NHS A University of Wolverhampton lecturer has brought her current and former students together to support the NHS through the power of music.

More than 56 students from England, Wales and Spain took part in the virtual voices performance which has been released to raise awareness of supporting those on the frontline.

The idea for the choir of university students, choir members and professional singers came from Elaine Buckland, vocal coach on the University of Wolverhampton BA Musical Theatre degree course.

Elaine is no newcomer to charitable performances.

Last year alone her choirs raised £20,000 for charities with 35 shows in aid of Promise Dreams (England International and Wolverhampton Wanderers Footballer Steve Bull’s charity), Kidney research UK, Sepsis UK, Lupus and Ysgol Cedewain.

The choir perform their own rendition of

the Beatles song ‘Let it Be’, released in 1970 before Paul McCartney’s departure, a piece taught

by Elaine in her former role as musical director at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton.

“The song speaks of hope in times of uncertainty and light in times of darkness and seemed symbolic of the journey we are all taking at this time.”

Elaine’s love of choral work and teaching began during her time at the Grand Theatre where she led two successful choirs, an adult “Grand Circle” choir and a youth choir “Grand Ambition”.

One of those taking part is former University of Wolverhampton BA Musical Theatre student, Grace Gull, who first studied with Elaine in Grand Ambition. “It was fantastic to see the way that everyone came together virtually to spread the power of music, whilst raising funds for such a worthy cause.”

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rescheduled tour dates S noop Dogg has announced rescheduled dates due to the global Covid-19 restrictions for his ‘I Wanna Thank Me’ UK and Ireland arena headline tour for February 2021.

The forthcoming tour sees the West Coast rap legend touring in support of his 17th album I Wanna Thank Me and documentary of the same name.

The album release and documentary celebrated 25 years of Snoop Dogg, a career that has seen the Doggfather cement his

undisputed influence on music with chart-topping, multi-platinum records, while also solidifying his importance to wider culture as an actor, businessman and more across the board.

The tour reflects this and sees Snoop Dogg enlist a selection of his key collaborators from the breadth of his iconic music career including further West Coast hip hop royalty; Warren G, Tha Dogg Pound, Obie Trice and D12. They will also be joined by the multimillion streamed Irish rap duo Versatile.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Disney spark huge backlash with their #MayThe4th tweet

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ENTERTAINMENT

Ministry of Sound M Classical releases Lockdown video

inistry of Sound Classical released a special video in collaboration with Alexandra Burke, the London Concert Orchestra and NHS Choir to give thanks to the incredible work of the key workers.

Their cover of Olive’s 1997 classic ‘You’re Not Alone’, with it’s poignant, hopeful lyrics and combined with a purely symphonic arrangement, encapsulates what is currently a testing time for us all.

A 50-piece orchestral show, Ministry of Sound Classical, with the London Concert Orchestra was due to perform at the Royal Albert Hall by arrangement with Coalition Agency and promoters Raymond Gubbay Limited.

As these epic landmark performances for this show was forced to cancel due to COVID-19, it was collectively decided by the performers to create a video to show appreciation and say "thank you" to key workers, specifically our incredible NHS here in the UK. The video has now premiered on Ministry of Sounds YouTube Channel, with a donate link available for those who have enjoyed the track to support NHS Charities Together if they are able.

Alexandra Burke is a supporter of the NHS Charities Together and was due to perform as a very special guest at Ministry of Sound Classical at the Royal Albert Hall, so was the perfect choice of vocalist for this very special project. Ministry of Sound Classical is overjoyed for the video to include the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Choir, having been invited to perform on the track by Alexandra.

All musicians filmed and recorded their individual parts from the safety of their own homes. The music arrangement and guide audio track was prepared by the live shows sound engineer Phil Wright and orchestral arrangers Robin Hoffman and Tom Player.

Disney was accused of trying to claim media ownership of the popular hashtag ‘MayThe4th’ on Twitter.

The company’s streaming service, Disney Plus, encouraged fans to share their favourite Star Wars memories whilst using the hashtag.

It followed a legal warning suggesting that any user who tweeted the hashtag was agreeing to Disney’s terms and letting it use their content.

It backtracked after a huge protest by fans and widespread mockery.

The hashtag – a play on the franchise’s phrase ‘May the force be with you’, has been used for years to coincide with the madeup fan holiday.

Many fans rushed to share their confusion over Disney’s tweet.

Aaron Wood, IP lawyer at Keystone Law, said that due to the popularity of the hashtag, it was unlikely that Disney’s tweet would have been seen by everyone who used it.

Star Wars actor Boyega rails against racism

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ctor John Boyego delivered an uncompromising message against racism after fielding praise and backlash for Twitter posts about the subject.

The Star Wars star posted about his hate of racism following the death of an unarmed Black man in police custody in the USA. He added: “WHITE on BLACK racism” had “ruined the world”, which sparked respomses about other forms of racism.

He later doubled down against “racist white people” in an Instagram live.

His initial anger was sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minnesota, in the USA, who was shown in a video to be groaning “I can’t breathe” as a police officer knelt on his neck.

Boyega tweeted his hatred of racist before he replied to a Nigerian man who said that he broke up with his girlfriend because she was racist against white people.

The Hollywood actor

replied: “I am talking about WHITE on BLACK racism.

The kind that has ruined the world not caused a lil break up with your girlfriend.”

In the Instagram live, he then explained: “There’s no way that I have the opinion that there’s no other form of racism. Of course there’re other forms of racism.

“But a Black man was just murdered in cold blood in the streets Stateside again, while saying he can’t breathe.

The Mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, immediately called for charges against the officer who knelt on Floyd’s

neck.

In a press conference the highly emotional Mayor said: “Why is the man who killed George Floyd not in jail?

“If you had done it, or I had done it, we would be behind bars right now”.

He (Mayor Frey) did not specify what the charge should be at the time, but he said that his determination was based on video of the incident.

Born in London, of Nigerian parents, Boyega said: “That is a continuous cycle going on.

“Although I don’t live in the States, I am Black.”

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Shooting films in space?!

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ollywood star, Tom Cruise, is working with NASA in making plans to shoot the first action movie in space.

He has partnered with NASA and SpaceX founder, Elon Musk, to take the venture to the International Space Station.

It was shortly after a report claimed that the actor was looking to take his next movie to space that NASA director,

Jim Bridenstine, confirmed the news on Twitter, stating: “NASA is excited to work with @TomCruise on a film aboard the @Space_Station! We need popular media to inspire a new generation of engineers and scientists to make @NASA’s ambitious plans a reality.

Musk replied: “Should be a lot of fun!”

It is said that the movie is set to be the next instalment in the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise.

COVID-19 Cancels Notting Hill Carnival This year’s Notting Hill Carnival has been cancelled due to the on-going coronavirus pandemic.

About one million people usually attend the annual event in west London, which was due to take place on August 30 and 31.”

Organisers said that the pandemic meant that calling off the weekend celebrations was “the only safe option”, but said that they were working on holding a celebration during the same weekend but in an alternative form.

It is the first time that it will not take place in more than 50 years.

A statement said: “After lengthy consultations with our strategic partners and our Advisory Council, the Board has taken the decision that this year’s Carnival will not take place on the streets of Notting Hill as it has done for over 50 years.

“This will also mean that Panorama, the annual steelband competition, will not take place”.

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Japanese wrestler Hana Kimura dies at only 22

Hana Kimura, a professional Japanese wrestler who also appeared in the latest series of Netflix's reality show Terrace House, has died at the age of 22.

Stardom Wrestling, Kimura's organisation, confirmed the news and asked fans to be respectful.

The cause of death was not immediately clear.

Shortly before she died, she issued a series of troubling social media posts implying she had been cyber-bullied.

The most recent update on her Instagram story on Friday featured a photo of her with her cat, with a caption that read

"goodbye".

A winner of Stardom's 2019 Fighting Spirit Award, Kimura was one of the cast members of Japanese reality TV show Terrace House, before it was suspended due to coronavirus.

The show follows three men and three women as they temporarily live together in a house.

Confirming her death on Twitter, Stardom said: "Please be respectful and allow some time for things to process, and keep your thoughts and prayers with her family and friends."

Her mother was also a well-known wrestler, Kyoko Kimura.

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athias Andre and CJ Webley, two previous members of Lightpost Theatre Company, have now successfully been employed in leadership roles.

In 2015, Birmingham Repertory Theatre took part in an initial pilot scheme Up My Street, a partnership project funded by Mind, to help strengthen mental health in young black men through theatre.

This scheme was developed in response to statistics that show young black men in the UK are much more likely to develop serious mental illness than any other demographic.

Motivated by the scheme, participants formed Lightpost Theatre Company.

Addressing the effects of racism, discrimination, negative selfimage and invisibility, Lightpost Theatre Company helps to strengthen the mental health resilience and wellbeing of those involved, improve self-belief, raise mental health awareness, assist personal development, and encourage inclusion and friendship.

With three years’ funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, Lightpost Theatre Company has since welcomed hundreds of participants aged 1826 from across the West Midlands who have gone on to create their own productions, perform to sellout audiences, gain employment and training within the industry and create new leaders for a new generation of members.

CJ said “It has always been

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Lightpost Theatre Company Appoints New Artistic Leaders the goal for Lightpost Theatre Company to create new Leaders.

Because we understand what these young men experience outside of the company, we can help to empower them and support resilience against perceived and proven barriers including lack of opportunity, racism and related stresses.”

Mathias added: “Lightpost is not just a theatre company it’s a movement. This is an experience like no other. If you are an 18-26 young male of black heritage and have a keen interest in theatre,

then you should join us. Don’t allow others to write the narrative for you. Get yourself in the room and take ownership, you deserve to be here as much as everyone else.”

Ahead of Mental Health Awareness Week, Alex Summers, Creative Learning Director at The REP added “We are delighted to welcome back Mathias and CJ to lead Lightpost Theatre Company.

“This progression is what the company is all about, providing participants with the support to recognise their talent, help them

with their career and provide a voice within the wider community.

Mathias and CJ will be supporting new members, organising workshops, writing and rehearsal sessions and leading the creative team into realising their artistic vision.

The company work with professional directors and writers to create, rehearse and stage outstanding productions reflecting their own personal journey or themes affecting the wider community.

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Glastonbury fan paints iconic scenes on her body

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woman who has been painting herself with scenes from the iconic Glastonbury Festival says that she has been “blown away” by the response.

Lisa Davies had not tried body painting until the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdown.

The 33-year-old’s work has been shared by the festival’s Facebook community including a simple “wow” and “get that on canvas.”

Each picture takes Ms Davies about three hours to complete and is painted from a reverse image.

She said: “I didn’t expect the comments and praise that I’ve had. I’m really blown away by it all”.

Lisa, who works in customer services, moved from her home in Cardiff to be with her sister in Gloucestershire for the lockdown.

She said: “I’ve always loved drawing but lest all my pencils and art materials at home so I thought I’d send off for some body paints and have a go “I had tickets and should have been at the festival so I thought I’d paint my way round the site”.

Ms Davies finds an iconic view of the festival and then reverses the image before starting to paint it on to her body.

“It’s a bit mind-boggling to do and I’m not a professional by any means!”

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ance Monkey immies Past Billion Mark D

espite being released just over a year ago, Tones And I’s all-conquering hit ‘Dance Monkey’ continues to achieve new landmarks.

Its latest conquest comes with the news that the track’s official video has now exceeded a billion views at YouTube in less than a year.

Its success means that Tones And I has already collected an awe-inspiring list of achievements, with highlights including: • A global tally of seven billion+ streams, including 1.5 billion at Spotify where it’s become the all-time most streamed song by a female artist.

• The longest-running UK #1 from a female artist in chart history with 11 weeks at the top. It still commands a strong chart position in the UK, having already completed 38 consecutive weeks in the

Top 40.

The most Shazamed single of all-time.

• It hit #4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 as it reached Platinum status, making ‘Dance Monkey’ the chart’s first Top 5 hit to have been solely written by a woman in over eight years.

• Multi-Platinum or Diamond certification in fifteen countries (including Double-Platinum in the USA and 11x Platinum in Australia).

• Four ARIA Awards: Best Female Artist, Breakthrough Artist, Best Pop Release and Best Independent Release.

Just as importantly, ‘Dance Monkey’ provided the spark for fans to further immerse themselves into Tones And I’s creative world.

They connected with her debut EP ‘The Kids Are Coming’, which featured another hit in the shape of ‘Never Seen The Rain’, •

before Tones dropped her first release of 2020 with the double A-side single ‘Bad Child’ / ‘Can’t Be Happy All The Time’ and there’s much more to follow with more new music coming soon.

Originally from Australia’s Mornington Peninsula, Tones And I travelled to Byron Bay in early 2018 to take a chance at busking.

On the first day she had crowds spilling onto the street. Tones quit her retail job and decided to make Byron her new home where she lived out of her van for a year, honing her songwriting and busking every weekend.

Tones And I soon found herself in global demand as ‘Dance Monkey’ exploded.

She subsequently sold-out shows from Melbourne to London to New York, and appeared on numerous leading TV shows including ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’, ‘The Voice’ and ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’.

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usicians and songwriters in the UK received a record amount of money last year, but the loss of live performances has posed a major threat to income fir this year.

The warning was issued by the PRS for Music, the body that makes sure that 145,000 songwriters, composers and publishers in the United Kingdom are paid when their music is played or performed throughout the world.

The organisation collected a record £810 million last year, which was a rise of 8.7%.

However, it did say that Covid-19 would most likely result in an “inevitable decline” in 2020 and 2021.

Chief executive, Andrea Martin, said: “Even though we had a record-breaking year, we know very well that we are in unprecedented times”.

She said that revenues from “live music and public performance will be hit” not just in 2020 but also in 2021, as international payments often takes time to trickle down.

She added: “There will be a downfall, but by how much and

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Music royalties smash records amid warning

by what per cent … your guess is as good as mine”.

The situation will hit smaller

acts, many of whom were already struggling before the coronavirus pandemic, the hardest.

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Vincymas takes over Port-Of-Spain T he yellow, blue and green colours of St. Vincent & The Grenadines were hard to miss on Ariapita Avenue in Port-OfSpain, Trinidad & Tobago during the recent cultural promotion put on by the SVG Carnival Development Corporation (CDC) at T&T’s 2020 Carnival.

At the event, representatives of the CDC as well as Vincentian Soca artistes were present to

interact with attendees and passersby on the popular T&T nightlife strip and to a TV audience through a live regional broadcast via entertainment network Synergy TV. This initiative gave the CDC contingent an opportunity to educate the masses about the various festivals and cultural activities due for 2020 on the destination of St. Vincent & The Grenadines which include ‘Vincymas’, ‘Union Island Easterval’, ‘Bequia Easter Regatta’

and ‘Bequia Music Festival’.

Additionally, attendees at the Ariapita Avenue extravaganza had a chance to view video presentations on the upcoming festivals and were treated to pulsating performances by top Vincy artistes.

Performing at the Synergy TV event were proud SVG ambassador and 2019 T&T Roach Champion Skinny Fabulous, Hance John, Casper G and 2019 Vincymas Road March Winner, Luta.

Gavin James LIVE AT THE DRIVE-IN

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he return of Gavin James with his new single ‘Boxes’ reiterated the huge success that he has enjoyed.

In Ireland, the track hit the #1 on iTunes and the Top 10 at Shazam, while its accompanying lyric video fired to #1 on YouTube.

‘Boxes’ has added to his growing list of accomplishments, which include over a billion global streams, 250,000 ticket sales and two sold-out nights at Dublin’s 3Arena, and shows with Niall Horan, Sam Smith and Ed Sheeran.

Now Gavin James is confirmed as the first headline artist for Live At The Drive-In. The event, Ireland’s first drive-in live music tour, will provide an entertainment space where fans from across the country can enjoy a live music experience again while adhering to all WHO and governmental Covid-19 safety recommendations and guidelines.

Live At The Drive-In will deliver safe, family friendly entertainment during this difficult time.

Each of the venues, listed below, will host a matinee and an evening show starting at approximately 4pm and 8pm each day.

The capacity of each show varies from 250 to 300 cars. Further details and a list of FAQ can be found at the Live At The Drive-In website. The shows are: July 24th - Limerick, The Greenpark Site

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July 31st - Cork, Showgrounds August 7th - Waterford, Tramore Promenade August 10th - Kilkenny, Gowran Racecourse A contribution from the proceeds of each event will be donated to a charity chosen by the headliner. Gavin James has chosen the Down Syndrome Centre.

Live At The Drive-In is planned for a six-week run from July 20th, when the government is expected to commence Phase III of its Covid-19 plans for reopening Ireland.

The live independent music industry in Ireland has been decimated by Covid-19. The industry’s personnel are predominantly freelance, so when Covid-19 restrictions were rightly instructed, employment opportunities ceased.

The event offers employment to gear handlers, roadies, lighting designers, monitor engineers and production crew, many of who would otherwise be unemployed this summer.

With sadly no official festival season in 2020, Live At The Drive-In is not a substitute but an inspired, welcome, unique and family friendly way to help reintroduce music to the Irish market.

The safety of staff and general public is paramount, and in order for the Irish economy to reopen for business we must all respect the public health guidelines and respect social distancing.

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How some stars are helping music’s unsung heroes in lockdown

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hether they are guitar players, backing vocals or studio engineers, career musicians struggle with pay even in regular times.

Many of them would tend to take on extra work in order to make ends meet when their services are not needed on stage or in the studio.

For them, the Covid-19 pandemic has been a double whammy.

Not only has tours and recording sessions been put on hold, but those second jobs in wedding bands or school classrooms have vanished too.

According to a Musician’s Union survey, 92% of its members have seen their livelihood affected by coronavirus, losing an estimated £13.9bn in earnings in the first two weeks of the lockdown.

Meanwhile, the Ivors Academy of songwriters an composers said that it anticipated a loss £25,000 per member over a sixmonth period.

Whilst record-breaking record royalty payments are often mentioned for the world’s

superstars, Olga FirzRoy, an award-winning engineer and producer whose credits include The Beatles, Coldplay and Foo Fighters, said that for the rest, “the industry has ground to a halt”.

She said: “I did my last session in the first week of March, but have done nothing since then.

And my colleagues are pretty much in the same boat.

“There’s no money coming in.

In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, some artists are finding ways to support their sidemen and women – and hope that they can establish new precedents along the way.

In Paris, in France, jazz artist, Melody Gardot is making a new record from her apartment, and inviting musicians from around the world to form her ‘virtual orchestra.’

Anyone can sign up – and they will receive musical charts, backing tracks and instructions on how to record themselves performing at home.

Gardot says that she hopes that other artists will follow her lead in paying musicians for recording their parts at home.

Soul II Soul announce S rescheduled Tour dates

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oul II Soul have announced rescheduled dates due to the global Covid-19 restrictions for their forthcoming ‘Club Classics’ tour.

They will complete a 14-date UK tour in 2021 starting on February 19th with an already sold out show at the Brighton Dome, and will finish at the Tramshed in

Cardiff on April 24th.

Their upcoming sold out headline show at London’s Royal Albert Hall meanwhile is set to go ahead as planned on November 24th 2020.

The double Grammy Award winning and five-time Brit Award nominated British band tour the UK as they pay tribute to their legendary debut album Club Classics Vol. One. It follows from the phenomenal success of their tour of the album in 2018 with sold out shows across the country.

During the course of their stellar career the band have sold over 10 million albums worldwide and main man Jazzie B was awarded an OBE for services to music in 2008, as well as winning an Ivor Novello Award for Inspiration, as “the man who gave British black music a soul of its own”.

With huge hits including ‘Keep On Movin’ (which sold over a million copies in the US alone) and the UK number one single ‘Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)’, Soul II Soul progressed from being one of the leaders of the 1980s warehouse scene to pioneering British black music around the world, and securing commercial success for themselves and the huge amount of artists they have influenced.

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#DRIVEATHOME

McLaren & Forza Come Together While the world does the right thing and stays safe at home, we want to keep ourselves driving, just digitally.

Forza Horizon 4 makes for the ultimate driving playground and features nearly every McLaren car, including the recently added Speedtail. #DriveatHome is about creating new content with these incredible cars, all from the safety of your own home.

Using Forza Horizon 4’s digital microcosm of Britain, you can

LONDON CONCOURS 2020 TO CELEBRATE ‘LOST MARQUES’

embark on weekly adventures in different McLaren cars and share your favourite photos on social.

Get involved by posting your pics on any social channel and tagging them with #DriveatHome. #DriveatHome is just the beginning of McLaren’s digital work with the Forza racing franchise during these challenging times.

They will be bringing a series of episodic films, all shot in-game, with some of the most famous faces within the McLaren brand.

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he London Concours, presented by Montres Breguet, has announced the ‘Lost Marques’ Display; an homage to the car manufacturers we have loved and lost over the years.

Not all car manufacturers make it. In a global industry that's so fast-moving, so heavily regulated and so financially ruinous, manufacturers that may have deserved to stay, are often forced to disappear.

But, thankfully, their vehicles remain as moving sculptures of their achievements, and at London Concours 2020 we'll once again be celebrating some of the finest Lost Marques; the beautiful, the innovative and the fast from the brands that no longer exist.

In total, 12 ‘Lost Marques’ legends will be on display, but below are a few of the highlights:

Facel Vega HK500

Facel started building cars

when its owner, Jean Daninos wanted to create a car that embodied French elegance and craftmanship with American flair in the body of a grand tourer during the 1950s and 60s.

The HK500 is one of 500 ever produced from 1959 to 1961 and powered by a 361 cubic inch Chrysler Hemi V8, allowing drivers to easily surpass 100mph.

Owners, many of whom were celebrities, were offered two gearbox options: the Chrysler automatic transmission or a French four-speed manual.

of Le Mans in 1966.

Jensen C-V8

The C-V8 was considered one of the fastest production fourseater cars of its time, able to beat the Lamborghini Miura to 60mph. Built from 1962 to 1966, Jensen used a Chrysler big-block V8 in the fiberglass bodied C-V8.

The company was founded in 1922 as W J Smith & Sons Limited before being changed to Jensen Motors in 1934.

Alvis Speed 25

The Alvis Speed 25 was considered to be one of the finest cars produced in the 1930s. Its smooth and powerful 3571cc engine allowed for 0-50mph in 11 seconds, and a top speed of 95mph.This specific example was gifted to the original lady owner for her 21st birthday, and the original documents show that it was delivered incomplete, with unfitted panels supplied by coachbuilders, Charlesworth.

Bizzarrini P538

Giotto Bizzarrini started off as a test driver for Alfa Romeo, before moving to Ferrari where he helped develop the 250 GTO. Later on, he started his own company, Bizzarrini, and crafted a number of stunning Italian designs, with American power.

Among them was the P538 racer, fitted with a Chevy V8, a central driving position and the speed to compete at the 24 Hours

Risk Of 1.1 Million Unroadworthy Vehicles Returning To The Highways New research by the nation’s largest MOT tester reveals that almost 1.1 million unroadworthy vehicles are set to return to the UK’s streets as the lockdown begins to ease and people increasingly take to their cars.

Kwik Fit carries out more MOTs than any other company and it has analysed the latest DVSA MOT data, along with its own statistics.

Taken together they show that an estimated 1,096,000 vehicles which have received a six month MOT extension would have failed a test with dangerous or major defects had

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they undergone an MOT. Of these unroadworthy vehicles, it is estimated that some 316,000 would have dangerous defects, while the remaining 780,000 vehicles would fail with major defects.

Since 30 March vehicles have been provided with an automatic six month extension to their MOT expiry date, in response to the need to reduce traffic during the lockdown.

As a result, only around 24% of the vehicles that were originally due a test in that period (beginning 30 March) have been tested.

The law requires vehicle

owners to keep their vehicles roadworthy, even if they have received an MOT extension.

However, research for Kwik Fit has found that 49% of drivers who have received, or are due to receive, an MOT extension will go to the end of that period without getting their car tested.

Even more concerning is the finding that many drivers will be knowingly driving an unsafe car.

8% of those who will wait for the end of the extension to get their car tested, some 1.1 million drivers, said they will do so as they believe there is something wrong with their car and don’t want to risk it failing.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - June 2020 - Page 29

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MOTORS

ROLLS-ROYCE: ACHIEVING PERFECTION ON EVERY SCALE

S

ir Henry Royce once said, “Small things make perfection, but perfection is no small thing.”

It is in this vein that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars presents to its clients, perfect scale models of Cullinan, the marque’s stellar SUV. As daily driving pleasures have been curtailed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, some other of life’s little luxuries have come to the fore.

An authentic 1:8 scale replica of a full-sized Cullinan, in which every detail is reproduced with absolute perfection, can now be enjoyed by clients around the world, in the comfort of their own home.

Far more than a mere model, each miniature Cullinan is individually and painstakingly crafted by hand, to the client’s specification, from over 1,000 individual components.

Motorpoint Goes Contactless In England And Wales The UK’s largest independent car retailer, which has a network of 12 branches across both countries, has been busy in recent weeks adapting its vehicle handover process to minimise contact at the point of collection.

The new click and collect service, which will initially be available Monday to Friday, will enable customers to adhere to the latest social distancing guidelines and choose, buy and drive away without any physical contact with a member of staff. This includes test drives which can now be done without someone from Motorpoint being present in the car.

Motorpoint branches will continue to be closed on Government advice until advised with staff working on a strict appointment-only based system for collections.

All vehicle handovers will be completed outdoors.

Mark Carpenter, chief executive officer of Motorpoint, said: “As a business that has openness and friendliness at the heart of everything it does, creating a buying experience that puts distance between our teams and our customers feels slightly unnatural, but it is absolutely necessary and the right thing to do.”

This process can take up to 450 hours – over half of the time required to build a full-sized Cullinan at the Home of RollsRoyce in Goodwood, West Sussex.

The replica is hand-painted using Rolls-Royce colour-matched paint, then hand-polished to the marque’s exacting specification; the coachline is even applied using a fine brush, just as it is on the original.

Clients may choose from a palette of around 40,000 ‘standard’ colours, or replicate their own personal Bespoke finish.

The fully-functioning exterior lights are operated by a Cullinanbranded remote control; under the bonnet is a perfect likeness of the ‎iconic 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 engine.

Every Volvo Now Comes With A 112Mph Speed Limit And Care Key Every new Volvo car now comes with a limited top speed of 112mph, as Volvo Cars delivers on its promise made last year to introduce such a limitation and goes beyond regulation and legislation to help close the remaining gap to zero serious injuries and fatalities in traffic.

As well as the speed cap, every Volvo car will now also come with a Care Key, which allows Volvo drivers to set additional limitations on the car’s top speed, for example before lending their car to other family members or to younger and inexperienced drivers.

Together, the 112mph speed limitation and Care Key send a strong signal about the dangers of speeding, underlining Volvo Cars' position as a worldwide leader in safety.

Both features illustrate how car makers can take active responsibility for striving to achieve zero traffic fatalities by supporting better driver behaviour.

“We believe that a car maker has a responsibility to help improve traffic safety,” said Malin Ekholm, head of the Volvo Cars Safety Centre. “Our speed limiting technology, and

the dialogue that it initiated, fits that thinking.

“The speed cap and Care Key help people reflect and realise that speeding is dangerous, while also providing extra peace of mind and supporting better driver behaviour.”

The top speed limit has proven to be controversial since it was announced, with some observers questioning the rights of car makers to impose such limitations through available technology.

Yet Volvo Cars believes it has an obligation to continue its tradition of being a pioneer in the discussion around the rights and obligations of car makers to take action that can ultimately save lives, even if this means losing potential customers.

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THERE WILL NOW BE AN INTERVAL

T

he management at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Theatre will remain closed until Monday 31 August.

CEO and Artistic Director Adrian Jackson said, “We are living thorough unprecedented times but that said, I would like to take this opportunity to reassure everyone that great care and effort is being taken to safeguard the future of our Grand Theatre.

“Thanks to shrewd business planning and careful financial management, the theatre, which is also a registered charity, will make A GRAND COMEBACK just as soon as it is safe to do so.

“Decisions around our Autumn/ Winter season, and our traditional family pantomime are in major discussion and there will be an update as soon as possible.

“For now, it is all about 2021. We have secured phenomenal shows for our new season, some of which are already on sale and others will be announced very soon.

“As a charity, we provide vital work in the community and sustaining this work is of the upmost priority.

“I would like to sincerely thank everyone for the donations, letters, cards, emails and comments of support we have received.

“In a time when we are isolated from the people we care about, these gestures are greatly appreciated.

“The Grand has stood proudly in Wolverhampton for the past 125 years and we will ensure that the people of Wolverhampton and beyond will continue to enjoy this great theatre for many decades to come.”

While some productions have been completely cancelled, a large percentage have been re-scheduled for a later date. For the complete listing's customers should visit www.grandtheatre.co.uk

Rapper, Ty, dies from Covid-19 virus Highly acclaimed UK rapper, Ty, has died after contracting coronavirus.

The Nigerian-born Mercurynominated star was known for his witty, mature style that owed much to the old-school US rappers, as opposed to the now established grime-influenced street sounds of today’s British urban music.

Broadcaster, Jasmine Dotiwala confirmed the news of his death on social media in a tribute to the star.

Alongside a picture of the pair alongside the likes of actor/director Noel Clarke and DJ/Producer Naughty Boy she wrote; ‘It breaks my heart to have to share this. I had been waiting for @tymusic to recover before using this pic of our crew celebrating him.

‘It’s now a tribute photo on a devastating day. We are all in

shock and trying to process this news. Ty was our boy our whole lives. RIEP.’ She added: ‘He always had any live music audience eating out of his hands but @tymusic was always a UK hip hop pioneer who supported new, young musicians.

‘A community activist who spoke up for communities all around him, he was a neuclius of talent and love and the culture loved him.’

In 2004, his second album, ‘Upwards’, was nominated for the much-respected Mercury Prize – where he was up against the late Amy Winehouse, The Streets and the eventual winners, Franz Ferdinand.

A.K.A. Ben Chijioke, his death was mourned by fellow stars including Roots Man and Ghets.

He was 47.

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The Phoenix Newspaper - June 2020 - Page 31

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BIG DAVE’S SAFE PAGE

Proceed With Caution!

Big Dave’s equation for life is (2MTR) / IPS = (2MOS) x 1 = 42

W

e all have to learn to cross the road, the danger is we might get run over. The solution we were all taught when I was younger was to follow the Green Cross Code.

Look Right, Look Left, Look Right Again and proceed to cross if the road was clear and there were no visible or audio dangers using common sense and the senses we are born with.

Because the watch word for this is ‘Caution’ and the key message from this is to’ Proceed with Caution’.

This is how we should approach this new danger and to manage our daily activities and working lives around Coronavirus and to proceed with caution.

We are now 50 years on from the way we were all taught a valuable lesson and we still use this approach today to learn and to use to cross the road.

The principles are the same so the learnings are important if we want to change our communities for the better.

Building Safe (2 Metres To Respect) Individual Positive

Space without putting yourself and others in harm’s way and bringing this unknown, unseen and potentially life threatening in so many cases and fatal virus into our lives.

Ever since we lived in caves man has craved interaction and contact with other people. We have all relished close company but this new evil, this virus that you can’t see, touch, hear or smell has made us so fearful of personal space and of strangers in the street invading that space, even to the point of close family and friends.

So how do we overcome this and support from a distance, families, friends, work colleagues as we are all in this together.

We all know things are not going to be the same as before for some time and we will have to adapt to the ‘New Normal’ but if we can remember to 2MTR (2 Metres To Respect) as the part of the new equation for life and the formula is (2MTR) / IPS = (2MOS) x 1 = 42 (Life)

The key to the formula is as follows:

(2MTR) = 2 Metres To Respect

(which is the official guideline) allows for protection of (IPS) Individual Personal Space, which equates to (2MOS) which is the 2 Metres of Space for us all to follow and if we all do that then this gives us a much improved chance of not contracting and passing on the Coronavirus and living through this period.

For the followers of Douglas Admas and the Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy you will know the answer is 42 and that is Life itself.

So if we all follow the formula both ourselves, our loved ones and others will be less likely to become a victim of the Coronavirus pan epidemic.

If we can all think about this formula the answer will be a positive outcome and we will be able to hug one another again and shake hands or fist bump.

We all need to Stay Strong and to Stay Safe and if we do we will get through this faster and be closer together and better for this shared experience. Spread the 2MTR love not the virus.

Stay Safe, Stay Strong and do the Maths

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Game of Thrones star, Bjornsson, breaks deadlift record

G

ame of Thrones actor, Hafthor Bjornsson, has set a new world deadlift record after lifting 501 kg (1,104 lbs).

Bjornsson, a power-lifter who portrayed Ser Gregor ‘The Monster’ Clegane in the HBO series, broke the record at his gym in his native Iceland.

He lifted the barbell for two seconds, before dropping the weights and roaring in delight.

The event was streamed by leading sports broadcaster, ESPN, and filmed for Bjornsson’s YouTube channel.

He said: “It’s just great - there’s nothing better than proving people wrong. So many people didn’t believe in me, so many people that said ; ‘501 kg is never going to go up’…But I also had a lot of support”.

Going on, he added: “I feel healthy, I feel good. I am just absolutely speechless, even though I am talking a lot about it now.

“But I am excited, super excited – this is huge for me”.

The 6ft 9ins Bjornsson previously won the World’s Strongest Man competition in 2018.

Previously, the record was held

by British powerlifter, Eddie Hall, who was the first man to lift 500 kg, in 2016.

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National Theatre At Home – A New Play for Free Every Thursday The National Theatre is streaming a new full-length play every Thursday.

Premiering with ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’, starring Gillian Anderson, and the awardwinning production of ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’, starring James Corden.

It was followed by Jane Eyre, Treasure Island and Twelfth Night.

National Theatre At Home is giving everyone a way to watch quality British theatre, from the comfort of their living rooms.

The service launched as a new way of sharing the NT’s

work while people have to stay at home. A classic National Theatre Live title will be streamed on their YouTube channel for free.

This latest wave is just as tantalising, with the National Theatre definitely keeping its viewers on their toes by saving the Hiddleston until last.

Additionally, they will be rolling out National Theatre Collection study resources to pupils now learning at home and has also confirmed that live performances won’t restart until at least July.

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