The 2009 Urban Music Talent scheme opened today. For the first time it is open to everyone, rather than selection by nomination. Applicants could be urban musicians, MC’s, DJ’s, rappers, beat boxers, producers, promoters, label bosses, agents, journalists, managers, writers or any combination!
To hear Ras Kwame tell you more about the new and improved 2009 scheme, go to their website to see what he has to say and to find out how to apply.
More information http://www.bbc.co.uk/performingartsfund/urban/

Success Stories:

Anita Blay (Thecocknbullkid) won £10,000 from us in 2008. Since that time she and her band have appeared on Later…with Jools Holland, and she shot her music video ‘I’m Not Sorry’. She’s also used her bursary to pay for rehearsals and studio time. Anita and her band have also supported many other artists live on stage and visited the SXSW festival in Texas. After this amazing year we are ridiculously happy to report that she has been signed by Island Records. More info on Thecocknbullkid

Andreya Triana also won £10,000 from us in 2008. She used the money to buy essential equipment, instruments and software. She’s also using her funding to pay for studio time and session musicians to appear on her debut album. More info about Andreya http://www.myspace.com/andreyatriana

A fundraiser for Brighton Youth Centre.

THIS WEEKEND ONLY!!!!
16th & 17th May
64 Edward Street, Brighton, BN2 0JR

Full info here

Sat 30 May / Bar / 8pm £10, £8 concs

HKB FiNN will be delivering his combination of provocative poetry, innovative raps and original music that he’s dubbed ‘acoustic Afro hip hop’ and that has made him one Hip Hop’s most unique artists.
His alternative style is part Reggae, part West African, part Jazz but is always filled with an elegance and verve rare in Hip Hop. The live set will include a jam session where local musicians and spoken word artists will be invited to join FiNN on the stage.
DJs, including Mother Bass, will also bring soulful jazz, broken beats and funky flavours to the bar before and after the performance.
For more information on the event and to listen to tracks from the artist click here.

To book tickets for this and other fantastic events at Rich Mix, please call the Rich Mix Box Office on 020 7613 7498 or click here to purchase online through View Tickets.
Please note: Although we are actively taking steps to improve this service, our telephone lines do sometimes get very busy. Please call between 9am and 5pm if possible.

For more information on our entire programme visit the Rich Mix website at www.richmix.org.uk

!!! DEADLINE EXTENDED - Friday 17th July !!!

Due to the inconvenience of postal strikes, we have extended the album submission to July 17th 2009.

Wanna get your music out to a HUGE audience?
Submissions are now open for the Rising Styles 2009 Album, showcasing some of the best new & exclusive Hip Hop tracks from the UK. The album will be distributed online via Suspect Packages, Infamous Ink and RGS Entertaimment to coincide with the Rising Styles Festival in October.

Download the submission form as a word doc or pdf.

Submissions are welcome from all UK-based hip hop artists whether signed or unsigned, and must be received by Friday 17th July 2009. Full terms and conditions are included in the submission form.

Basement Sessions is a bi-monthly podcast based in Birmingham, UK. The podcast was established early 2009 by Street Soul Productions, a record label based in Birmingham, London, Ipswich and California.

We are looking to run a live event in Birmingham at the Rainbow Warehouse on the 12th September 2009.

We want the event to promote the incredible talent in the city, but also unite everyone and promote the Love Music Hate Racism movement.

Please check out the show if you haven’t already:
http://basementsessions.podomatic.com

We already have a great bunch of artists confirmed including:
-Jack Flash (EOW World Champion)(Huddersfield)
-Prose (London)
-Halo (Ipswich)
-Tactical Thinking f. Surreal Knowledge (Manchester, Blackpool, Birmingham)
-Sensei FM (London)
-Louis Den Live Beat Cypher
-Secret Wars Live Illustration Battle
-Rhyming Competition

And MUCH MUCH MORE!!!!

The event (If successful!) will run every 6 months, each time involving great talent from around the country and supporting unity.

We want to bring Birmingham to the forefront of the the musical landscape with your help.

We are pushing to get funding for this event but first we need 200 people to sign the pledge to prove interest!

Please help Basement Sessions and Love Music Hate Racism.

You can sign the pledge here -
http://www.pledgebank.com/BasementSessions
Or text ‘pledge BasementSessions’ to 60022 (in the UK only)

JayJay.TV launches live on satelitte all over Europe on 1st July in the UK & USA by the end of 2009. JayJay.TV will specialise in playing and distributing music videos.

Read their press pack as a PDF file

Watch a 10 minute video promo

Any enquiries and information regarding the submission of videos should be directed to jayjaytv@ymail.com (UK Office).

http://www.jayjaydigital.com
jayjay on twitter
jayjay on myspace
jayjay on facebook

People/Places/Things: an International Photography Competition Celebrating En Foco’s 35th Anniversary

En Foco, Inc and Canson Infinity invite fine art and documentary photographers of any nationality or ethnicity to submit work to People/Places/Things, an international competition celebrating En Foco’s 35th Anniversary.

The aim is to identify and promote talented emerging and mid-career artists working today, creating cross-cultural dialogue, and providing artists with exposure and access to those that may be able to envision opportunities beyond the scope of this competition.

All photo-based works are eligible.

En Foco, a non-profit dedicated to cultural diversity in photography.

The deadline for entries is June 24th, 2009.

Visit:

http://www.enfoco.org/index.php/programs/competition/

Poetic Pilgrimage - Sat 4 July / 8.00pm / Bar / £10, £8 concs
Poetic Pilgrimage are an exciting hip hop and spoken word duo set to take the world by storm with their fresh sound, intelligent lyrics and courageous characters. They are a rare act, being one of the few Muslim female outfits around and are unafraid to express themselves through the art of rhyme; covering personal, social and uplifting themes. Click here for full details.

Sway - Friday 10 July / 8.00pm /Bar / £10, £8 concs
In 2006 Sway’s This is My Demo album was nominated for the Mercury Music prize, highlighting it as amongst the 12 best albums released that year. To top it off, the album was created whilst the artist was still unsigned. Sway’s performance at Rich Mix will give you a taste of all this and more. Expect a broad range of musical styles – hip hop, grime, soul and pop – helping to create a sound that matches the artist’s lyrical originality. Click here for full details.

Silent Lectures by Mohammed Yahya - Saturday 11 July / 8.00pm / Bar / £10, £8 concs
Mohammed Yahya will be delivering soulful street poetry with hair raising honesty in both Portuguese and English whilst tackling the experiences of being a Black, Mozambican, Portuguese, Muslim male living in England; finding inspiration from African music such as kizomba, funana and marabenta as well as hip hop. Click here for full details.

Friday 17th July: Funkbox Presents - Crate Escape Records ‘Soundsci’ Launch Party

Feat: Ollie Teeba (The Herbaliser / Soundsci), Jonny Cuba (Soundsci / Ninja Tune), DJ Cro (Crate Escape Records / FUNKBOX), FUNKBOX DJs. Hosted by KOSYNE (Louis Den / Eat Good)

Another year and another new release from the mighty Crate Escape Records. After the success of the Kurious 12″ and the Serocee 7″, comes more new hip-hop for the dancefloor. To celebrate Crate Escape and FUNKBOX join forces to bring a tip-top line up to the Hare and Hounds.

We have been lucky enough to snag one half of the Herbaliser and Soundsci collaborator, Ollie Teeba, who as normal will be bringing his deep crates and silky skills to the ones and twos of the HnH’s. Joining him will be Soundsci producer Jonny Cuba from London, and Brum’s and FUNKBOX’s own DJ Cro. This night will join all the dots between funk, hip-hop and all things groovy, as well as exclusive Crate Escape goodness. Hosted by Louis Den / Eat Good’s Kosyne, this is a party not to miss!

Info at:http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=98436122050&ref=ts

Where: Hare & Hounds, 106 High St, Kings Heath, Birmingham, B14 7JZ.
When: Friday 17th July, 9.00pm-2am
How much: £5 Advance / MOTD
Advance tickets available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk 0844 870 0000

Max Olijnyk talks to Carlos Rodriguez, aka Mare139.

Click Here to Read it.