It’s that time of year again, readers, when the who’s who in music gather together at the Staples Centre, in Los Angeles, to celebrate the world famous ceremony that is the Grammy Awards. This year’s bash has been a particular success for British artists. Home-bred talent such as Coldplay (pictured top), Radiohead (pictured right), Duffy, Leona Lewis and Led Zepplin’s Robert Plant are all up for coveted gongs ranging from ‘Album of the Year’ to ‘Best New Artist’. Brits performing at the awards include Adele, Paul McCartney, Estelle and M.I.A – who has riskily decided to go on with the show despite the fact her baby is due that very night!

Further performances come from Rihanna, Stevie Wonder, Katy Perry, Jonas Brothers, U2 and even a potential surprise appearance from Green Day. The band have hinted on their website, that they may be showing at this year’s awards despite a near 5 year hiatus since releasing hit-album, American Idiot.

The nominees and consequent winners of the gongs’ are decided by a board of around 10000 members made up of artists, songwriters, producers and music engineers. American rapper, Lil Wayne, is the artist to receive the greatest amount of nominations this year, claiming a cool eight nods. Jay-Z, Kanye West, John Mayer, The Eagles and Metallica are other name’s that will be featuring across a significant array of awards tonight. Meanwhile, Neil Diamond is set to be awarded the acclaimed MusiCares Person of the Year title, which aims to recognise those who have made both an outstanding contribution to music as well as charity-work. Previous winners of the award include Bono, Sting and Aretha Franklin.

Catch all the Grammy action tomorrow night (Monday 9th), at 9pm on ITV2.

Ahh…The Brits. Perhaps more famous for Jarvis Cocker’s stage invasion, or Arctic Monkey’s drunken speeches rather than for it’s showcasing of the best of British music. Either way, every year it certainly proves an interesting watch and this 2009, the controversial show will be presented by disco diva, Kylie Minogue and Gavin and Stacey stars, Mathew Horne and James Corden. There will be performances from Kings of Leon, U2 and Take That to name but a few. You can catch all the action live on ITV1 on February 18th, but if you can’t wait till then, There Goes The Fear is here to tell you about the successful nominees that were announced earlier this week.

The artists leading the way with the highest amount of nominations this year are Welsh songstress, Duffy and Coldplay – both tallying up a total of four nods. Both artists had number 1 albums last year – Duffy with ‘Rockferry‘ and Coldplay with ‘Viva la Vida‘ (pictured right) – so are unsurprisingly up for Mastercard’s Best British Album alongside Elbow, Radiohead and The Ting Tings. Duffy’s ‘Mercy’ and Coldplay’s ‘Viva la Vida’ will also be going head to head in Best British Single category alongside the likes of Estelle’s ‘American Boy’, Adele with ‘Chasing Pavements’ and the X Factor Finalists’ ‘Hero’.

Duffy also features in the Best British Female Solo Artist category alongside Adele, Beth Rowley, Estelle and MIA, while the nominees in male counterpart include Ian Brown, James Morrison, Paul Weller, Streets and Will Young. Best British Group has seen the nomination of the ever-popular Coldplay, Elbow, Radiohead, Take That and Girls Aloud.

New music recieving nods in this year’s Best British Breakthrough Act include Last Shadow Puppets and Scouting For Girls, while 2009’s Best British Live Act showcases everyone from Iron Maiden and The Verve, to Elbow.

Singer-songwriter, Florence and the Machine (who we featured here), is tracing the footsteps of 2008 winner Adele through gaining the coveted Critics Choice Award which recognises upcoming music talent. Meanwhile, Pet Shop Boys have been intriguingly awarded the Outstanding Contribution Award, following on from Beatle Sir Paul McCartney’s win last year.

Band’s receiving nods in the international categories including Best International Group and Best International Album are Kings of Leon, The Killers, AC/DC, MGMT and Fleet Foxes. Solo artists featuring in the categories honouring oversea talent include Katy Perry, Gabriella Cilmi, Seasick Steve, Beck and Kanye West.

To see the nominations in full, check out the official Brits website.

If you have been lucky enough to hear Karima Francis then you are probably dead excited about her potential especially after her debut single “Chasing the Morning Light” which came out earlier this month. If you haven’t heard of her then you are in for a great little treat.   Her album “The Author ” is yet to be released so until then we can only really get excited about her fantastic new single.

As soon as you hear Karima’s voice start on the track you know you are in the wake of a superstar in the making. Her vocals are full of feeling and emotion while the style has strong similarities to Adele.  The range of busted octaves and nailed notes that Karima seems to shrug off with ease is hard to believe but as well as that she is not bad with the guitar.

If I am honest, I would admit that the guitar work could have a bit more flare and style but the chords are full of emotion by themselves and the playing lays a brilliant foundation for her voice.  The song is not the catchiest song ever but it sounds professional, mature and grows with every listen.  The drums give the track a bit of beef and the tune just sounds well smoothened off with gentle bass lines. The chorus has a great climax and epic atmosphere and as long as Karima keeps tracks like this coming, she is destined for instant success.

Ok now I have heard everything. Guns N Roses seem to always be in the news for some odd reason or another but I would never expect the rock legends to be a popular substitution for a bedtime lullaby. A recent surveyor, who had a lot of time on their hands, found out that modern mums are more likely to sing material from bands like Oasis and Guns N Roses rather than traditional lullabies to get their young offspring to drop off.

A website dedicated to babies polled 2000 mothers and found some absolutely crazy results. Songs like Take That’s “Patience” and Robbie Williams’ “Angels” are among the most popular choices which is weird but I suppose they are suitable. However, the top 20 from the survey included tracks like “I kissed a girl” by Katy Perry and “Dance Wiv Me” by Dizzee Rascal which don’t seem the most appropriate for our little ones.  I don’t know what the world is coming to.

The top 20 are shown below:

1. Take That – Patience
2. Robbie Williams – Angels
3. Katy Perry – I Kissed A Girl
4. James Blunt – You’re Beautiful
5. Elvis Presley – Love Me Tender
6. Christina Aguilera – Beautiful
7. Duffy – Warwick Avenue
8. Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
9. Oasis – Wonderwall
10. The Sugababes – Girls
11. That That – Back For Good
12. Whitney Houston – I Will Always Love You
13. Bryan Adams – (Everything I Do) I Do it for You
14. Adele – Chasing Pavements
15. Girls Aloud – I’ll Stand By You
16. Dizzee Rascal – Dance Wiv Me
17. Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U
18. Westlife – Flying Without Wings
19. Corinne Bailey Rae – Put Your Records On
20. The Spice Girls – Mama

Just a quick one tonight, as I’m plain and simply cream crackered at the moment – working 30-40 hours a week and then going to a gig or so a week and the usual pub evenings is pretty hard work… (boy, it’s a hard life, no?)

Bloc Party did another one of their suprises last night, announcing the release of Talons, their second single, and one that wasn’t on Intimacy, but will be on the physical release in October. In short, it’s pretty darned amazing, as with all of their Intimacy era stuff. A bit 80’s rock, a bit dark and murky, but ultimately good. I’m not posting the MP3 as I think it’s just asking for me to get (another) cease and desist, but I’m sure those of you in the know can get a copy for free.

Of course tonight is also the Mercury music prize, with my money firmly on Laura Marling to win, though I doubt the judges will choose her, probably sticking to a safer bet like Radiohead, Elbow or Last Shadow Puppets. If Adele or Estelle wins I won’t be a happy bunny though – they’re good, but not Mercury material.

There are still some reviews of Hydro Connect coming in, almost 10 days after the event, and just make me yearn for Scotland again. Only about 50 weeks now until Hydro 2009, eh? Rock Sellout have put up a guest blog from the festival, along with a better (and more indepth) interview with Rab from Glasvegas than we did.

Meanwhile, Mike over at Chromewaves caught this weekend’s Virgin Festival in Toronto, with Bloc Party, Kooks, Fratellis and more. I’ll be checking out some of the smaller (and larger) bands I haven’t heard of when I actually have a day off.

Those nice folks over at Somerset house have announced details of their Summer Series 2008 events. This summer sees the likes of Fratellis, We Are Scientists and Justice all grace the old courtyard over the course of 10 days in July.

Tickets are available here on presale from Ticketmaster, and go on sale on Wednesday (14th May) at 10am.

Thursday 10th July – The Fratellis
Friday 11th July – Justice
Saturday 12th July – Unkle
Sunday 13th July – The Blue Nile
Monday 14th July – Lupe Fiasco
Tuesday 15th July – We Are Scientists
Wednesday 16th July – The Zutons
Thursday 17th July – The Feeling
Friday 18th July – Duffy
Saturday 19th July – Adele

Current radio two favourite, Adele has announced a UK tour for April and May, stopping at a wide range of theatres around the UK.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow (Wednesday 6th February) at 9am. Catch her at:

Wednesday 23rd April – Cardiff St David’s Hall
Thursday 24th April – Newcastle Tyne Theatre
Saturday 26th April – Edinburgh Queens Hall
Monday 28th April – York Opera House
Wednesday 30th April – Salford Quays The Lowry
Thursday 1st May – Cambridge Corn Exchange
Saturday 3rd May – Southampton Guildhall
Sunday 4th May – Birmingham Alexandra Theatre
Tuesday 6th May – London Shepherds Bush Empire

Looking for the 2008 Mencap Gigs? Click here. This page is about 2007’s Mencap Gigs!

Updates: I’ve just added the 20th November gig and the 26th November gigs, thanks to a comment from Kathryn below. This was originally posted on 4th October.

The brilliant Mencap have announced this year’s “Little Noise Sessions”, a series of intimate, acoustic gigs, which will take place from Tuesday 20th November to Wednesday 28 November 2007, at Islington’s Union Chapel in London. They’ll be hosted by Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley.

To get tickets you’ll have to register here to get tickets when they go on sale. Ticket registration opens on Tuesday 2 October and closes at 12.00 Friday 19 October. Those who have registered can then buy tickets online on a first-come-first-served basis from 9am on Monday 22 October. Tickets are £35 each.

The gigs will raise money for Mencap’s Arts Awards scheme which enables children and young people with a learning disability to take part in local arts projects.

Tuesday 20th November – Secret Headliner, Jack Penate, Laura Marling, Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
Wednesday 21st November – Athlete and The Hoosiers
Thursday 22nd November – Will Young, Newton Faulkner and Adele
Friday 23rd November – Biffy Clyro, We Are Scientists and Young Knives
Saturday 24th November – The Pigeon Detectives and The Metros
Sunday 25th November – Snow Patrol and Cajun Dance Party
Monday 26th November – Kate Nash, Robyn, The Ting Tings
Tuesday 27th November – The Enemy + Special Guests
Wednesday 28th November – Keane, Rilo Kiley + Scouting For Girls