It’s undeniable that V Festival is a lot more commerical than other music festival’s across the country, and while the bash has certainly recieved the odd bit of criticism for it’s uber radio-friendly line up, the fest is no less fun in our eyes. Certainly – going by the awesome line-up, it’s unsurprising that the event managed to sell out in just two hours this year.

The summer bash – which is happening on Saturday 22nd to Sunday 23rd August – will be taking place across it’s two usual sites this ‘09: Hylands Park, Chelmsford and Weston Park, Staffordshire.

Oasis (pictured right) and The Killers are the two big name headliners confirmed to be playing the festival’s top spot this year. Other major acts gracing the fest’s main stage (aptly titled ‘V Stage’) across the weekend include Razorlight, Snow Patrol, The Specials, Elbow, Biffy Clyro, Lily Allen, James, Seasick Steve and, intriguingly, Taylor Swift.

The smaller sized ‘4Music’ stage will also be featuring further super cool artists including Fatboy Slim, Pendulum, The Ting Tings, The Wombats, Keane, The Enemy, Katy Perry and Dizzee Rascal.

If nothing has still managed to catch your eye (or ear!), why not head over to ‘The Arena’ where you can check out a varied selection including MGMT, Lady GaGa, Happy Mondays, The Streets, Pete Doherty, and latest girl band sensation, British Sea PowerThe Saturdays.

If that’s still not enough, the festival has another 50 acts up its sleeve to announce in the coming few weeks. Exciting!

As I told you earlier, tickets for the Chelmsford leg have sadly sold out. There are still some available for the Staffordshire event, however. For more information regarding ticket outlets, check out V Festival’s website.

Top photo comes from stevec77’s flickr stream, and side photo from John Griffiths’ flickr stream under the Creative Commons License.

For many, The Ting Tings are a bit like Marmite. Some love ‘em and think their songs are amazing. Others wish they’d just go away and burn in music purgatory along with Tokio Hotel, Pussycat Dolls and Paris Hilton. One thing we can’t deny, whatever your opinion of them, is that their album is full to the brim with catchy songs. We put aside our opinions for one night to check them out at Swindon’s Oasis, hoping to see just how good live they are.

Before The Ting Tings took to the stage, we had VV Brown and Ladyhawke. VV was 7th in the BBC’s Sound of 2009 annual poll so we were excited to check her out finally. She’s certainly got the voice to take her far with a great doo-wop 60’s style updated for the 00’s. However, whilst we can accept she’s definitely got talent and could get a crowd going, she’s not amazing enough for us to start raving and ranting about her amazingness here at TGTF.

One of the main reasons for attending tonight’s show was to catch Ladyhawke (pictured left). The 28 year old Kiwi has been on our radar for a while, and live she’s pretty ace. Banter between songs was kept to a minimum, however the music more than made up for it, with Paris is Burning turning into an 8 minute hypnotic full on funk fest. My Delirium seemed to be the only song the crowd knew, loosening up to yell the “Hey” of the chorus truly deafeningly.

Finally, Jules De Martino and Katie White (better known to many simply as The Ting Tings) arrived. The stage was scattered with all sorts of segments of keyboards and drums, and they got down to their business, opening with “We Walk”. With only one album under their belts, it’s hard to pull out of the bag a full set, considering their album only weighs in at 40 minutes. So, when you haven’t got many new songs (these were saved for the encore and were rather “meh” – no catchy choruses to be seen there), and not many B-sides, what to do to fill the time? Do an extended version of each song, that’s what, and pretend that you’re all “arty” with your video projections that are pretty mundane.

However, this shouldn’t detract from the fact that they have produced some of the simplest, best pop tunes of the past few years, with just about everyone knowing the words… even if they don’t want to. Live, they take the songs and spice ‘em up a little with some pretty saxophonists and some nifty camera work and give you the chance to yell “Shut up and Let Me Go” at the top of your lungs witha few thousand other people. “Be The One” still sounds as amazing as it did the first time we heard it, and “That’s Not My Name” provides a show closer that many bands could only dream of.

Whatever your opinion of them, The Ting Tings have some amazingly catchy tunes. Live, they’re alright, however if you weren’t a fan before catching them live isn’t going to change your mind.

The Ting Tings play London’s Brixton Academy tonight, before embarking on a massive USA Tour then a European tour. After the jump are pictures and setlists.

Tickets for this event were kindly provided by Needtickets.

To find tickets, we suggest you try using Needtickets. Needtickets.com offers you the most comprehensive ticket service in the UK. With one click you can search every nationwide online ticket agent and as a result you can find tickets for any live music event that can be booked online. Every ticket is 100% guaranteed as Needtickets.com only offers links to official agents.

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Earlier in the week we gave you a preview of Lovebox, a two day festival in London. However, whilst that’s all well and good for those of us who like our beds and a nice warm shower at the end of the day, some people like to get “back to nature”, and one of the best to do this at is the Isle of Wight Festival, which takes place on the 12th – 14th June in Seaclose Park, Isle of Wight.

Having just announced Neil Young as the last of their headliners for the main stage, this year’s festival looks set to continue to mix new rising talent with old-hands, with Neil heading up the rest of the as yet unannounced Sunday lineup. The Prodigy, Basement Jaxx, The Ting Tings and Pendulum all open up the festival on Friday night, whilst Saturday is just as impressive with Stereophonics and Razorlight topping the bill.

The festival was only re-introduced in 2002 after a 32 year absence, after over 600,000 people attended the third festival in 1970, ending in chaos. Since coming back, the likes of David Bowie The Who, The Police and The Sex Pistols have all graced its stage, becoming one of the most successful festivals at combining young and old talent together.

In 2007 it was named “Best Major Festival” at the UK Festival awards, and looks set to go strength to strength over the coming years.

Tickets are on sale now, priced at £140 for a camping ticket and £120 for a non-camping ticket for the weekend.

To find tickets, we suggest you try using Needtickets Festival search. Needtickets.com offers you the most comprehensive ticket service in the UK. With one click you can search every nationwide online ticket agent and as a result you can find tickets for any live music event that can be booked online. Every ticket is 100% guaranteed as Needtickets.com only offers links to official agents.

So it’s that time of year again, the NME awards are fast approaching, the tours almost over, this year Glasvegas and White Lies headlined to bring back post punk, supported by Friendly Fires and Florence. The tour seems to have gone down well, but now all eyes are on the awards, a short week away… I bring you part two of who I think should win…

Best Track -This award goes straight to MGMT (pictured top). The Ting Tings (pictured right) and Kings of Leon provided us with musical sex with their efforts and Shadow Puppets songwriting was far superior to the other contenders, but on a whole the synth-pop ‘Time to Pretend’ was an instant classic and there’s no question who deserves this the most.

Best Video – Come on! Who doesn’t like seeing a load of wanabee Noel and Liams from around the world?? Of the selection Oasis walk away with the prize. It’s one of the less respected awards but hey, a prize is a prize right.. (NOTE: expect shocking results, last year Justice’s brilliant video for D.A.N.C.E. lost out to the Monkeys studio vid – Teddy Picker, a true WTF moment..)

Best Live Event -Reading - based on line up alone..

Best TV Show – The Mighty Boosh would seem favourites though they haven’t actually put anything out this year.. Skins would’ve been alright if it was last years series, this year our screens were graced with the same old thing marketed as a ‘new breed.’ It’s getting better though, and Effy being sex-on-legs keeps up watching.. Before I go to far on a tangent, this one is up to whoever…

Best Film -The Dark Knight. Easily beats the rest, there’s no need to even look at the other contenders..

Best DVD -This one’s easy too.. the Rolling Stones continue in their pathetic attempt to hold on to their former glory.. washed up and washed out they need to stop trying.. Arctic Monkeys scoop this one, their film actually made it into Vue so it must have done something right, plus it came with an uber trendy free poster..

Best Website -Seeing as we didn’t quite gather enough votes to be in the running, I’ll have to go Last.fm..

Best Band Blog – No Lily Allen?? WTF! If we have to chose from the rest then Foals (pictured left)with the tour shenanigans and free downloads walk away with this one..

Best Album Artwork- The Killers

Best Dancefloor Filler – Dizzee & Calvin

Best Venue – Astoria

Hero of the  Year – Let’s say Obama, purely because I think he’s a sincere guy, though if he screws up don’t point to this as us jumping on the badwagon..

Villain of the Year – John McCain, not because he ran against our hero, but because he’s a stupid bible bashing  idiot.. the man is a grade A fool and was better off out of the race in my much insignificant opinion.. he’s an absolute twat, and the most deserving wanker for this award.. (Where is Boris Johnson?? the man’s a tool, and now I can’t drink on the tube – not that I (or anyone else) ever did…)

Best Dressed – Noel Feilding.. Sorry Alexa .x.

Worst Dressed – Johhny Borell - purely because he needs to be given an award with ‘worst’ at the front..

Worst Album -Jonas Brothers, I don’t even have to listen to it, these guys are a disgrace to music and need to take their disney-emo-wankshit and flush it down the corporate toilet, we can’t wait to see these guys crash’n'burn..

Worst Band -We’re spoilt for choice, do we chose the ‘gender-confused-but-not-enough-balls-to-become-a-tranny’ Tokio Hotel, emo-pin ups Fall Out Boy or the revolting Jonas Bros. it’s up to which one makes you churn the most..

Sexiest Man - In my heterosexual opinion – Miles Kane..

Sexiest Woman – Tbh I’m not a fan of any of them.. some of them (no names) look too much like men to do anything for me..

The NME awards are around the corner, if you want to have your say head on over to the nominations page and cast your votes now! Voting closes at 4pm today (19th February)

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.

Things are a bit crazy here at TGTF at the moment – for some reason this week our hits have gone through the roof (so hello if you’re new around these parts!), and we’ve been a tiny bit swamped with emails, so apologies if we’re slow to get back to you / write shiny new posts!

Now, onto the good stuff.

You’ve probably heard that the Isle of Wight festival’s announced its Friday lineup of big bands, with The Prodigy headlining, Basement Jaxx, Pendulum and the Ting Tings all playing the first day of the festival.

Crazy Germans Whitest Boy Alive (pictured top) have a new album, “Rules”, out on 30th March and have given us a preview of it (below). Think a slower Hot Chip, or a more German Royksopp, with some funky late night beats, quite chilled out but at the same time quite groovy… have a listen:

MP3: Whitest Boy Alive – Island

Now for a quick step back in time – Paul Carrack (yeah, the name range a bell for me too…), one time member of Roxy Music, Squeeze, Mike and The Mechanics (ooh, so that’s where we know him from) has a new album out, one of the 60 (yes, sixty!) that he’s featured on. Taken from ‘I Know That Name’, enjoy a free album track as a download below, or go out and buy current single, ‘I Don’t Want Your Love (I Need Your Love)’.

MP3: Paul Carrack – It Ain’t Easy (To Love Someone)

Favours for Sailors (pictured top right) sound like a crazy mix of the View and the Beachboys – chaotic yet melodic. Woo. There’s a great intro piece over on Drowned in Sound here, and a free MP3 below:

MP3: Favours for Sailors – I Dreamt That I Dreamt that I loved you

I’ve been reading a lot about Animal Collective of late – their new album seems to have the pro bloggers all in a tiz, so I thought I’d see what all the fuss about. Below is a video of “My Girls”, which sounds pretty darned amazing I think.

Ah, the music video. It’s a genius thing. Without it, we’d never have had the Thriller dance, Madonna’s pink leotard or Ok Go’s treadmill acrobatics! Shocking, I know!

Thankfully, in the recent age of sites such as YouTube and Yahoo! Music – the music video is once again reaching the peaks of it’s 80s MTV heyday.

So as the year draws to a close, I’ve decided to take a look back over 2008 and pick out a few of what I believe to be the greatest music videos of the year.

The Last Shadow Puppets – Standing Next To Me

First up, we have a video from The Last Shadow Puppets (pictured, top)– the dapper duo compromising of Arctic Monkey, Alex Turner and Rascal, Miles Kane.

The band’s album, ‘The Age of the Understatement’, was a particular favourite of mine this year. It would appear, however, that I was not the only fan of the album. Not only did ‘The Age of the Understatement’ reach number 1, it also blagged a prestigious Mercury Music Prize nomination. Turner and Kane pull their slick, retro-vibe off perfectly in the ‘Standing Next To Me’ video. Check it out, here:

Weezer – Pork and Beans

It’s possibly one of the most discussed videos of the year (and the song, from the band’s self-titled 2008 album, is pretty good too). ‘Pork and Beans’ is a genius little video featuring the stars of YouTube, including Tay Zonday, Chris Crocker and Numa Numa guy, to name but a few. Who else can you spot? Check it out here:

Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire

Kings of Leon (pictured top of post, right) returned triumphantly in September with hit album, ‘Only By The Night’. Since many critics are labelling the album the greatest of 2008, it seems fitting that one of the Kings’ videos should appear in my list.

The video for number 1 single, ‘Sex On Fire’, is noticeably a little cheesy for these once hardcore Southern rockers. Ignoring the shower scenes and muscles fitting of a Backstreet Boys video – the track is still undeniably awesome. And they are still undeniably pretty *blushes* .

The Ting Tings – Shut Up and Let Me Go

The Ting Tings were one of 2008’s biggest successes. ‘We Started Nothing’ reached number 1 in the album charts and their super catchy little ditties soon gained worldwide exposure thanks to hit track, ‘Shut Up and Let Me Go’, featuring on an Apple iPod ad.

Check out the awesome video to said song here featuring lots of clever, hypnotic hand movements. Ooooo..

Lily Allen – The Fear

I’ll conclude my list with a video that’s only just been released. In a way, Lily Allen’s ‘The Fear’ helps us mark the transition from 2008 to 2009. Her album, ‘It’s Not Me, It’s You’, is set to be released in February – so via the following video, we’re able to get a taste of what next year is set to bring us.

Check out the video to The Fear here. It’s a lovely little track, with an equally lovely video -

It seems to be in vogue at the moment to completely slag off The Ting Tings at the moment, and whilst they may not be the next Mercury prize winners, they certainly do know how to make a simple, basic pop song that will get everyone moving to.

Now on their fourth major single, the duo have made this new behind the scenes video of “Be the One” which is below for your enjoyment.

Vocalist Katie White, explains the concept behind the video, “We knew we wanted a melancholy video or something that wasn’t jokey or was quite transitional and strange.” Katie also revealed that the new video starts off in a hospital because “it’s a continuation of the last video when we had a kung fu fights so it seemed fitting to start this one in a hospital after Jules has whupped my ass at kung fu”.

Enjoy! (or just hurl abuse at me about your hate for the Ting Tings in the comments…)

EDIT: to view the “behind the scenes” video you have to click “playlist” and then from the drop down menu “MUZU TV Exclusive”, then you can see it!

Video is taken from Muzu TV

The Ting Tings have announced a string of shows for Spring 2009 around the UK. Some of their largest dates will culminate in them playing London’s Brixton Academy.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, 19th September, at 10am reportedly.

Wednesday 25th February – Glasgow Academy
Thursday 26th February – Manchester Apollo
Sunday 1st March – Leeds Academy
Monday 2nd March – Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Tuesday 3rd March – Portsmouth Guildhall
Thursday 5th March – Swindon Oasis Lesisure Centre
Friday 6th March – London Brixton Academy

Corporate music awards shows ahoy! The Vodafone Live Music Awards 2008 takes place this Thursday at London’s Brixton Academy, then shows on 4Music this Friday 19th September at 9pm and on Channel 4 on Saturday at 10am and 11:25pm.

This years awards looks set to be the best in the 3 years the awards have been running – Primal Scream, Glasvegas, James Morrison, Will Young, Estelle and The Ting Tings are all going to be performing live, along with one more mystery guest.

Presenting will be the (rather bizarre) mix of Steve Jones and Juliette Lewis, along with guest presenters including Mark Ronson, Kelly Rowland, Andrew Flintoff, Keith Lemon, Dave Berry and Nicholas Hoult.

Voting is now closed, but let’s just hope Amy Winehouse doesn’t win best female, and that Kaisers don’t win best live act.

If you’re home alone this Friday or Saturday night why not tune in for one of the last of this year’s major awards ceremonies?

Photo is taken from Scott Roberts’ flickr stream under the creative commons license.

After the jump: Full list of awards and nominations
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