UK Celebrity News, Fashion Tips, Gossip and Pictures

We’re huge fans of Black Cab Sessions – the unique lo-fi recording sessions that are gaining a huge following online. They’re a hit on both YouTube and on their own site, and for good reason – as well as giving viewers a unique look at some of the music world’s biggest (and soon-to-be biggest) stars, they add a human element to performance that’s much less visible once they step up on stage.

The now-famous sessions apparently stemmed from a desire to see private performances of some of today’s hottest new bands. Instead of going the traditional route – booking interviews, buying costly sound equipment, and spending days on the phone – the creators got directly in touch with some of their favourite artists and merely asked for a few minutes of their time. Who could say no?

We’ve picked out our ten favourite Black Cab Sessions and arranged them below, each with a little information on the artists in question. Don’t see any of your favourite artists listed? Check out the Black Cab Sessions website and you’ll no doubt find something of interest – there are close to 150 sessions now available, each offering a personal performance from some of the best artists around.

10. Roots Manuva

Roots Manuva from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

Roots Manuva knew he wanted to be a rapper before he even knew the genre’s name. Born in South London and exposed to bass-heavy beats at an early age, his Pentecostal upbringing and passion for inner-city grime have become personal trademarks. After some semi-successful early releases and a series of cult collaborations, Roots hit it big with his influential debut Brand New Second Hand.

It’s been up-and-up since then. The album scored a MOBO Award and became a must-hear for those interested in London’s hip-hop scene. Roots Manuva’s latest release – Slime & Reason – hit stores in September 2008 and has since gained unanimously positive coverage from the music press. After an epic headline performance at the Lounge on the Farm festival, he stepped into the cab.

9. Fionn Regan

Fionn Regan from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

Fionn Regan‘s first album hit a nerve in the Irish folk scene. Nominated for the 2007 Mercury prize and named as the Irish Independent‘s Best Irish Album of 2006, The End of History has taken a spot alongside classics from Neil Young and Van Morrison as one of the best folk albums around. Regan released his second album – The Shadow of an Empire – in early 2010 to further critical acclaim.

Few sounds fit as well in the cab setting as Regan’s set, which is equal parts softened acoustic works and more upbeat electric numbers. Despite his new-found high profile (Regan first played to crowds at Glastonbury in 2007 and has since played at numerous other large festivals) he’s apparently a nice guy too – after recording the session, he returned with a case of beers for the audio/video crew.

8. Final Fantasy (now Owen Pallett)

Final Fantasy from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

Owen Pallett is quickly becoming one of the music world’s most in-demand composer. The violinist has contributed to Arcade Fire’s first two albums, arranged Alex Turner’s new side project, and even provided backing music for Richard Kelly’s new film, The Box. He’s also well known online for his game-inspired arrangements and remixes – a passion that earned him the name of ‘Final Fantasy.’

While Pallett’s since shed his SquareEnix-inspired title, he hasn’t slowed down in his laundry list of musical contributions and solo projects. Between releasing his latest EP and recording Arcade Fire’s new album, he found time to step into the cab and record with the Black Cab Sessions team. Check out his performance above – an impeccable cover of Buffy Saint-Marie’s ‘Dream Tree’.

7. Mr Lif feat. Metro

Mr Lif from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

Boston-based rapper Mr. Lif ran into the Black Cab Sessions team at Austin’s South by Southwest music and technology festival. Known for his politically charged verses and rapid lyric delivery, he’s spent the last fifteen years capturing the attention of the nation’s large indie rap scene. Once signed to New York record label Definitive Jux, he’s now releasing new music independently online.

Of course, being independent certainly doesn’t mean that Mr Lif is missing out on his fair share of fame. For his Black Cab Sessions recording, the cult rapper teamed up with indie media mogul and now-and-again producer METRO to deliver a sweet new freestyle. Check it out and see why there’s a huge crowd anticipating his next release. Record labels? Who needs em’?

6. Erland and The Carnival

Erland and The Carnival from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

Take former The Verve guitarist Simon Tong, session god and The Cult drummer David Nock, and emerging folk singer Erland Cooper. You’ve got Erland and the Carnival – one of Britain’s newest major folk rock presences. The band released their debut album in February after putting out some innovative takes on Scotland’s traditional folk classics, including a slightly more modern version of ‘Come All Ye Tramps and Hawkers’.

Erland and the Carnival joined the Black Cab Sessions crew in August 2010, squeezing four people into the cab’s back seat and delivering a truly awesome acoustic performance. Keep their name on file somewhere, preferably in your playlist, as their current output suggests they could become one of the UK’s top folk acts.

5. Lissie

Lissie from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

American folk rocker Lissie‘s debut album hit UK stores just two months ago, and has already seen its share of ultra-positive reviews and media coverage. Entitled Catching a Tiger and published by the legendary Columbia Records, it’s due for release in the United States later this week. The first single – In Sleep – has already scored a spot at the top of the iTunes sales charts, assuring that it’ll likely be a major release for the singer-songwriter.

Lissie stepped into the Black Cab Sessions taxi after three days of constant touring, acting as if she had never missed a single moment of sleep and bursting with soul. The team picked a unique cover of Lionel Ritchie’s Hello as their second performance, which was featured in their video. Check it out above, and be sure to look for her new album in stores or online later this month.

4. Steve Mason

Cult hero Steve Mason‘s latest album is a certified hit. Named Boys Outside and packed with songs that aren’t easily forgotten, it’s a great standalone album and an even better companion to his Beta Band output. Mason collaborated on the album with ultra-selective record producer Richard X, and the results are pretty unbelievable – it really is an album you can listen to from beginning to end.

There was no folk-electro-rock when Mason stepped into the Black Cab Sessions cab, just a smooth acoustic number and a sampling of what’s available on the album. The Beta Band frontman is just as confident in the back seat of a cab as he is in the group’s trademark spacesuits, delivering a beautiful performance of his new single ‘All Come Down.’

3. Summer Camp

Summer Camp from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

Finding any real information on Summer Camp is a fairly difficult task. Some say they’re a Swedish collaborative group, bridging musical boundaries though secrecy. Others believe they’re a duo based in Chicago, who have cleverly fooled the world into thinking that they’re from the UK. For the sake of reliability, we’re going to go with The Guardian, which suggested that they’re just a boy-girl duo from London with a love of all things mysterious and secretive.

Whoever they are, they’re good – damn good. Their Black Cab Sessions video is one of our the best out there, if only for the ultra-anonymous pair of sunglasses the duo sports. The duo has an album to work on and a series of singles to release through Moshi Moshi Records, so we suspect that this vid might be all you see of them for a while. Given that it’s this or polaroids, we say sit back and enjoy.

2. Eliza Doolittle

Eliza Doolittle from Black Cab Sessions on Vimeo.

It’s been a whirlwind twelve months for Eliza Doolittle. The twenty-two-year-old singer-songwriter has released both her first EP and her first album, gaining a large collection of positive reviews and fighting her way into the UK Singles Chart. Her first album – the self-titled Eliza Doolittle – is now a certified silver release, largely due to the success of her number-five single ‘Pack Up’.

Eliza stepped into the cab around four weeks ago, just as Pack Up was making its way onto the UK Singles Chart and just days before it cracked the top five. She performed her biggest hit without any of the backing expected for a mainstream pop artist, cutting out the sampled vocals and going at the song solo. The results are certainly impressive – check out this summer’s biggest song in the video above.

On Tuesday 23^rd June Take That’s Circus Tour rolled into Manchester for a run of 5 nights at Lancashire County Cricket Ground. I was there on Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday to witness their homecoming.

Before Take That took to the stage I got to see The Script perform as the support act who were amazing and really got the crowd going throughout their half hour set. One to add to the list of concerts I’d like to go too.

Just before 8.30pm as the cast of performers dressed as cloud people made their way out to the b-stage with the balloons the atmosphere began to build. As the balloons were released into the sky and the first bars of Greatest Day rung out 50,000 people screamed the place down. This was followed by Hello after which Mark announced ‘Your boys are home’. It was clear that Take That loved being back in front of a home crowd and one that was happy to scream, sing and dance the night away in front of them. The pitch was a sea of people and there was not an inch of space left within the Cricket Ground.

The Garden went down a storm again as the elephant rose from beneath the b-stage and made its way to the main stage. Once on the main stage they invited us to ‘enter their circus’ where the stage was suddenly filled with acrobats, trampolinists and dancers. On the main stage they performed Shine, Up All Night, The Circus, Wooden Boat. On Sunday before Jason sang Wooden Boat Gary suggested he should drop his trousers for the audience, after much protesting from Jason and shouts of ‘off, off’ from the fans, he finally gave in and dropped his trousers to the giggling screams of the fans.  Howard took lead vocals on What Is Love and during the song they all dressed up as clowns. They then went into a medley of their early hits complete with the old dance moves before all unicycling from the main stage to the b-stage, with the exception of Gary who rode a small trik.

Never Forget was performed with a troop of drummers and the ground erupted as everyone threw their arms in the air to join in and the sight of 50,000 people joining in was amazing.

Relight My Fire was a big production, with fire, acrobats, dancers and the singer who originally sang the song making an appearance on stage with the boys. The concert ended with Hold Up A Light as the sky was turned to different colours and Rule The World ended the concert complete with a firework display towards the end of the song.

Mark announced during the concert that ‘there was no place like home’ and the Manchester crowd couldn’t have agreed more.

Next stop on the Circus Tour for me is Wembley on Friday 3^rd July and I can’t wait to see it all again.

On Friday 19^th June I went to the Manchester Evening News Arena to see Boyzone on their Better 09 Tour. After seeing them on their reunion tour last year I was expecting to see something new from them, instead I got the same as last year but with a different stage set and costumes. They did add in the latest single Better and Ronan sang Time After Time from his current solo album Songs For My Mother.

They opened the show with Love You Anyway and then went straight into Picture Of You, at which point some very scantily clad female dancers made an appearance and even through numerous costume changes the dancers never wore much. They added in a couple of album tracks; And I and Must Have Been High.

Mixed in with all their old hits they did a medley of Queen songs which was possibly one of the better moments as it was something different to last years show. Stephen did a solo of Beyonce’s song Single Ladies, which was; quite frankly cringe worthy to watch. A very strange song choice and he couldn’t have made himself look more camp if he’d tried.

Towards the end of the show they were suspended above the audience and propelled over to a mini stage at the back of the arena. Life Is A Rollercoaster got them there where they then performed Words before being propelled back to Baby Can I Hold You.

They put a different theme to When The Going Gets Tough and A Different Beat when they went all army military complete with dance moves involving air rifles.

Overall the 2 hour show was good, I enjoyed it, but if they want to cement their return to the music industry they need to come back with some amazing new material and tour off the back of that, not off their hits from 10 years ago, good once for the reunion, slightly more boring for the follow up tour when you expect to see new material mixed in with the old.

We know everyone of us have different kinds of choice to listen music and people are crazy about different type of music which depends on his own choice. I am also big fan of listing different kids of music bands like pop, rock and many. I love to collect songs from anywhere. There are thousands of website where you can get information about brand stars and other information and SortMusic.com is one them. I like many pop music stars but Miley Cyrus is my favorite one.

She is a Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice Award nominated American singer, actress, and best-selling author. She is better known for starring as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana in the television series Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel. Cyrus became a sensation after Hannah Montana debuted in March 2006. I also love songs of Robyn Rihanna who performs under the mononym Rihanna, is a Barbadian singer. She also serves as the cultural ambassador for Barbados. She is the first Barbadian artist to win a Grammy Award.

I also love rock bands like Blackstreet, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath or the Beatles. Among them Blackstreet is my favorite one. Blackstreet, sometimes noted as BLACKstreet, is an American R&B group formed in 1992. Their second album Another Leve (1996) was a breakthrough success due to the top single “No Diggity” (with Dr. Dre), which was a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Westlife’s Kian Egan married his former Hollyoaks actress fiancee Jodie Albert in a paradise wedding in Barbados at the weekend.

The celebrity couple flew over to the romantic resort a few weeks before the wedding to spend time with their close family and friends before the wedding nuptials.

The pair exchanged vows in a romantic ceremony on Turtle Beach surrounded by close family and friends, while being seranaded by a gospel choir playing ‘Love is in the Air’.

The couple were both dressed in white as were most of the guests who attended the ceremony at the Grand House Hotel.

However, the dream wedding was struck with sadness with Kian’s cancer-stricken father unable to attend the wedding after doctors advised him not to fly.

Despite his fathers absence, Kian was surrounded by his other family members, including his mother Patricia, brothers, Tom, Gavin and Colm, and sisters Marielle, Vivienne and Fenella.

Hollyoaks actresses Carly Stenson, who plays Steph Dean, and Ali Bastian who played Becca Dean on the Channel 4 soap joined their former co-star in celebrating her marriage to boyband singer, Kian.

After the ceremony, Kian, 29 and Jodie, 25 headed to the reception at an exclusive mansion used frequently by Simon Cowell when he holidays on the island.

Kian is set to perform with Westlife in Christchurch, New Zealand, was spotted enjoying surfing and taking romantic strolls on the beach with his bride to be.

Kian proposed to Jodie in December 2008, after the couple spent over four and a half years together.

Speaking out after the engagement, Kian said, “I am so over the moon that Jodie said yes and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with her.”

Kian’s former bandmate, Brian McFadden is also due to wed Australian singer Delta Goodrem, after announcing their engagement and his divorce from his former wife, Kerry Katona.

Rihanna performed for the first time on stage since she was allegedly assaulted by her on/off boyfriend Chris Brown.

The ‘Disturbia’ singer joined Kanye West at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala in New York on Monday (04.05.09) dressed in a black Dolce and Gabbana power suit.

The duo performed Kanye’s song, ‘Say You Will’ before Rihanna sang an emotional ’Live Your Life’ from the heart.

A source said, “Kanye wanted her to do it. It was his idea, buy Vogue editor Anna Wintour obviously had to approve it. Anna was at the run-through during the day and was so in to it.”

The audience went wild when they saw the 21-year-old singer, shouting messages of love and support.

Rihanna avoided any conversation or comments about Chris, and instead smiled and waved at the audience.

Many of the celebs at the Met ball were happy to see Rihanna back doing what she does best.

Rachel Roy said, “I love the performance. I think every woman stood up and cheered for Rihanna. We’re happy to support her and we want her to rock.”

After the performance and show, Rihanna was seen chatting to Victoria Beckham, Madonna, and fashion designers Marc Jacobs and Stella McCartney.

Later in the evening the ‘Rehab’ actress was seen talking to ‘Gossip Girl’ star Blake Lively at Jacob’s after-party at trendy restaurant Monkey Bar,

At the meal, insiders say that Vogue editor, Anna spent a lot of time with Rihanna and sang her praises all night. One insider said, “Anna was telling Rihanna how great she was. It looks like someone may be ending up on future pages of Vogue in the very near future.”

Later Rihanna was spotted dancing with close friends at club, Bungalow 8.

Chris Brown, 20, has pleaded not guilty to assault and making criminal threats in a Los Angeles court last month.

UK singer, Cheryl Cole is petrified of appearing on stage.

The Girls Aloud star believes her fellow bandmates, Nicola Roberts, Sarah Harding, Nadine Coyle and Kimberley Walsh are more talented than her and fears she will be shown up on their new tour.

Before their MEN Arena show on Friday (24.04.09) the band had to give her an emergency prep talk before they went on stage as her nerves got the better of her.

Cheryl has had a lot on her mind to deal with over the past few weeks, with friends saying she has been down since her return from climbing Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief last month.

A source close to the band told The Sunday Mirror newspaper, “In rehearsals, Cheryl was downbeat and quiet. Everyone was really worried.

“She has got a lot going on in her personal life, and I think she is finding it tough being the nation’s sweetheart and dealing with all the attention that comes with that.”

The X-Factor judge, who was last week voted as the worlds sexiest woman by FHM magazine, is currently battling to save her relationship with football star Ashley Cole, who was arrested for being drunk and disorderly while she was in Africa.

She performed on stage without her wedding ring, then rushed straight to her hotel after the show.

There are plans for the 25-year-old singer to release a solo album this year, but no date has been confirmed. It hasn’t been confirmed about who she would be working with, but reports have suggested that numerous producers have been approached.

A spokesperson for the band, said, “”Cheryl is going to work on some solo music-there is no release date set for this yet as she has not recorded any music.”

US pop singer, Britney Spears, plans to visit sick children in hospital when her tour comes to London in June this year.

The mum of two was so touched when visiting Miami Children’s Hospital earlier this month, she has decided to visit children at Britain’s Great Ormond Street hospital.

A source said, “She would really like to do this. In Miami she met up with 40 kids and posed for pictures with them.

“She found it really moving that just a couple of minutes with the children could mean so much to them.”

Her ‘Circus’ tour, which kicked off in New Orleans two weeks ago, will visit London’s 02 arena in just two months time. However, the 27-year-old star is already threatening to cancel her remaining shows after receiving death threats.

The ‘Womanizer’ star is said to be worried about the lives of her sons Sean Preston, three, and Jayden James, aged two, who could be in danger following the menacing messages.

A source said, “Britney received some anonymous death threats over the phone and in the mail, and her worst fear is a kidnap plot against Sean or Jayden. She’s been having terrible nightmares ever since then and she wakes up in the middle of the night crying out for her boys.

“She told her head of security and he thinks it’s a lone stalker. Her paranoia has reached fever pitch and she’s wracked with fear.”

Chris Brown reportedly called Rihanna to wish her a happy 21st birthday on the morning of her special day, but Rhianna wasn’t too happy to hear from him and said she had wanted to spend the day without speaking to or about him. 

Rihanna held a private party with friends on her birthday on Friday, but she did not invite Chris, 19, who she has not seen since he was arrested on February 8 for making criminal threats against an unnamed woman.

A source close to Rhianna said: “Chris called Rihanna to wish her a happy birthday. He’s absolutely trying to get back into her good graces. He knows he’s very much in the doghouse right now, and is doing everything he can to show her how sorry he is.”

Rhianna has received a string of birthday gifts from Chris as part of him trying to show her how sorry he is and how much he wants to make things up, these gifts include a diamond bracelet and necklace and an iPod Touch. Chris’ mother, Joyce – who is said to adore Rihanna – apparently sent over a bouquet of flowers to mark her birthday and was sorry that she didn’t get to share her special day with her. 

The insider revealed: “Rihanna so wanted Chris with her on her big day, but obviously realises why they can’t be together right now. But it’s becoming more and more clear that she can’t be without him.”

Rihanna held her casino theme birthday party in a rented house in the Hollywood Hills, with professional croupiers brought in to deal Blackjack 21, and all of her guests are said to of enjoyed gambling throughout the night and even though there was alcohol available Rhianna didn’t choose drinking to celebrate her birthday. She was in a great mood and was really celebrating not just her birthday, but life in general.

After the party Rihanna flew to her native Barbados, where she ended her birthday celebrations with her mother.

Kings of Leon won double at the Brit Awards this year and have knocked Lily Allen off the top of the album charts.

Their debut album ‘Only By The Night’, which won the group the best international album prize at Wednesday’s ceremony, last topped the charts in autumn and has hovered in the top 10 ever since. The Brits’ boost has sent it shooting to No 1 again leaving Lily’s second album It’s Not Me It’s You in second place.

Lily’s single ‘The Fear’ kept her at the top of the singles chart for the fourth week running although Kings Of Leon, who also won best international group, moved up from 12 to No 3 with the single Use Somebody.

Duffy’s album Rockferry was the best selling album of 2008, and after the Welsh singer took the best album prize at the brits her album went from 19 to No 4 in the charts. Elbow, who won best British group, saw The Seldom Seen Kid shoot up from 23 to No 5.

The Brit’s effect did not only benefit people who had won awards, It was not just the winners who benefited from the Brits’ effect. The Ting Tings, who were nominated for best breakthrough act but lost out to Duffy, saw We Started Nothing move up 25 places from 33 to No 8.

Best international male solo artist nominee Seasick Steve’s album I Started Out With Nothin And I Still Got Most Of It Left went from 24 to No 9. Fleet Foxes, who lost out to Kings Of Leon in the best international group category, moved up one place from 11 to 10.