City Showcase - celebrating the best new talent in music and fashion

Press Release

City Showcase - celebrating the best new talent in music and fashion
12-9-2003 372

Internationally acclaimed musician Dave Stewart, founder of the Eurythmics, and Mayor Ken Livingstone are backing a unique event for emerging talent in the music and fashion worlds. Taking place across London, City Showcase will give young musicians and fashion hopefuls an opportunity to perform and show their designs at a variety of different venues, during a week-long festival that will run from 22nd to 26th September. The London Development Agency, the Mayor’s agency for business and jobs, is the main funder for City Showcase.

Coinciding with London Fashion Week, City Showcase will feature in excess of 120 performers during the week. Daytime performances will take place at shops in the West End (Regent Street, Oxford Street and Bond Street) and on the King's Road. Venues will be as diverse as record stores, boutiques and mobile phone stores. Evening gigs will be staged at two of the city's leading live music venues, The Borderline and The Mean Fiddler. An evening of classical music will also be held at St Paul's Church, Knightsbridge. Fusing together the creative talents of designers and musicians, some performers will be wearing clothes from up and coming fashion designers. All styles of music will be represented at the showcases, from classical to hip-hop, jazz to rock and RnB to folk.

The idea for City Showcase came from music industry executive Nanette Rigg and has attracted backing from media organisations, radio stations, the fashion industry, and a host of London trade associations. 'There is so little opportunity for new talent to get exposure,' she said. 'City Showcase gives musicians and fashion designers a rare opportunity to showcase their work to a large audience and get the recognition they deserve from both the public and those in the music and fashion industries.'

Since the first City Showcase, staged in February, three of the featured acts have been signed by major record labels. Dave Stewart, who launched his own pop career with singer Annie Lennox in the eighties, said: 'It's enormously difficult for new acts to make the breakthrough in the music business. This sort of exposure is vital to nurture new talent and keep British music at the forefront of the industry.'

Mayor Ken Livingstone is the core sponsor of the event, through the London Development Agency. Trade Partners UK and Business Link for London are also supporting the event.

Mayor Livingstone said: 'City Showcase provides a rare platform for London's emerging talent and I am pleased that performers from the first Showcase in February are starting to get noticed. Events like these are essential to encourage investment and promote global competition for the capital's creative industries.'

Michael Ward, Chief Executive of the London Development Agency, added: 'We are supporting City Showcase as it provides a perfect platform for new talent in both the music and fashion industries which are an important part of London’s creative sector, supporting thousands of jobs in the capital. In order for London to remain a centre for innovation and creativity, we need to nurture young talent and help showcase start-up companies.'

David Train, Trade Partners UK’s International Trade Director for London said: 'Creative Industries is London’s fastest growing sector, contributing around £21 billion to the capital’s economy and employing more than half a million people across London. City Showcase will be an excellent forum to launch new talent and fresh ideas and Trade Partners UK is proud to be involved.'

The British Fashion Council is right behind the festival. Nicholas Coleridge, the Chairman of the BFC said, 'With so many talented up and coming designers in London, events like City Showcase are a welcome addition to the fashion calendar.'

City Showcase will also stage workshops for new artists and designers. Run by experts from the music industry, fashion trade bodies and London colleges, the courses will focus on the pitfalls of the business side of the music and fashion industries.

All gigs are completely free to the public. Tickets for evening events can be obtained by logging on to www.dotmusic.com/cityshowcase. Who knows, you could be watching the next Robbie Williams or seeing designs from the next Stella McCartney!

Listings of artists, venues and times follow.

MONDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2003

Rock, Pop and Dance

David Saw
The National Army Museum, SW3, 9.30am & 2.30pm, free

Natalie Williams
Jigsaw, W1, 11am & 2pm, free

Shaughnessy
Orange Retail, SW3, 11am & 2pm, free

Cast of Thousands
Boss, W1, 11.30am & 2.30pm, free

Jon Green
R M Williams, W1, 11.30am & 2pm, free

Richard Lobb
Aquascutum, W1, 12noon & 3pm, free

Susy Thomas
Virgin Megastore, SW3, 1 & 4pm, free

EVENING

Sarah Bennett, Maria Wilson, Wayne Williams and Terri Walker
Mean Fiddler, WC2, 7pm, free tickets in advance only from www.dotmusic.com/cityshowcase

Atlas, Newtown, Razorlight
Borderline, W1, 7pm, free tickets in advance only from www.dotmusic.com/cityshowcase

Folk, Blues and World

Amber Bela-Muse
Moss Bross, W1, 10.30am & 1.30pm, free

Cathy Burton
Cecil Gee, W1, 11am & 2pm, free

Elenni
Moss, W1, 12.30 and 3.30pm, free

Jane Taylor
Austin Reed, W1. 12.30 & 3.30pm

Jazz and Latin

Trevor Mires Jazz quartet
London Furniture Company, SW3, 11.30am & 2.45pm

Hugo Elizalde
Beale and Inman, W1, 12noon & 2.15pm

Jakob Lindbirk Jazz Trio
Canali, W1, 1.30 & 3.45pm

Classical and Opera

Johanas Moller
Hobbs, SW3, 12noon & 1.45pm, free

Helen Radice and Anna Wolstenholme
Bluebird, SW3, 12.30 & 2.45pm, free

TUESDAY 23 SEPTEMBER 2003

Rock, Pop and Dance

Sarah Bennett
Moss Bros, W1, 10.30am & 1.30pm, free

Beverley
Jigsaw, W1, 11am & 2pm, free

Dominique
Orange Retail, SW3, 11am & 2pm, free

Chris Ford
The National Army Museum, SW3, 11am & 1pm, free

Natalie Williams
Boss, W1, 11.30am & 2.30pm, free

Shaughnessy
Aquascutum, W1, 12noon & 3pm, free

Jane Taylor
Moss, W1, 12.30 & 3.30pm, free

Amber Bela-Muse
Austin Reed, W1, 12.30 & 3.30pm, free

EVENING

The BooKoo Movement, The Glitterati, The Koreans, Serafin
Mean Fiddler, WC2, 7pm, free tickets in advance only from www.dotmusic.com/cityshowcase

Adam Masterson, Amy Winehouse, Karen David, Zoe Johnston
Borderline, W1, 7pm, free tickets in advance only from www.dotmusic.com/cityshowcase

Jazz and Latin

Big Strides
London Furniture Company, SW3, 11.30am & 2.45pm, free

Zephyr Ensemble
Canali, W1, 1.30 & 3.45pm, free

Folk, Blues and World

Jimmy Haynes
Cecil Gee, W1, 11am & 2pm, free

Cathy Burton
R M Williams, W1, 11.30am & 2pm, free

Elenni
Virgin Megastore, SW3, 1 & 4pm, free

Classical and Opera

David Black and Rebecca Baulch
Hobbs, SW3, 12noon & 1.45pm, free

Bruno Heinen and Henrik Jensen
Beale & Inman, W1, 12noon & 2.15pm, free

Anna Stokes and Lawrence Durkin
Bluebird, SW3, 12.30pm & 2.45pm, free

WEDNESDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2003

Rock, Pop and Dance

Wilby
Orange Retail, SW3, 11am & 2pm, free

Beverley
Cecil Gee, W1, 11am & 2pm, free

Dominique
Boss, W1, 11.30am & 2.30pm, free

Lopez
RM Williams, W1, 11.30am & 2pm, free

Eva Brandt
Aquascutum, W1, 12noon & 3pm, free

Jon Lacey
Austin Reed, W1, 12.30 & 3.30pm, free

EVENING

Catalyst, DeVoteD, Panjabi Hit Squad, Rishi Rich Project featuring Sean Jay and Juggy D
Mean Fiddler, WC2, 7pm, free tickets in advance only from www.dotmusic.com/cityshowcase

Funki G, Amber Filter, Hermione, Dr Das and Pandit G, Fola Sade
Borderline, W1, 7pm, free tickets in advance only from www.dotmusic.com/cityshowcase

Jazz and Latin

Big Strides
Jigsaw, W1, 11am & 2pm, free

Zephyr Ensemble
London Furniture Company, SW3, 1130am & 2.45pm, free

Hugo Elizalde
Bluebird, SW3, 12.30 & 2.45pm, free

Andrew Cottee Duo
Beale & Inman, W1, 12noon & 2.15pm, free

Trevor Mires
Canali, W1, 1.30 & 3.45pm, free

Folk, Blues and World

Elenni
Moss Bros, W1, 10.30am & 1.30pm, free

Virginia McNaughton
Moss, W1, 12.30 & 3.30pm, free

Cat Goscovitch
Virgin Megastore, SW3, 1 & 4pm, free

Classical and Opera

Anna Stokes and Lawrence Durkin
Hobbs, SW3, 12noon & 1.45pm, free

THURSDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2003

Rock, Pop and Dance

Richard Lobb
Orange Retail, SW3, 11am & 2pm, free

Azrah
Jigsaw, W1, 11am & 2pm, free

The Lockdown Project
Cecil Gee, W1, 11am & 2pm, free

Stonegrass
RM Williams, W1, 11.30am & 2pm, free

Chris Ford
Aquascutum, W1, 12noon & 1pm, free

Susy Thomas
Moss, W1, 12.30 and 3.30pm, free

Seed
Austin Reed, W1, 12.30 and 3.30pm, free

EVENING

The Kitchen
Borderline, W1, 7pm. Free tickets in advance only from www.dotmusic.com/cityshowcase

Jazz and Latin

Andrew Cottee Duo
Beale & Inman, W1, 12noon & 2.15pm, free

Big Strides
Virgin Megastore, SW3, 1 & 4pm, free

Hugo Elizalde
Canali, W1, 1.30 & 3.45pm, free

Folk, Blues and World

Virginia McNaughton
Moss Bros, W1, 10.30am &1.30pm, free

Cat Goscovitch
Boss, W1, 11.30am & 2.30pm, free

Classical and Opera

Jakob Lindbirk
London Furniture Company, SW3, 11.30am & 2.45pm, free

Helen Radice
Hobbs, SW3, 12noon & 1.45pm, free

Johanas Moller
Bluebird, SW3, 12.30 & 2.45pm, free

EVENING

Summer, Catrin Finch, Oduo, Celloman Unplugged, The Tempest
UK premier of David Hunt’s Metropolis
St Paul’s Church, SW1, 7pm, free tickets in advance only from www.dotmusic.com/cityshowcase

FRIDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2003

Rock, Pop and Dance
Susy Thomas
Moss Bros, W1, 10.30am & 1.30pm, free

Eva Brandt
Jigsaw, W1, 11am & 2pm, free

Stonegrass
Cecil Gee, W1, 11am & 2pm, free

Jon Lacey
Boss, W1, 11.30am & 2.30pm, free

David Saw
RM Williams, W1, 11.30am & 2pm, free

Wilby
Aquascutum, W1, 12noon & 3pm, free

Sarah Bennett
Moss, W1, 12.30 & 3.30pm, free

Jon Green
Virgin Megastore, SW3, 1 & 4pm, free

Jazz and Latin

Trevor Mires Jazz quartet
London Furniture Company, SW3, 11.30am & 2.45pm, free

Jakob Lindbirk Jazz Trio
Canali, W1, 1.30 & 3.45pm, free

Folk, Blues and World

Amber Bela-Muse
Orange Retail, SW3, 11am & 2pm, free

Parkers Band
Austin Reed, W1, 12.30 & 3.30pm, free

Classical and Opera

Johanas Moller
Hobbs, SW3, 12noon & 1.45pm, free

Caixa
Beale and Inman, W1, 12noon & 2.15pm, free

Helen Radice and Anna Wolstenholme
Bluebird, SW3, 12.30 & 2.45pm, free

Venues
Aquascutum, 100 Regents Street, London W1B 5SR
Austin Reed, 103 Regent Street, London W1R 7HB
Beale & Inman, 131 New Bond Street, London W1Y 0EP
Bluebird Bar & Restaurant, 350 Kings Road, London SW3 5UU
Borderline, Orange Yard, Off Manette Street, London, W1V 5LB
Boss, 184/186 Regent Street, London W1R 5DF
Canali, 122 New Bond Street, London W1V 9AB
Cecil Gee, 287 Oxford Street, London W1R 1LB
Hobbs, 84/88 Kings Road, London SW3 4TZ
Jigsaw, 126/127 New Bond Street, London W1A 9AF
London Furniture Company, Duke of York's Sq., Kings Road, London SW3 4LY
Mean Fiddler, 157 Charing Cross Road, London WC2 0EN
Moss, 299 Oxford Street, London W1R 1LA
Moss Bros, 88 Regent Street, London W1R 5PA
National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HT
Orange Retail Shop, 71 Kings Rd, London, SW3 4NX
RM Williams, 233 Regent Street, London W1D 7PQ
St Paul’s Church, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1
Virgin Megastore, Kings Walk Shopping Arcade, 122 Kings Road, London, SW3 4TR

Notes to Editors

Nanette Rigg, Dave Stewart and City Showcase performers are available for interview before or during City Showcase
Information on the event and performances can be found on www.dotmusic.com/cityshowcase. For further information, please contact Alison Brockway or Guy Salisbury at Talk Talent on 020 7278 7271 or email alison@talktalent.co.uk.
Mayor Ken Livingstone is the major funder of City Showcase, through the London Development Agency, as part of his commitment to supporting London's creative talent (for more information call Ben McKnight on 020-7983 4071, or visit www.london.gov.uk/mayor/creativeindustries.jsp).
The LDA is the Mayor’s agency for business and jobs. It prepares the Mayor’s business plan for the capital, investing over £300 million a year and mobilising the support and resources of other organisations to create a better environment for London’s diverse people, businesses and communities to thrive (visit www.london.gov.uk).
Trade Partners UK is part of British Trade International, the Government body with lead responsibility for fostering business competitiveness by helping UK firms secure overseas sales and investments, and for attracting high quality foreign direct investment to the UK.
The festival is also being sponsored by - Business Link for London - the small business advice and support service for the capital, providing practical, impartial and independent advice on every aspect of running a business.
City Showcase benefits from sponsorship by The Learning and Skills Council, responsible for funding and planning education and training for over 16-year-olds in England.
City Showcase is also receiving support across the industry including; AIM, ASCAP, BMI, The Bond Street Association, The BPI, British Academy of Composers and Songwriter, The British Fashion Council, Caffe Nero, Channel 4, Clintons, Community Music, Doll Limited, dotmusic, Fashion Capital, Fashionworks, Ideas Factory, The London Fashion Forum, Mayor's Creative Industries Commission, MCPS, The MMF, The MPA, Music Tank (University of Westminster), Music Week, The New West End Company, Oxford Street Association, PPL, The PRS, Regent Street Association, Urban Music Seminar, Visit London, XFM and The Youth Music Foundation.
City Showcase is also being featured as part of Totally London Tour, the second phase of the Totally London campaign devised by Visit London and the Mayor to get Londoners to try sample the city's attractions. The Totally London Tour runs until October and aims to get people to make the most of the major events and festivals happening in the city. For more information go to www.visitlondon.com.

Press information is available from Ben McKnight in the Mayor's Press office: 020-7983 4071/07881 501 920

For non-media and general enquiries call the Public Liasion Unit: 020 7983 4100

For out of hours press enquiries: 020 7983 4000

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