Winners (2007): The Kabeedies
From playing in an Ipswich bar to 20 people to triumphing as the winners
of the Next Big Thing contest, it has been a remarkable six months for
indie popsters The Kabeedies. In front of 600 people at the University of
East Anglia the pure pop of the Norwich-based four-piece
won the hearts of judges.
The victorious line-up of 16-year-old bassist Rory Hill from Norwich, 18-year-old
vocalist Katie Allard from Norwich, 17-year-old guitarist/vocalist Evan Jones
from Woodbridge and 17-year-old drummer Fab Bell from Lowestoft, wowed the
crowds with their short, sharp shocks of songs.
The band, whose singer Katie threw flowers at fans before they started their
set at the finals, only formed six months ago but have already sold out Norwich
Arts Centre and played at Hyde Park in London.
Rory, who also appeared at the Next Big Thing as a solo artist and played
with last year's finalists Vanilla Kick, said he was delighted his band had
won the title. He said: “It was quite nerve-wracking, but because I'd
done my solo performance earlier on I felt a bit less nervous by the time
the band performed.
But waiting for the results was absolutely horrible, although it was lovely
when
they said we had won.”
Evan Jones said the support slot was the best
part of the prize package. “That's
the one we're most looking forward to and is probably the most valuable
prize for the future,” he said. “Since we won we have received
some great feedback from friends and fans, and even from people we don't
know.
It's funny because we can do much better than the performance we gave,
and did not think we were going to win. We had a lot of energy but it was
not
our best gig.”
Rob Clews, owner of Purple Studios, said: “We
want to do something really good with them in the studio, even if it takes
more
than two days.
We're also thinking of entering The Kabeedies and Purple Studios in the
Creative Norfolk competition as a non-broadcast entry.”
The
final of the contest, which was organised by the EDP and Evening News,
was opened by last year's Next
Big Thing winners Rosalita, who appeared on the Channel 4 stage at this
year's V Festival.
Rory said: “We hope to follow in their footsteps and it would be really
nice if we could go on to do as well as them. Our first gig was in front
of 20 people in a bar in Ipswich so to have come this far and to have sold
out the arts centre is brilliant.”
The Kabeedies won a superb package of prizes, including a single release
by Norwich label NR One records, £1,000 of advice and guidance from
Steeles specialist music solicitors and two days' recording time at Purple
Studios. There will also be a guaranteed support slot for a big name band
at the UEA or Waterfront and free hair cuts from salon Kinki.
Premier Percussion drum kit winner
Ant Hall, 27, from Horsford, part of four-piece rock group
Fortune Rookie, won the best drummer prize, which was a new drum kit. He
said: “We've
had great response and emails on MySpace since we won the prize. It's great
to know that people really enjoyed the gig and my drumming.
“The drum kit will come in handy next year when we're touring up and
down the country, including a headline gig in London. Our aim for next year
is to get more widespread recognition in the media and to get our debut album
out. We're trying to secure distribution for it now.”
The drum kit was donated by Premier Percussion whose general sales manager
Rob Masters said: “Congratulations to Fortune Rookie. Premier is always
proud to support the next generation of player and we are pleased to see
that the donated drum set went to a more than worthy winner.”
Line-up for the final
Judges sifted through almost 100
entries for this year’s competition. Twelve made it through
to the semi finals at Norwich Arts Centre. The eight who have made it through
to the final at the UEA LCR on Sunday November 18, 2007, are:
- Alex Carson
- Graffiti Sun
- Fortune Rookie
- Icenis
- Rory Hill
- Ten Ten-Tackles
- The Kabeedies
- Tom Cox
Profiles of the the finalists (and semi finalists who didn't make it through)
PLUS DOWNLOAD FREE MP3s
Semi finals
- Saturday October 27 at Norwich Arts Centre
Alex Carson, Graffiti Sun, Canine Feline, Kunk, Rory Hill, Ten-Ten-Tackles
- Sunday October 28 at Norwich Arts Centre
Big John, Edendale Tyson, Fortune Rookie, The Icenis, The Kabeedies, Tom
Cox
The judging was doing anonymously, with the names of the shortlisted acts
not revealed until they were chosen. Judges were stunned by the diverse
range of good quality music being made in the county, as almost 100 entries
poured in for consideration.
David Banks, a member of the judging panel who has experience of managing
bands and sound engineering, said the quality of entries was as high as
previous years. He said: “It was as difficult to judge as ever. The
good bands jump out straight away but then they have to be honed down into
the
last 12.We had everything from singer-songwriters to death metal bands.
We were not necessarily looking for the people who had spent the most on
production, but those with the most ideas in their music. Originality,
good lyrics and that extra something special was what we were looking for.”
Mr Banks said he was looking forward to the two semi final gigs at
Norwich Arts Centre on Saturday, October 27, and Sunday, October 28, to see
how
the demos they heard translate into live performances by the bands. He said: “The
best thing of all is when you get to see the bands competing against each other
on stage and to see if they are as good live as they
are on record.
The ones that spent a lot of money on production aren’t necessarily
the best ones on the night – it all comes down to who gives the best
performance. ”
One of the youngest performers Rory Hill, who turned 16 last week,
will actually be appearing at both semi-finals after being picked twice
by the judges – once as a solo artist and for the second time with his
band The Kabeedies. This was a total fluke as the judging was done anonymously
by tracks and they did not know who had written them until they had been
chosen.
Rory, who is now studying at City College Norwich, said: “I
was really happy when I was told I had been picked on my own and then
curious about
how the band had done.“
It was even better when I found out how the band had done. I’m really
looking forward to it.”
More about the contest
Now in its fourth year, the competition
has proved a springboard for some of the area's best musicians with last
year's winners Rosalita going on to
win the Road to V and 2004 winners The Pistolas scooping a Diesel-U-Music
Award.
This year 12 semi-finalists will be selected to play at Norwich Arts Centre
on Saturday October 27 and Sunday October 28. Eight will be picked
for the Next Big Thing grand final on Sunday November 18 on the UEA LCR
stage.
The winner will pick up a great package of prizes, thanks to our generous
sponsors. These include a single release from Norwich label NR
One Records;
two days' recording time from Purple
Studios; a launch pad workshop from
Steeles specialist music solicitors
worth more than £1,000; a guaranteed
support slot for a 'name' band at the UEA or The
Waterfront; and a cut and restyle for the winning band from Kinki
Hair to be taken within six months of winning the final.
Last year's winners Rosalita will open the grand final - and new for 2007
will be an air guitar competition where eight contenders will strut their
funky stuff on the LCR stage, competing to win a real guitar!
Contact us at nextbigthing2007@archant.co.uk
For more information check out our MySpace page www.myspace.com/nextbigthingshowcase or contact Oliver Franzen (01603 772239).
Tickets for the gigs cost £5 and will be available from EDP
and Evening News offices, the UEA and Norwich
Arts Centre.
Previous Next Big Thing contents