Zambezi Express reviewed

September 14, 2009 by helen  
Filed under BANG Radio News, Staff Blogs

Zambezi Express is a show that leaves you wanting to visit Africa and experience that energy from its source. It’s not called the Happiest Show on Earth for nothing! I was lucky enough to be sent by BANG Radio to review Zambezi Express on its opening night this week. What vibez! A melody of colour, movement and song which is exactly what you need after a non summer in a recession.

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The performance was all at once hypnotic and intensly energising - I was nodding my head, clapping my hands and I have to admit I did my all essential African ululating more than once!! (For those of you who don’t know what that is please leave a comment and I’ll reply in audio).

The show tells the story of Zilli, born in the slums of a mining township in Zimbabwe, on his journey to the big city to fulfil his footballing dream.  Told in amazing dances and songs performed by a talented crew of actors – all authentically African, this show will blow you away.

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It has something for all audiences from drama, conflict, history, change, diversity and a search for a purpose. All in all a moving depiction of how dreams come to be through devotion and persistence.

It has so inspired me to find the dancer in me and explore my African rhythm. if there were more like this, I would be a regular theatre goer.

Zambezi Express is showing at Riverside Studios until 27th September. You MUST MUST MUST go and see this.

Jennifer

All pictures by Paul Tomlins

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My week at BANG & Bigga

September 11, 2009 by helen  
Filed under BANG Radio News, Blogs, Headlines, Staff Blogs

Day one

I arrived at BANG Radio and Bigga Fish at 10 am, I was a bit worried before I got there that I wouldn’t really fit in because I’m a 15 year old school girl and everybody else was older than me. I thought that maybe I would be patronised or left to make tea for everybody but not actually experience how it would work out to actually work in an office/radio station.

But as I arrived at the doors I immediately met one of the workers from Bang and Bigga Fish named Ben (Bigga Fish Marketing Manager) who seemed happy, he showed me how to get into the building as I was having trouble with that and asked what my name was and if I was working at BANG and Bigga fish for work experience.

jessica2-insideI was shown around the premises by a lady called Helen (BANG Edutainment General Manager) she also told me who everyone was, I was told that for the rest of the week I would be working on reception and I was shown how to handle phone calls and when and how I should let people into the building.

My first task of the week was to sign onto the Bigga fish facebook and answer questions and queries on the Bigga Bubble Birthday Bash and any other questions I could answer, I continued to do this for the rest of the day along with answering the phone until four 4 when it was time to go home. I was glad this were my work experience, it was perfect for me and where somebody else could have found it boring, I loved it and felt very professional.

Day two

On day two I came in and was asked if I could help flatten some boxes so they could be recycled. After that I logged back into the Bigga Fish facebook for a little while then I went to have lunch. After lunch I was asked by Nii (Bigga Fish director) if I wanted to sit in on a board meeting regarding the Bigga Fish foam party, which I hastily agreed to, as I had always wanted to see what happened in a board room meeting because I want to own a music based business when I’m older, which could possibly mean owning a promotion company or putting on musical events/raves so it was ideal.

After the meeting it was almost time to go home, before I left I was asked by Nii what I learnt from the board meeting and I had learnt that it does take a lot of brain power to insure things run smoothly and you cannot be scatty nor forgetful. I also got a few ideas on how to set a board meeting out so I will keep that in mind for when I’m older.

Day Three

On day three I came into work and was asked by Veronica (BANG Radio Marketing & Communication Assistant) to sign onto the Bigga Fish facebook to accept friend requests and answer any queries there were and then I counted the money in the petty cash jar had my lunch break and dealt with facebook again and when I was finished I was given a list of members of the street team and asked if I could call them up to inform them of the meeting that was coming up, after that I went home.

Day four

On day four I was asked to copy up a few notes from two board meetings when I finished I when for lunch and when I came back I was asked to make a poster advertising the Drop In centre and all the interesting things you can do for free in there by Lynnike (BANG Edutainment Training Coordinator Assistant). It was on Photoshop which I thought I was quite good at using but evidentlly I wasn’t that great with it!!

It took me ages to get the hang of it until I decided to Google it to see how it worked, and then from there it wasn’t as hard to use but I still didn’t finish it on that day in the end!

Day Five

I didn’t go to theBANG and Bigga fish’s office, I went to the Camden Round House as a member of the Street Team, I arrived at Saturday’s Bigga Bubble Birthday Bash  at 4:30 pm,  so we had to prepare and make sure we knew what we were doing for the event, my job was to come out of the hall at 8-9pm and get people’s details so that we could inform them of when there is another rave, and maybe sign them up for the street team so they could help out with events as well as getting lots of treats such as getting into events free and going on stage with the acts.

When I wasn’t helping out with the street team I was able to have a load of fun in foam! Inside the main hall it was full of people dancing and having a fun time and the foam only made it better!

Overall

My time at BANG and Bigga Fish has been fun and eventful. It just makes me more than sure that this is what I want my future career to be about. Working at BANG Radio and Bigga Fish was a great experience for me, I loved the atmosphere and everybody was friendly, I enjoyed every minute of it and I would do it again.

I think that the staff are fun but they also know when to be serious and work. In the beginning I was scared of Jennifer (BANG Edutainment’s CEO) because I first saw her in a board meeting and she seemed very stern but I then saw that she wasn’t stern all the time but in the board room its time to “get down to business.”

Nii was also the same and was a perfectionist. Gabriella (BANG Radio’s Station Manager) was always chirpy and full off energy and Lynnike was the same too, everybody else was really nice too. I liked Lynnike & Sefa’s drive time show and also Bruce Wayne’s bangin’ Afternoon.

Jessica x

PS added by Gabriella: Jessica has been a great asset to our team for the time she’s been there, I am sure she will grow up to be a very successful lady! Good luck girl!

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Bigga Foam Party was biiig

September 7, 2009 by helen  
Filed under Blogs, Staff Blogs

Hi, my name is Jessica I’m 15 and doing my work experience at BANG Radio and Bigga Fish. So far my time at BANG and Bigga Fish has been fun and eventful and I’ve loved every minute of it. It just makes me more than sure that this is what I want my future career to be about.

jessica-inside

As a member of the Street Team, I arrived at Saturday’s Bigga Bubble Birthday Bash  at 4:30 pm,  so we had to prepare and make sure we knew what we were doing for the event, my job was to come out of the hall at 8-9pm and get people’s details so that we could inform them of when there is another rave, and maybe sign them up for the street team so they could help out with events as well as getting lots of treats such as getting into events free and going on stage with the acts.

When I wasn’t helping out with the street team I was able to have a load of fun in foam! Inside the main hall it was full of people dancing and having a fun time and the foam only made it better! The acts were really good and when Dotstar – stick up came on I just had run back inside and dance for that song then I came back outside to complete my hour of collecting details.

Jessica Sirius

PS check on the video of the night right here

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Carnival Day 2

August 31, 2009 by helen  
Filed under BANG Radio News, Staff Blogs

Another day off the hook here at Carnival, guys I can’t believe this is over… its been an absolutely amazing time, I’ve had so much fun!

BANG Radio’s first ever live broadcast from Notting Hill Carnival courtesy of Carnival Village witnessed some quality music live on air with some of our best DJs on the desks like Devill, Skipp, Queenie, Vivid, Mickey Mapphia, Colin Faver, Prince & the Too Tense Crew and crème de la crème presenters such as Eplus and King Caztro!

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The Tabernacle in Powis Square, where BANG Radio was broadcasting live during Notting Hill Carnival

Here some of the pics of such an amazing day! So, first of all the crowd, wow! As always a sea of happy people, jamming to all sorts of music …

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OMG here I’m with Adam, Skipp, Devill & Caztro checking out a dnb set… wow! Absolutely sublime!

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From the left, Devill, King Caztro, Gabryhella & DJ Skipp

The Drum n bass crew, Lady V & Devill, spinned some tunes, together with regular guest DJ Micky Mafia.

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Lady V and DJ Micky Mafia in the background

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Lady V & DJ Devill

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King Caztro & MR 13 freestyling live on air

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Carnival Day 1

August 31, 2009 by helen  
Filed under BANG Radio News, Headlines, Staff Blogs

Oh what a day we had at Carnival yesterday! Great music, great presenters and the likes of Ryan Leslie, Bashy and the lovely Ms Dynamite popping down! BANG Radio was blasting out from the Tabernacle in Powis Square and guess what? Today we are ready to do it all over again!

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Gabryhella larging it with Bashy and Ryan Leslie

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Ms Dynamite & Bashy during their interview with Tahirah

Yesterday we had DJ Skipp delivering an absolutely fresh and funky house mix blended with soca, yes soca! boy it sounded good! DJ Sly did his brilliant thing, too, Tahirah interviewed our lovely guests and Adam and DJ Devill warmed up the set with an astonishing on air marathon! Texas Ranger, Gus Hall, Smiley Variety also popped down, it was so much fun!

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From the left: DJ Sly, Gus Hall, Smiley Variety & Texas Ranger

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DJ Skipp mixing soca with funky

As for today, we have just started off over an hour ago with a lovely warm up session with top DJ Colin Faver (normally you can catch Colin every Thursday at midnight with the best in soulful house) and now King Caztro is getting ready for his on air party set! Expect lots of party tunes, great guests and lots of BANG DJs going back 2 back with soca, funky, garage, dnb, calypso & bashment!! We’ll get Caztro & Mr13 to do a bit of rapping and God knows what else… its gonna be biiig!

If you can’t be there, we will bring Carnival to you. So stay tuned until 9pm today for the very best from Notting Hill Carnival 2009, live from the Tabernacle, in Powis Square.

Text the word bang followed by your message to 63333 or email us your thoughts to studio@bangradio.fm. And, if you are in the area, pop us see us!

Off to party, now, peeps, chat soon!

G

The BANG Radio Notting Hill Carnival 2009 live broadcast from the Tabernacle in Powis Square is sponsored by Carnival Village. Check out their all year round amazing activities at carnivalvillage.org.uk

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MOBO Nominees Party

August 27, 2009 by helen  
Filed under BANG Radio News, Staff Blogs, Tahirah

Last night 26th August 2009, Britain’s most prominent awards ceremony for celebrating black music launched voting at the Mayfair Hotel, in London. The stars and industry were out in force for the MOBO Nominations Party.

chipmunk-reggie-mobo-inside1The awards will be taking place in Glasgow, Scotland at the Scottish Exhibition + Conference Centre (SECC) Arena  on Wednesday 30th September. For the first time in its 14th year history MOBO won’t be hosted in London.

Founder and CEO Kanya King opened the show and host Reggie Yates invited R&B/Pop boyband JLS and last year’s Best Newcomer Chipmunk to announce the nominees.

Chipmunk looks set to be this year’s big winner at the MOBO Awards, he’s leading the pack with 4 nominations. Since winning last year, Chipmunk has gone on to score a top 10 and a record deal with Sony - he revealed at the party that his album is completed and due for release October 12th.

Bashy, who has been nominated for Best UK Act and Best Album, hit the stage to perform his latest single, Your Wish Is My Command with H-Boogie. Eurovision finalist and Best Newcomer Nominee Jade Ewen performed her new single My Man.

But they definitely weren’t the only stars in attendance; we spotted funky house champion Donaeo, N-Dubz, Sabrina Washington, Mz Bratt, Kano, Booty Luv, Bluey Robinson, Wiley, Master Shortie, Young Nate, Lemar, CherriV… and our own BANG superstars E-Plus, Mr Silk and Tahirah were representing.

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Mr Silk with Jade Ewen - who he’ll be chatting it up with on drivetime very soon.

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Master Shortie, who was so excited he couldn’t keep his eyes open.

Homegrown talent is leading the awards this year:

BEST UK ACT
Alesha Dixon
Bashy
Beverley Knight
Chipmunk
Dizzee Rascal
DJ Ironik
Donae’o
Mr. Hudson
N-Dubz
Tinchy Stryder

BEST UK NEWCOMER
Alexandra Burke
Jade Ewen
JLS
Laura Izibor
Master Shortie

BEST SONG
‘Beat Again’ – JLS
‘Diamond Rings’ - Chipmunk ft. Emeli Sande
‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’ - K.I.G. Family
‘Number One’ - Tinchy Stryder and N-Dubz
‘Strong Again’ - N-Dubz

BANG Radio are definitely looking forward to the awards on September 30th! CLICK HERE for the full list of nominees and make sure you VOTE now on MOBO.com

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