SKITTLE ALLEY AT THE INDY AWARDS

Well, well. Who'd have thought to give the Skittle Alley FREE VIP tickets to an event that had FREE beer?? Nice one INDY Award people.The INDY Awards are only in their 2nd year, and are there to celebrate, reward and recognise the hard work of live music venues, promoters and the talented young artists they showcase and help develop (Which kind of rules us out of an award, being no longer young and probably never talented!).
The package is slick, the promotion professional and the artists of the highest standard. Pity, then, that they threw that all out the window on the night by completely fucking up entrance to the venue...Tickets arrived stating 'Arrive 6.30pm prompt for photo-call'. But at 6.30, door bloke was still sticking signs marked 'VIP Access' on the door, so it was back to the pub. After a swift one, our return to the venue (the excellent Kentish Town Forum) saw us battling into the crowds - who seemed to have appeared from nowhere and who all had a VIP ticket! The non-priveleged walked straight in... We waited 40 bloody minutes! One guy in front of me was on stage 2 hours later collecting an award. Surely difficult to get any more VIP-ish than that??

Once inside, however, things took a definite perk on the skyward side at the revelation that all the Tuborg beer was free! My word. Now it has to be said, it WAS a very generous gesture. It does also need to be said that it's probably not the greatest beer ever to grace a hop vat, but beggars can't be choosers...We were there courtesy of the truely lovely Little Fish, who we ended up nominating in our rather clumsy attempt at voting for them! By reaching the finals, they inadvertently allowed all their nominees to get tickets too. With Jamie moping around in Thailand, I got to escort the lovely Fiona instead. Never mind (although she couldn't be persuaded to plump for the Tuborg...).

LITTLE FISH - STARS OF THE NIGHT....

AND MORE ENERGY THAN A 24 PACK OF DURACELLS!!

The venue was great, with carpeted bench seating (most welcome) and a great mix of people, mostly allied to their respective bands/favourites. And some guy off Radio 2 presented (sorry mate - name escapes me). Apart from some rather annoyingly long (and frequent) breaks and an ocassional dip in atmosphere and enthusiasm, it was a brilliant night.
Highlights - most definitley Little Fish a) performing (awesome stuff) and b) winning! (possibly the most deserved win of the night) plus a win for Truck (Festival of the Year). The Buzzcocks (to be that pissed and still rock was a lesson for you young 'uns!) were superb, The Penny Black Remedy a pleasant surprise and Dawn Kinnard a revelation.

THE LOVELY AND VERY TALENTED DAWN KINNARD

Lowlights - the queue, Rusty Egan (almost fucking embarrassing!) and the fact that many of the winners seemed totally unable to use a mic for their acceptance speech. Duh!
Also nominated were Ivy's Itch and Stornoway, so a great representation from Oxford and as Meatloaf once said "Two Out Of Four Ain't Bad" - or something like that...

THE BUZZCOCKS - OLDER NOT NECESSARILY WISER!

Big thanks to Little Fish, who gave us a big mention in their acceptance speech and to Radio 2 bloke, who gave us an even bigger mention when he realised there was a typo error! Apolgies to Juju and Nez for badgering them at the end to come and play for us in Abingdon - I'm sure we are going to see them soon. We had a wicked night. Thanks INDY Awards. Here's to next year!!