22 November 2011
Solange Moffi
With music proving to be one of the most efficient to raise awareness of charitable causes, new independent label and charity ambassador organisation, Aardvarker, hosted its official launch at Mayfair venue Hard Rock Cafe, and called onto a handful of earworthy acts such as folk string quintet, The Fifth Movement, whose promising EP, ‘This Brewing Storm’ is out now.
They were followed on stage by Aardvarker’s first signature in The 9ines, who despite frontman Alex Wright’s obvious lack of stage ownership (after all, that was the band first ever gig together), showcased some pretty decent songwriting that lazy detractors might liken to Scouting For Girls or some early Coldplay, led by Wright’s “God’s given voice” (in the words of Barrimore Barlow, ex-drummer in Jethro Tull) and a live sound that came across more as a not-quite-there-yet Billy Vincent rehearsal. In their set they included the two singles, ‘Walk Tall’ and ‘Be Free’, the profits of which will all be donated to the two charities flagged up for the occasion: The National Autistic Society and LAM Action.
In between auctions hosted by Absolute Radio’s Russ Williams that saw attendees give the cold shoulder to recession for the good cause, with a not-so-original-but-still-topical painting of the late Amy Winehouse going for £400 and a signed bottle of vino courtesy of Dancing on Ice Philip Scholfield sold at £160 (note that Madonna’s exclusive memorabilia signed by the star herself didn’t score one single bid), a personal highlight was the appearance by Paris-bred Bulgarian songstress, Bogdana Chivas, who played ‘Another Woman’, a lovely ballad about a love triangle, off her upcoming debut album of the same name. Chivas is soon to become a Londoner so you might come across her music in the very nearer future-watch this space.
Cherry on the cake came soon after in headliner James Walsh (of Starsailor fame), who performed a very atmospheric set and taught his predecessors a thing or two on stage presence and delivery, with members of The Fifth Movement and The 9ines eagerly listening up. In there, he threw a handful of songs from his ‘Live At the Top of the World’ EP (released in December last year in anticipation for a upcoming debut solo LP), including ‘Souls on Trial’ which boasts the lyrical gem “I’m going to change the world one line at a time” [ambitious, eh?!] as well as the Starsailor’s anthems, ‘Alcoholic’ and ‘Four to the Floor’, before being joined on stage by Jethro Tull’s ex-drummer, Barrimore Barlow, for two very well-chosen and heartfelt covers (pun intended), in Neil Young’s ‘Heart of Gold’ and Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Hungry Heart’.
On his taking part to the event, Walsh said: “I’m here supporting these two charities tonight because I believe people with autism and LAM and their families need all the help possible, especially in those hard times.”
With Aardvaker, Director Leonie ‘Lee’ Hallam , whose son is autistic, aims to raise awareness and funds for relevant charities by promoting a variety of art projects, ranging from visual arts to music.
On the music front, she aims to push new artists in the recording of their material, whom she will support financially for the purpose, with the first two tracks of the each record produced, being released for sale to the profit of charities supported by Aardvarker.
“ I love music and I want to go back to basics with it. I will promote original music with real musicians playing real instruments”, Hallam says.
Any musician and/or artist wishing to get involved in Aadvarker’s projects should contact Leonie Hallam on info@aardvarker.com . More information on www.aardvarker.com.
The 9ines’s two singles, ‘Walk Tall’ and ‘Be Free’ are available on download at the minute price of 99p each, with all profits going to the National Autistic Society and LAM Action.
