W♥M

Brit Award: B&W

Did you see the Brit Awards? What the heck are Justin Timberlake and Taylor Swift doing on there? Seems like the big winners were Emeli Sande and Ben Howard, both of them we've previously covered.

Below are some Brit Awards-related artists. Specifically: black & white covers!

DALEY
daleyofficial.com

R&B singer, songwriter, and performer Daley has a duet called "Remember Me" with his label mate Brit-Award winner Jessie J. The song has over 4 million views and the duo was asked to play the song on The Alan Carr show in the UK.

You can find the song from his latest EP, Alone Together. The EP also feature his first single, "Alone Together", which has reached #8 at the Urban AC.

Look for Daley to return with his debut LP hitting the US sometime this year.

BAT FOR LASHES
batforlashes.com

Bat for Lashes was nominated for Best Female Solo Artist for The Brit Awards in 2008, 2010, and 2013… you get the feeling she'll be nominated next year and not win again?

Well the beautiful Natasha Khan will be doing a few intimate West Coast dates as she hangs out around the Coachella Music Festival. That's the weird thing, because the Coachella takes place in two weekends - bands scheduled to play both dates ends up doing tiny "mini" tours around the area as they wait until 4/20.

04/12/13 Phoenix, AZ The Crescent Ballroom
04/13/13 Indio, CA Empire Polo Club
04/14/13 San Francisco, CA The Regency Ballroom
04/16/13 Seattle, WA Showbox At The Market
04/17/13 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
04/19/13 Big Sur, CA Henry Miller Library
04/20/13 Indio, CA Empire Polo Club

MIKA
mikasounds.com

Mika is the winner of the Brit Award's British Breakthrough Act 2008, and we've written about the British pop star a few times.

Last week (Valentine's Day), the artist announced that he will be doing a series of special stripped down North American dates. What this means is that the arrangement will be minimalistic, with just a guitarist and pianist. Usually this is done because the music serves only as background/backdrop to a vocalist. So expect to hear a pin drop and all attention to the Mika's voice.

If you haven't bought tickets, chances are it's already too late. Mika's 2012 tour sold out in minutes, and this upcoming tour will likely sell out as well.

Mika's third album, The Origin of Love, is out now.

Intimate North America tour dates below:

03/22 Vancouver, BC @ Venue 03/23 Portland, OR @ Aladdin Theater 03/25 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music 03/26 Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern 03/27 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre 03/29 Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Café 03/30 Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Sound 03/31 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater

04/02 Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater 04/03 Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall 04/05 Toronto, ONT @ Opera House 04/06 Montreal, QC @ Virgin Corona Theatre 04/08 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer 04/09 New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge 04/10 Washington DC @ Sixth and I Historic 04/12 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall 04/13 Boston, MA @ Royale

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic

Ben Howard at the Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (09/27/12)

Tour Dates 09/29 Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater 09/30 Salt Lake City, UT - Depot 10/02 Seattle, WA - Neptune 10/03 Vancouver, BC - Commodore 10/04 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom 10/06 Hollywood, CA - Fonda Theatre 10/07 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern 10/09 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore 10/12 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits 10/13 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits 10/14 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits Read More Ben Howard Ben Howard's album Every Kingdom was recently nominated for a Mercury Prize award. He's currently on tour in the US in support of the album.

Judging from the sing-along fans and Ben Howard's sold-out concert at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis last night, I would watch out for this guy to be the next Marcus Mumford.

Apologies to Gill Landry, I didn't realize this was an all-ages early show, but Brody saw him with his band, Old Crow Medicine Show, at SXSW 2012.

Marcus Foster

I did catch Marcus Foster's full set, who was excited to experience Minneapolis for the first time. Foster certainly had some women fans in the audience, as they kept shouting out how beautiful he was. After his first song, "Shadows of the City", he had Jack Standen play keyboard for the remainder of the set. I felt Foster was a good fit for Ben Howard's music style.

Ben Howard, for some reason, I thought it would be just him, but he had a full touring band. I didn't catch all the names, but it looks like all the band members were multi-instrumentalists, swapping out keys for cello for guitar or bass… I got the impression that they probably have their own side project bands.

As you can see from the setlist, they did almost everything from their debut album Every Kingdom… at "all the feisty ones." He threw in a couple of new songs, including "Oats In The Water" and the encore song, "Depth Over Distance", which I think are available on a new EP. For the unknown songs, the audience was pretty quiet and attentive, however whenever Ben Howard did his hit singles ("Old Pine", "The Wolves", "Keep Your Head Up", "Only Love") there was always a huge reaction with foot-stomping, clap-along and singing.

Ben Howard is currently on tour in support of the Mercury Prize-nominated album, Every Kingdom, out now via Universal Republic. See him on tour with his good friends Marcus Foster and Gill Landry.

Ben Howard at the Varsity Theater, Minneapolis (09/27/12)

vu () ♥ benhowardmusic.co.uk ♥ marcusfostermusic.co.uk

Ben There, Done That

Alternate title: Around the Ben's.

BEN HOWARD
benhowardmusic.co.uk

Ben Howard's album Every Kingdom was recently nominated for a Mercury Prize award. He's currently on tour in the US in support of the album. The buzz is pretty amazing, he's sold out his appearance at the beautiful Varsity Theater in Minneapolis.

September 24 - Toronto, ONT - The Sound Academy
September 26 - Chicago, IL - Vic Theater
September 27 - Minneapolis, MN - Varsity Theater
September 29 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater
September 30 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
October 2 - Seattle, WA - The Neptune
October 3 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
October 4 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
October 6 - Hollywood, CA - The Fonda Theatre
October 7 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up Tavern
October 9 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
October 12-14 - Austin, TX - Austin City Limits

BEN TAYLOR
bentaylormusic.com

You remember Ben Taylor? He previously went under the more former Benjamin Taylor, the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon.

It's been a good few years since I last wrote about him, but just recently Taylor premiered his first official music video for "Oh Brother" on Rollingstone.com.

He's also doing a ton of tour dates in support of his 2012 album, Listening:

September 24 – Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room
September 25 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen
September 26 –Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
September 28 – Council Bluffs, IA – Harrah’s
October 1 – Ann Arbor, MI – The Ark*
October 2 – Evanston, IL – Space*
October 3 – Warrendale, PA – Jergels Live*
October 4 – State College, PA – State Theatre*
October 5 – Natick, MA – The Center For Arts in Natick*
October 6 – Rockland, ME – The Strand Theatre*
October 7 – South Burlington, VT – Higher Ground - Showcase Room*
October 8 – New York, NY – TBA*
October 9 – Annapolis, MD – Rams Head On Stage*
October 10 – Vienna, VA – Barns of Wolf Trap*
October 12 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Jewish Mother*
October 13 – Charlottesville, VA – The Southern
October 14 – Roanoke, VA – Kirk Avenue Music
October 15 – Lexington, KY – Woodsongs Radio Show
October 16 – Louisville, KY – Headliners
October 17 – Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsley
October 18 – Knoxville, TN – The Square Room
October 19 – Decatur, GA – Eddie's Attic
October 20 – Charlotte, NC – The Evening Muse
October 21– Morgantown, WV – West Virginia University - Mountain Stage
October 23 – Wilmington, NC – The Soapbox Laundrolounge
September 29 - Madison, WI - What'd You Know Radio Program
October 24 - Carrboro, NC - The Art's Center
October 25 - Columbia, SC - Tin Roof
October 26 - Charleston, SC - TBA

* Grace Weber opening

BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH
benjaminfrancisleftwich.com

Check out Benjamin Francis Leftwich's cover of M83's "Midnight City":



Leftwich also announced his massive 50+ tour dates. When does he ever have time to record new music? Well, according to Leftwich, expect new material later this year.

"It's great to be back in the studio," said Leftwhich, "I've been on tour for the last year so it's nice to be making new music again. I'm really proud of the new songs and I'm looking forward to sharing them with people. I'm in a really good creative headspace at the moment and feel like my song writing has developed whilst I've been on tour and experienced new people, places and things."

10/01 - BRIGHTON - Concorde 2 10/02 - BOURNEMOUTH - Old Fire Station 10/03 - EXETER - The Phoenix 10/04 - FALMOUTH - Princess Pavilion 10/05 - SWANSEA - Sin City 10/06 - BRISTOL - O2 Academy 10/08 - OXFORD - Town Hall 10/09 - NEWCASTLE - Northumbria Uni 10/10 - EDINBURGH - Pleasance Theatre 10/11 - ABERDEEN - Lemon Tree 10/12 - INVERNESS - Ironworks 10/13 - GLASGOW - Oran Mor 10/15 - LEEDS - Varieties 10/16 - SHEFFIELD - Plug 10/17 - BIRMINGHAM - Irish Centre 10/18 - CAMBRIDGE - Junction 10/19 - NORWICH - Waterfront 10/20 - NOTTINGHAM - Rescue Rooms 10/22 - CARLISLE - Brickyard 10/23 - LIVERPOOL - Stanley Theatre 10/24 - LONDON - KOKO 10/25 - MANCHESTER - HMV Ritz 10/26 - STOKE - Sugar Mill 10/27 - YORK - The Duchess 10/29 - WREXHAM - Central Station 10/31 - GALWAY (Ireland) - Roisin Dubh 11/01 - CORK (Ireland) - Cyprus Avenue 11/02 - DUBLIN (Ireland) - Whelan's 11/03 - BELFAST (Ireland) - The Limelight 11/08 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill

11/09 – Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Bar 11/10 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar 11/12 – Eugene, OR @ Cozmic 11/13 – Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge 11/15 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern 11/16 – Vancouver, BC @ Media Club 11/17 – Kelowna, BC @ The Habitat 11/18 – Canmore, AB @The Communitea 11/21 – Calgary, AB @ Palomino 11/22 – Edmonton, AB @ Brixx 11/23 – Regina, SK @ The Exchange 11/24 – Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theatre 11/26 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry 11/28 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas 11/29 – Indianapolis, IN @ (venue TBD) 11/30 – Louisville, KY @ Uncle Slaytons 12/02 – Nashville, TN @ 3rd n Linsly 12/03 – Columbus, OH @ The Rumba Café 12/05 – Lansing, MI @ Mac Bar 12/06 – Toronto, ON @ Rivoli 12/07 – Montreal, QC @ Petit Campus 12/08 – Albany, NY @ Jacks Place 12/09 – Boston, MA @ Club 939 Berkeley 12/12 – New York, NY @ Studio @ Webster hall 12/13 – Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live 12/14 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Cafe 12/15 – Washington, DC @ BlackCat 12/16 – Charlottesville, VA @ The Southern 12/18 – Raleigh, NC @ The Pour House 12/19 – Atlanta, GA @ Vinyl

BRIEFLY:

BEN LEE ben-lee.com When I was a DJ at KFSR 90.7 FM, my friend and music director introduced me to this Australian band called the Noise Addicts. At the time, singer Ben Lee was fourteen years old, but we knew he had talents. Anyway, Ben Lee is now the subject to Visit Films' "Ben Lee: Catch My Disease" documentary, directed by Amiel Courtin-Wilson. The film is coming out to DVD and digital release on November 6th, 2012. Expect to see the documentary to cover his ex-girlfriend Claire Danes and hipsters Jason Schwartzman and Zooey Deschanel, etc.

BEN MASON benmason.com.au Speaking of Australia, Ben Mason is from Melbourne (or as the locals calls it, "Melbs.") Mason's Acapulco Volume 2 -PDX can currently be streamed and purchased at his website. If you were wondering about the title, which is not a reference to the Mexican restaurants; it is a misspelling of a capella, and, yes, the songs are done in that style. In Volume 2, Mason covered The Shins, Laura Gibson, Fruit Bats, Sean Flinn, Shelley Short, and Arch Cape.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M