Lawson: "It's been a mental year and it's gonna finish with a bang" - Looking ahead to V Festival 2013

The excitement and anticipation for this summer’s V Festival is hotting up, with just days to go until the gates of Hylands Park and Weston Park open up to campers and spectators for a weekend of incredible live music.

But it’s not just the visitors who are counting down the days…

Adam Pitts, Andy Brown, Joel Peat and Ryan Fletcher, better known as hit boyband Lawson, have been telling me what they’re looking forward to about V Festival, and what fans can expect from their set.

Lawson are no strangers to the V Festival crowd, having played on the Arena Stage in 2012. But with a string of success following them over the past year, it’s no surprise that they’ve been chosen to open the festival on the 4Music stage on Saturday 17th August.

Their latest single ‘Brokenhearted’ featuring American rapper B.o.B is the group’s fourth track to reach the UK Top 10, following the success of ‘When She Was Mine’, ‘Taking Over Me’ and ‘Standing In The Dark’.

After four years together as a band, 2013 is definitely set to be their biggest year yet.

Adam, drummer of the band, said: “It’s been a mental year already and it’s gonna finish off with a bang.”
“We're off to American for a month or so, we have a new record coming out in October and then we're touring the UK and Ireland too.”

Lawson’s ‘Everywhere We Go’ tour will start in New York for a 9-date US run, before Adam returns with lead vocalist Andy, lead guitarist Joel and bass guitarist Ryan for a 15-date UK tour.

So it seems that V Festival is just the start of a busy few months for the group.

This is your second time performing at V Festival. Is it a date you look forward to on your calendar?

ANDY: As a band, performing live is our favourite thing to do. It's how we started and if we could do a gig every single day then we would.

JOEL: Festival shows are particularly important for us as they allow us to perform in front of a more diverse sort of crowd usually. People who might not necessarily know the band or particularly like the band – they're one of the best crowds for us to play in front of as it gives us a challenge to win them over!

What do you enjoy about festivals in comparison to your theatre and arena gigs? What makes a festival special?

RYAN: Rain or shine, festival crowds are always up for a good time. They're there for the whole day, usually getting pissed up, it always makes for a great audience.

ADAM: We love going to festivals as punters anyway so we love playing them ourselves now. We always make sure we go and check out some of the other bands playing when we can.

What other acts on the V Festival line-up are you hoping to see?

ANDY: We're all massive Kings of Leon fans and have seen them play a bunch of times, so we'll be checking them out again.

RYAN: We start our US tour the day after V Festival so we can't go too mad, but definitely a few beers and seeing the likes of Jason Mraz and Calvin Harris sounds like a good day.

What song on your set-list is your favourite perform?

ANDY: I'm really enjoying playing a lot of our new songs which will be on our new record. We're still learning them and getting them properly tight, but they're some good songs in my opinion.

RYAN: Standing In The Dark is my favourite. Always a great sing-a-long moment.

ADAM: Everywhere You Go is going down well at the minute. It wasn't a single for us, but it's the name of our forthcoming tour and we open the set on it.

What can the V Festival crowd expect from Lawson and your setlist this year?

ANDY: I think people of all ages and genders will enjoy a Lawson set. We rock things up a fair bit, but there's those moments you can jump up and down to and have a good time in there as well.

Do you have any tricks up your sleeves?

JOEL: We've been doing a cover of a big dance song lately so no doubt we'll pull that out of the bag again.

Do you have any pre-performance rituals?

ADAM: We all do different things. Andy spends ages steaming and warming up his voice. I normally bang random bits of furniture with my drumsticks.

RYAN: We listen to different songs to get us pumped – usually Kings Of Leon or The Script. Sometimes a bit of country music too.

What will be on your V Festival rider to prepare you for your performance?

JOEL: We once read somewhere we asked for plasma TV's and fresh clean underwear. The reality is we just ask for beer, cider and popcorn.

For updates on Lawson’s tour dates and upcoming releases, follow @LawsonOfficial on Twitter or visit Lawson's Official Site

V Festival Countdown!

There’s just two weeks to go until some of the biggest names in the music industry arrive in Hylands Park in Chelmsford and Weston Park in Staffordshire for one of the best weekends of the summer.

Over 180,000 visitors will travel to Chelmsford to help celebrate V Festival’s 18^th birthday in style with the support of over 70 performers across four stages.

Line-Up

International Queen of Pop, Beyoncé, will join Tennessee rockers, Kings of Leon, to headline the festival on 17^th and 18^th August.

Beyoncé, who will perform in Chelmsford on Saturday night, will be making her only European festival appearance at the festival and her first UK festival appearance since headlining Glastonbury in 2011.

Kings of Leon are no strangers to the V Festival stage, having headlined the festival in 2010. With undeniable festival anthems in their back catalogue, including ‘Sex On Fire’ and ‘Use Somebody’, the Followill brothers can always whip the crowd into a chorus.

Their sixth studio album titled ‘Mechanical Bull’ will be released at the end of September, so spectators can expect to hear many new tracks in their set, which will close V Festival in Chelmsford on Sunday night.

Beyoncé will be joined (on Saturday in Chelmsford and Sunday in Staffordshire) by Irish-trio The Script, ‘The Voice’ judge Jessie J and Liam Gallagher’s Beady Eye.

Joining Kings of Leon are V-Festival-veterans Stereophonics, Scottish-sweetheart Emeli Sandé and DJ Calvin Harris.

Other returning artists on the bill include Essex-boy Olly Murs, who will complete his hat-trick of performances at the festival in his home-county, as well as Labrinth, Ellie Goulding and Scouting For Girls. They will be joined by V Festival newcomers Two Door Cinema Club, The Vaccines and X Factor-winner James Arthur.

Chart-favourites Rita Ora, Little Mix and Fun will also be appearing over the August bank-holiday weekend.

Bob Angus, one of three of the festival’s directors, has recently explained the process behind booking acts.

“We look at what’s currently out there and popular with the general public and try to get them, it’s as simple as that’.

“We ask ourselves who’s the hottest, most popular act right now, and we go after them.”

Craig Hayward, 22 from Folkestone, agreed with this. Having attended V Festival for the past 4 years, amongst many other festivals, he said: “It’s the best all-round festival on offer in the UK, simply because you get a bit of everything.”

“They always have a really good variety of acts from different genres, which attracts a variety of different people, which produces a great atmosphere.”

Price

So what price can you expect to pay to see some of the world’s top artists?

Prices start at £89 for a day ticket, but you would have to save £160 for a weekend ticket or £185 for a camping ticket.

Iona Rawson, 17 from Chelmsford, says she ‘would be silly not to go to V’ but is still shocked at the increase in ticket prices.

“The price has risen dramatically due to the celebrities performing and tickets are now ludicrously just under £200 when they used to be just over £100, but this is a price I can realistically be expected to pay for all musical events.”

“This year I look at is as I’m paying more for the camping experience than I am V Festival itself. By day it is a family event but by night it is party central.”

Despite any appreciation for the nightlife or line-up at V, a recurring issue is the price. Tickets may have sold out, but have organisers narrowed their demographic with a steep price that excludes a younger generation, particularly of students, who struggle to pay for a ticket?

Krina Patel, 18 from Essex, said: “Beyoncé is by far the greatest act V has ever managed to secure. But, I was a fool to think that I could afford a weekend ticket. I don’t actually earn enough to cover the cost of a ticket and still have enough money for university.”

Nevertheless, V Festival continues to sell-out each year and if world-class artists like Beyoncé are consistently topping the bill, people will manage to find the money to pay for their ticket to the most electrifying and exciting weekend of the summer.

Effect on local residents

Aside from the price of a V Festival ticket, This Festival Feeling have investigated further to find out the true price V Festival has on Chelmsford, and even more locally, Writtle, the small village where Hylands Park can be found.

Local residents, Margaret and Don Smith, live just a 10 minute walk from the V Festival site and are fed up with the annual event.

“We live on a private road that is usually quiet. The festival causes a lot of youths to come down our road and we don’t like the anti-social behaviour that follows, particularly as a result of alcohol and also the litter that they leave.”

For business owners however, it’s a slightly different story.

Barry Long, Landlord of the Rose & Crown Pub in Writtle, said: “V Festival is good for our village. Our pub and the shops get really busy and it definitely boosts revenue if you’ve had a bad start to the year.”

Anne Martin, landlady of the Sir Evelyn Wood pub, just a one minute walk from the V Festival site, says that she has ‘never had a hint of trouble’ over the V Festival weekend.

Just a stone’s throw from the site, the pub is a popular destination for many festival go-ers, with many punters returning each year.

Mrs Martin, who has been running the pub for more than 14 years said: “V Festival is wonderful for us. There is always such a wonderful atmosphere. We see people returning year after year and it’s lovely.”

Nevertheless, living and working so close to the site of one of the country’s most popular festivals will inevitably have some drawbacks, particularly for Anne, with the closure of her road. After much inconvenience, Mrs Martin complained to Essex County Council and managed to attain several passes to show to the officers who stand at the top of her road to allow local taxi firms to access the pub.

In recent years, Anne has found the festival to be slightly more ‘self-contained’, with many visitors utilising the food and drink stalls in the park and campsite instead of returning for a drink in the pub.

“If you’re being inconvenienced you want to join in. If this continues we may not get the financial benefit that the chaos is worth.”

“Even so, I do always look forward to it.”

Despite many expectations, a Tesco superstore situated just a 10-minute walk from the V Festival site say that they only get ‘a little bit busy’, perhaps as a result of the festival’s self-contained nature described by Landlady, Mrs Martin.

The Tesco store’s Duty Manager Darryl John said: “We get a flood of people in the morning for food, water and alcohol and also to use the toilets, but it’s nothing massive.”

Is it worth it?

Whilst some local residents may find the festival a nuisance, it seems that for just two days in the year, the advantages heavily outweigh the disadvantages. V Festival benefits the area financially and in terms of reputation, helping to put Chelmsford ‘on the map’. 

Richard Branson’s Virgin team and the V Festival organisers provide residents of all ages with an exciting date in their calendar, enticing some of the world’s biggest stars to the newly-crowned city of Chelmsford, compensating for the short-term noise and traffic disruptions. 

A year on... Is Grimmy the just successor to Moyles?

“So, er, this is actually happening.”

Nick Grimshaw’s uneasy first words reflected the reluctance of the nation, who listened in anticipation on Monday 24th September 2012 to hear the voice of the next generation of the breakfast show.

The latest RAJAR listening figures, however, reveal that many of Chris Moyles’ older listeners may have not been as pleased with his replacement. From 6.73 million listeners when Moyles left the breakfast show, the 6:30-10am slot has faced a slight decrease to an average audience of 5.9 million.

It is considered that some devoted fans of ‘The Chris Moyles Show’ may have switched their allegiance to Radio 2. The station’s flagship morning show, fronted by Chris Evans, has swelled in support with almost one million extra listeners, allowing Radio 2 to extend their lead as the UK’s most popular breakfast radio programme.

Nevertheless, Grimmy’s introductory figures stand side-by-side with Moyles’, who started the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 2004 with 5.93 million listeners; just marginally higher that Mr Grimshaw.

So it’s not all doom-and-gloom for the 28-year-old from Manchester.

Ben Cooper, controller of BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, will be particularly pleased with the effect Grimmy has had upon introducing nearly a quarter of a million extra listeners in the 15-24 age bracket within his first three months as the breakfast show host. A recent BBC trust document had outlined Radio 1’s need to lower the station’s audience age profile, which the placement of Grimshaw has certainly accomplished.

Research has found that over the past five years radio listening among 15-24 year-olds has fallen by 16.9%, with Grimshaw’s dramatic spike in listeners from this age category proving to be a meaner feat than originally considered.

In a world where radio is no longer the only source of new music, teenagers tend to turn to online sources to access the music they want, but Grimshaw’s chat, funny features and celebrity guests appear to have enticed listeners ahead of these online competitors.

In fact, the ‘Radio 1 Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw’ currently holds the highest proportion of 15-24 year-olds in any Radio 1 breakfast ratings for three years.

Veteran Radio 1 listeners who were discouraged from tuning in due to the apparent desired cull of older listeners could have been deterred even further after Grimshaw’s highly-speculated first song, Jay-Z and Kanye West’s ‘N***as In Paris’.

Grimshaw’s audacious charm shone through this decision, ignoring any inner obligation to conform by playing a more BBC-friendly track; Grimmy says himself: “the ruder and cruder the lyrics, the better. Obnoxious hip hop is my favourite genre.”

Grimshaw’s bold selection represents his connection with the intended young demographic and his true love and devotion to music.

Following a long stint on the prestigious 10-till-Midnight slot, playing his favoured current artists and trendy-tracks alongside best friend and DJ Annie Mac, Grimshaw has had to become accustomed to a reduced sense of choice. Nevertheless, he has still managed to fill listener’s ears with an abundance of Jessie Ware, Aluna George and his personal favourite, One Direction.

Within his first show, Grimmy name-dropped the boy-band a grand total of 23 times, as well as continuously referencing Harry Styles, who he is repeatedly snapped with by the paparazzi on the celebrity party circuit.

There is no doubt that having Styles as a close companion will irrefutably attract teenage listeners, particularly females, with whom this ‘1D’ star is the figure of their infatuation as the UK’s current teen-heart-throb.

As a friend-to-the-stars, Grimmy’s phone book is a list of the country’s elite with models, Kate Moss and Agyness Dean, joining Lily Allen, James Corden and former flatmate, fashion designer Henry Holland, as potential victims of his most popular radio feature ‘Call or Delete’.

Who would have thought that the most efficacious and creative item of one of the biggest radio programmes in the UK would come in the form of a practical joke?

The feature suffered unnecessary criticism, however, in light of the Australian DJ prank-call scandal, despite the “rigorous editorial procedures around the use of hoax calls on air” that a BBC spokesperson outlined. Nonetheless, the show took a minor hiatus in the wake of the death of Jacintha Saldanha, the nurse who took her own life after revealing medical details about the Duchess of Cambridge to Australian radio presenters.

The respectful decision is likely to have derived from Grimmy’s faithful production team, who are undeniably, the secret of his success.

The reliability and resourcefulness of Grimshaw’s ‘breakfast clique’, which includes producer Matt Fincham, assistant producers Ian Chaloner and Fiona Hanlon, and social media producer Laura-May Coope, enables the continuous output of an entertaining show with engaging features, impressive guests and amusing dialogue.

Left to right: Fiona Hanlon, Matt Fincham, Ian Chaloner, Nick Grimshaw

It is without hesitation that the team behind a breakfast show are of equal significance to the presenter in regards to the overall success of the programme. You must simply take a look at Grimshaw’s predecessor to understand the sheer magnitude that the supporting voices on the show can have.

The Chris Moyles show became renowned for its prominent zoo-format that combined the participation of multiple contributors, including sidekick Comedy Dave, newsreaders Dom and Tina, producer Aled, plus assistant producers, a role which Fincham previously held.

It was initially envisioned that, the transformation of the breakfast show would include the removal of this format, a particular wish held by Ben Cooper. Within the first few weeks, this was somewhat apparent, but Grimshaw’s familiarity with having another agent, whose contributions he could deflect from, became increasingly evident.

Similarly to his predecessors Moyles, Evans, Sara Cox and Zoe Ball, Grimshaw also has a wealth of experience in television. The introduction of his voice to people’s mornings will not be too unfamiliar, with many acquainted to hearing his Northern tone at sunrise when watching T4 and Freshly Squeezed, which Grimmy fronted between 2007 and the shows’ culminations in late 2012.

It seems that the RAJAR statistics highlight an even further increase of younger listeners to Radio 1, with Channel 4’s teenage morning audience redirecting to Radio 1 to follow Grimmy since the axing of T4 in December 2012.

There can be no denying that Moyles was one of the most talented and passionate radio broadcasters of his time, but like all things, everything must come to an end. There could have been no better substitute than Nick Grimshaw, who has embraced the role with observable dedication and a great hunger for the entire industry.

To a station that has faced a bout of negative coverage in the media in recent months, Grimmy is a breath of fresh air and evidence of a strong and lengthy future for Radio 1.

A Clubbing Holiday To-Do List

If you’ve just left school or university and are in need of a week-long getaway in the sun with your friends and don’t want to spend much money, it’s likely you may choose to go on an 18-30s holiday to one of Europe’s top clubbing destinations.

Now you’ve seen ‘Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents’, ‘The Magaluf Weekender’ and ‘What Happens In Kavos’, it’s time to jump on a cheap flight to Magaluf, Kavos, Zante, Ibiza, Kos, Malia, Ayia Napa or Faliraki to experience a holiday like no other.

Before the summer is up, there’s still time to book a last-minute trip to one of these destinations before the resorts shut down in late October.

Whether you want to enjoy a week in the sun and a few cocktails with friends or stay out all-night-every-night, this list compiles eight of the top itinerary fillers that you need to add to your holiday to-do list, ensuring it’s a fun-filled, exciting and memorable week that you’ll never forget!

8 – Visit a Karaoke Bar

Every resort has a handful of great karaoke bars, but do some research and talk to your holiday-rep to find out which is best. These bars are always a great spot to start your night with a bang and often supply some of the greatest and funniest moments of your holiday. Pick a song, gather your friends and sing your heart out!

7 – Buy a fish-bowl

Every hotel, bar and restaurant will have a cocktail list complete with ‘Sex On The Beach’, ‘Woo Woo’ and all of your favourite holiday drinks. Upgrade your glass to a bowl and share with friends! If you’re heading to Zante, start your night at the centre of the strip at ‘Fish-Bowl’, one of the busiest bars in Laganas, overflowing with groups gathered in circles to share their favourite cocktails on a rather large scale.

6 – Book a trip to the waterpark

No holiday is complete without a dip in the pool, so why not shoot into it after a ride on a flume or rubber-ring slide! Speak to your holiday-rep to find out when trips run and be sure to check that your excursion includes your travel. One top tip: if you have a choice, try to go to the waterpark towards the end of your holiday so that your skin is used to the sun; it’s very easy to burn at the waterpark whilst queuing for attractions and your sun-cream has washed off in the water.

5 – Jump on a Booze Cruise

If you like boats and you like booze, this is the perfect trip for you. Pay before you go and enjoy a free bar all day! These trips are often the most popular so be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

4 – Silent Disco

You can guarantee that there will be no stranger moment on your holiday than walking into one of the busiest clubs on the strip to find everybody in silence! Put on a pair of wireless headphones and dance the night away.

3 – Celebrity DJ Night

Every resort has their fair share of celebrity-endorsed club nights, complete with Radio 1 DJs, chart-toppers and TV stars. If you’re booking your trip last minute, you have the opportunity to co-ordinate your travels around the stars you wish to see. If you’re heading to Zante, head to Plus Club, where Radio 1’s Scott Mills, Danny Howard and Vernon Kay are regulars year-upon-year. Ibiza Rocks, Mallorca Rocks and BCM in Magaluf have been host to the likes of Example, Rizzle Kicks and Calvin Harris this year so try to book tickets as soon as possible so you don’t miss out!

Vernon Kay at Plus Club in Zante 2013

2 – Foam Party

So you’re probably thinking ‘been there, done that’… but you would be wrong. Foam parties in your local UK clubs are nothing compared to these European party resorts, where you’ll find yourself knee-deep or even to your neck in foam! If you’re slightly concerned about the smell, as many tourists sometimes are, don’t hesitate as this will truly be one of the funniest and most memorable nights in your stay.

1 – UV Paint Party

Wherever you’re heading this summer, be sure to find out where the weekly UV paint party is held – you do not want to miss out! As part of ticket price, you should receive glow sticks and a T-Shirt, so don’t concern yourself with having no old clothes to wear. Throw on your new tee, customise it and head on out to one of the messiest, busiest and craziest club nights you will ever experience. Paint is fired at you from all angles, so don’t expect to come out without glowing from head-to-toe!

UV Paint Party at Rescue Club, Zante

Best Celebrity Photobombs

Social networking can be a very funny place sometimes.

Who would have thought a decade ago that we could find so much entertainment in a Korean man dancing-to and singing a ridiculous song? Or a 7-second long video of a man vomiting lemons? Or a goat singing over Taylor Swift?

Nevertheless, the power of Facebook, Twitter, Vine, YouTube and their social-networking counterparts have played a major role in shaping the internet in the past 5 years. 

One of the latest sensations that appears to have been adopted is the art of photobombing - jumping unexpectedly into the background of a photo right before it is taken. And it seems that some of Hollywood's finest have taken it up, with some hilarious results.

So here are my top 10 photobombing stars:

10. Jake Gyllenhaal

9. Michael Cera

8. Tina Fey

7. Dave Grohl

6. Michael Douglas

5. Zach Braff

4. Kelly Clarkson

3. Jesse Tyler Ferguson

2. Jennifer Lawrence

1. Verne Troyer

Exams finally come to an end!

As I dropped my pen, waited for my paper to be collected and walked out of the exam hall for one last time, an overwhelming sense of elation hit me instantaneously, as I could feel the weight of the past two years lifting from my shoulders. But what was this heaviness being lifted from me?

A-Levels.

Years 12 and 13 are an immensely stressful time in a teenager’s life and it is fair to say that the past three months in particular has been an especially demanding period.

Perhaps three months seems a little excessive in preparation for the five exams I sat this month, but in all honestly, I couldn’t have done any less. A few hundred pages of notes, a dozen pens and nearly a whole black ink cartridge have prepared me with revision tools and practice papers to ensure that I could walk confidently into the exam room knowing I’d worked as hard as I possibly could.

Nevertheless, there have been two things that have managed to knock me down at this challenging time and it is more than likely that at least one or even both have affected other A-Level students across the country.
As I said, I, and all of my friends and fellow students, have abandoned our social lives and locked ourselves indoors to revise incessantly to ensure we can be confident and prepared for anything the exam paper could throw at us. However, there is still the element of the unknown as to what on earth the exam boards may choose to ask. And it is particularly demoralising when they decide to throw you off entirely with complicated and incredibly difficult papers.

I can truthfully say that my German A Level paper is perhaps one of the toughest exams I have ever sat. The two-and-a-half hour exam, complete with listening, reading and writing sections, is difficult regardless of the questions, with a study conducted by Durham University showing languages to be the hardest A Level subjects after Mathematics and the three Sciences. So why do the exam board decide to make it even worse by including such complex vocabulary and structures? It leaves us students disheartened and deflated after months of work, completely unaware as to how well we may have done and worried for two months in anticipation of the impending results.

The second of my knock-backs came in the form of a news story. And once again, Michael Gove has sparked controversy (and irritation). On the morning of an exam, waking up to the news of education reforms in England as a result of ‘easy GCSEs’ is not the most encouraging and uplifting item. This isn’t the first time Gove has angered students, having reported previously that A-Levels are also too easy and how school days should be made longer (click the links to see my previous posts on these stories).

By removing any form of coursework or modular assessment, the Education Secretary is turning exams into a memory test instead of a true assessment of a student’s intelligence and work ability.

Whilst I’ve already sat my GCSEs, the outlandish and unqualified claim that GCSEs are too easy repeatedly vexes me. With no past in education himself, I cannot understand where Gove makes these claims from and it stands solid to me that such decisions should be a democratic matter among the teachers in-the-know.
There will be students currently sitting their GCSEs who will certainly feel discouraged by assertions that the exams, which they have worked incredibly hard for, are too easy and require reformation.

Gove claims that students are currently living in a ‘resit culture’, where it is deemed acceptable for students to try again and again to achieve their target grade, but Gove is no better for repeatedly changing his plans on education reform.

Education Secretary Michael Gove

As I sit and enjoy my first relaxed and stress-free weekend in months, I plea that education ministers make up their mind and stick to a plan on GCSEs and A Levels and soon accept students’ success as nothing more than its face value than deceiving it as a result of easy exams.

I wish all the best of luck to those who still have exams – freedom is just around the corner! You can do it!

Can a longer school day really increase student performance? I think not...

It’s 3:24 on a Friday and the clock is slowly ticking in the corner of the room. The 60 seconds that lead to my weekend approach unhurriedly, as I sit watching the hands on the clock gradually reach the minute-mark.

The bell goes. 

1,800 of my peers vanish at a flash, as they do every day of the week, in order to escape the four walls of school. Whether you’re the type of student who enjoys school, or you’re a tired teenager who counts the days until you can leave, the end of the school day is always a moment of bliss.

Education Secretary Michael Gove’s most recent proposition, for shorter school holidays and longer school days, is a plan which he hopes could be implemented within the next couple of years. He has added that he wishes state schools to remain open until 4:30. Gove stated that this system will lead to improved performance of students, when in fact; I believe he will have the exact opposite effect.

Education Secretary Michael Gove

Specific school times vary between establishments, but as I approach the end of seven years at my High School, I have become accustomed to a 9am -3:25pm school day with five hour-long lessons – and this is most definitely enough.

The average attention span of a teenager is around 10-15 minutes, with hour-long lessons requiring being broken up into smaller sections to maintain the continued progress and education of the students. There can be no denying that the longer the day goes on, this span becomes decreasingly shorter, with an extended school day disqualifying Gove’s aim of improving performance. Students will instead be wasting valuable time, with information draining through their ears, when they could be using the time effectively at home on extra studies such as homework and revision.

I would be thoroughly interested in seeing the evidence behind Gove’s reasoning for this proposal. Unlike Gove, I have had experience in a classroom both in the UK and overseas, having taken part in lessons in Cologne whilst on a trip to Germany. British pupils already spend longer hours in the classroom than in most other countries, with the German school day being just one of many examples, with students leaving shortly after 2 o’clock in the afternoon at this one Cologne grammar school.

Even in Finland, where the education system is consistently regarded as one of the best in the world, the shorter school days are highlighted as a central point of their success. Gove should learn from the trust that the Finnish place on their students, granting them with a greater sense of flexibility, instead of the negative and doubtful view that Gove clearly has of a teenager’s work ethic.

He added that this system would benefit the working parent, making their life easier in the process. How exactly, I’m not so sure, as having to deal with disgruntled and tired children isn’t what most parents would choose to do when they come home from a busy and already stressful day of work. However, is this even something the education secretary should necessarily be concerned with?

It stands clear that, as Education Secretary, Gove should be focusing on those most involved in education – obviously, the students and the teachers. And it is going to take a lot of persuasion to get the latter back on Gove’s side.

At the latest annual NUT conference, held in Liverpool with an audience of over 1,000 members of one of the biggest teachings unions in the country, cheers of ‘Gove must go’ echoed around the room as a unanimous vote of no confidence was passed.

His ‘limited experience of education’ was pointed out, and can be highlighted in his suggestion at shortening holidays. By dropping the six-week summer holiday to just four weeks, teachers and staff are losing out on 14 days of valuable time, which they require so greatly to complete the vast amount of work and planning that they must do. Somebody with experience in education would be able to empathise with this and would understand that the combination of shorter holidays and longer school days is impractical and simply unfeasible as staff will not be able to uphold the sheer quantity of work required of them. Consequently, the standard of teaching and education standards will surely decrease and Gove’s aim is, once again, strongly challenged.

People can often quickly criticise members of the teaching profession for their long holidays and short days; however, if they took a day out to visit a school, it would soon become evident that their working hours extend much further than the school’s start and finish times.

Equally so, students simply cannot switch off from school when they finish at 3:25 and it is irrational to think that they do; homework, coursework and revision have to take precedence over daytime TV unfortunately. By keeping schools open until 4:30, Gove is simply holding students back from using their time effectively for these crucial studies.

What do you think? Is Gove’s proposal a good one? Or do you agree that ‘Gove must go’? Leave a comment and let me know!

The BBC at Festivals

With a breadth of media outlets attending the UK’s festivals each year, there is one broadcaster who stands in the forefront with the greatest presence at the country’s summer events. As one of the largest broadcasters in the world, the BBC is representing the British media worldwide, with their coverage of such events providing overseas viewers with a sense of our first-class festivals to rival the European and US counterparts like Snowbombing and Coachella.

As summer is fast approaching, the impending festival season is becoming increasingly anticipated, as it does year upon year. It is with no doubt that most of us will be unable to attend all of the festivals we wish to, resulting in relying on television, radio and online sources to provide us with all of the excitement from the events.

Over the upcoming four months, the BBC will bring us coverage of four of the top UK festivals, including what can arguably be described as the ‘Power 3’ of festivals.

Glastonbury, T In The Park and Reading & Leeds festival are undeniably three of the biggest music events of the calendar both in size and popularity. With multiple stages, there is something for everybody, with the BBC’s broadcasting outlets providing a sense of this.

In 2013 and post-Olympics Britain, the technological availability and advancements that the BBC are open to has allowed for an increase in output, which these festivals will make use of.

BBC Online was subject to a vast expansion in 2012 in order to show numerous events at the London Olympics. These capabilities will spread to this summer’s Glastonbury Festival in Worthy Farm, Somerset from 26th to 30th June, with plans in place to have cameras streaming live footage on its digital media players throughout the entirety of the weekend.

A statement released from the BBC at the start of the year by then Acting Director General, Tim Davie said, “[Our] ambition this year is to offer music fans unprecedented coverage of live music.”

“On desktop, mobile, tablet and connected TVs, we will bring BBC audiences closer to the music they love by offering a full performance or festival-goer experience for those who can’t be there.”

Not only do the BBC deliver content to viewers, they also deliver in providing festivals with highly sought-after performers. The ‘BBC Radio 1 & NME Stage’ at Reading & Leeds Festival as well as T In The Park is a renowned attribute of the festivals’ line-ups, presenting attendees with an abundance of the artists that listeners are accustomed to hearing every day on Radio 1. Fans of Bastille, Skrillex, Alt-J, Jake Bugg and BBC Sound of 2013 winners, Haim, will be pleased to see such acts at Reading & Leeds on the Radio 1 & NME Stage on the weekend of the 23rd – 25th August.

The long-standing BBC Introducing scheme also comes alive during festival season, with Reading, Leeds and T In The Park holding a stage specifically for the programme, which seeks to highlight and support under-the-radar artists into the public eye.

The BBC’s festival coverage will all commence on in the last weekend of May, when Radio 1 take their annual Big Weekend to Northern Ireland. This year the event will take place in Derry-Londonderry and for the first time, the festival will consist of three days of music starting on Friday 24th May. Olly Murs and Two Door Cinema Club are the only acts announced so far, with the rest of the line-up being announced at the start of May. All we do know is that the Main Stage will focus on dance music, with other stages being run by Radio 1’s sister-station, 1Xtra, and In New Music We Trust.

From delivering a vast extent of coverage of the summer’s hottest festivals, to organising their very own, the BBC are the leaders in supplying the nation with the musical highlights of the year. Without them, we would be left very out of pocket in our quest to experience the musical moments that they manage to deliver to our eyes and ears through the media.

My Guide to the Brit Awards 2013

The biggest night in the music industry’s calendar is looming just around the corner.

On February 20th at London’s O2 Arena, the world’s finest musical stars will all gather together to celebrate the greatest releases of the past year in thirteen different categories, as announced by Radio 1 Breakfast Show host Nick Grimshaw at the Brits 2013 Launch Party at the Savoy on January 10th.

The ceremony, hosted by James Corden, will be broadcast live on ITV and will see the top British performers, as well as International artists, fighting to take their relevant accolade.

Here I give you my prediction for the top spot in each category.

British Male Solo Artist: Ben Howard, Calvin Harris, Olly Murs, Plan B, Richard Hawley

After a non-stop year touring the UK, breaking America whilst on tour with One Direction as well as his presenting role on the Xtra Factor, Olly Murs has had an incredible past few months, which can only get better with a Brit Award under his belt and as the current bookies favourite, this could be likely. As the second favourite with the bookies, Calvin Harris would be an equally worthy winner; he is one of the most powerful men in the music industry with his album featuring some of the biggest stars in the music industry, including Rihanna, Ellie Goulding and Tinie Tempah.

British Female Solo Artist: Amy Winehouse, Bat For Lashes, Emeli Sandé, Jessie Ware, Paloma Faith

With 1/10 odds with the bookies, there’s no doubt that Emeli Sandé is tipped for success in this category. In 2012 Sandé was absolutely everywhere and anywhere – the Olympics, Sports Personality of the Year and of course last year’s BRITs where she picked up the coveted Critics’ Choice prize. Her anthem ‘Read All About It’ has been the soundtrack to any Olympics coverage and for this she stands out above the rest of her competitors. Jessie Ware, on the other hand, puts up a good fight also, having two nominations in her first ever BRITs year.

British Breakthrough Act: Alt-J, Ben Howard, Jake Bugg, Jessie Ware, Rita Ora

As mentioned previously, newcomer Jessie Ware is set to have a sparkling 2013, with her album ‘Devotion’ reaching #5 in the UK chart and being granted the third best album of 2012 in a Guardian poll. Despite this, all 4 of her competitors are in with a very good chance of taking this prize and therefore it is very difficult to predict. As the only category voted for solely by the public, it is understandable that chart-topper Rita Ora is topping bookie’s odds and may be in luck.

British Group: Alt-J, Mumford & Sons, Muse, One Direction, The XX

If this particularly category was decided via a public vote, worldwide starlets and chart-topping boyband One Direction would be the clear winners due to their expansive fan base. However, the industry experts who decide the winners may feel more obliged to vote for Mumford& Sons or The XX due to their song-writing abilities and musical prowess, both of whom were nominated in the same category in 2011, with both also nominated in the MasterCard award for Best Album.

British Single: Adele – Skyfall, Alex Clare - Too Close, Coldplay ft. Rihanna - Princess Of China, DJ Fresh ft. Rita Ora - Hot Right Now, Emeli Sandé - Next To Me, Florence + The Machine - Spectrum (Say My Name), James Arthur – Impossible, Jessie J –Domino, Labrinth ft. Emeli Sandé -Beneath Your Beautiful, Olly Murs ft. Flo Rida – Troublemaker, Rita Ora ft. Tinie Tempah – RIP, Rizzle Kicks- Mama Do The Hump, Robbie Williams– Candy, Rudimental ft. John Newman- Feel The Love, Stooshe - Black Heart

With an abundance of fantastic British singles in 2012, this shortlist selection must have been a challenging task, with the decision for the ultimate winner even more so. However, one particular track does seem to stand out. With the name of one of the UK’s most successful musical exports of all time attached to the track, as well as featuring in 2012’s biggest film, Adele’s Oscar-nominated ‘Skyfall’ from the James Bond film of the same name is tipped to the title of the year’s greatest song. James Arthur’s X Factor winning single ‘Impossible’ and Olly Murs’ ‘Troublemaker’ complete the top three bookie’s favourites to win the prize, with strong competition being held throughout the entirety of the shortlist.

British Album of the Year: Alt- J (An Awesome Wave), Emeli Sandé (Our Version of Events), Mumford & Sons (Babel), Paloma Faith (Fall to Grace), Plan B (Ill Manors)

Due to this prize’s sponsorship by MasterCard, Best British Album is seen as the evening’s most notable accolade. As Emeli Sandé’s fourth nomination, this 5 X Platinum-selling album is predicted to surpass the four other nominees to the award, with 1/5 odds with Ladbrokes bookmakers. Multiply nominated Mumford & Sons stand in second place with 5/1 odds so this Grammy-nominated album is a very strong contender.

International Male Solo Artist: Bruce Springsteen, Frank Ocean, Gotye, Jack White, Michael Buble

If you don’t know who Gotye is by 2013, you must have been living under a rock throughout 2012, with his single ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ being the year’s biggest selling track in the UK. However, he finds sturdy competition in this category from his fellow Grammy-nominee Frank Ocean. Despite his recent public fall-out with Chris Brown, Ocean’s musical popularity is very widespread, both with the public and critics, standing him in good stead to take the prize.

International Female Solo Artist: Alicia Keys, Cat Power, Lana Del Rey, Rihanna, Taylor Swift

Having won the International Breakthrough Act award at last year’s ceremony, with an Ivor Novello since added to her list of award wins, it is just that Lana Del Rey is the bookie’s favourite to take the Best International Female crown. She does, however, face harsh opposition in Barbados-beauty Rihanna, whose #1 single ‘Diamonds’ and current single ‘Stay’ are two of the most played songs on UK radio stations. Swift and Keys continue to produce chart-topping hits year-upon-year, further adding to the rivalry of these US divas.

International Group: Alabama Shakes,The Black Keys, Fun, The Killers, The Script

2012 has been a hugely successful year for all 5 of the nominees in this category, particularly Fun whose single ‘We Are Young’ rippled through the nation via radio airwaves and was the third biggest selling single of the entire year. With 2/1 odds to take the prize, Fun are beaten only by Ohio rock band The Black Keys with 4/6 odds. Like many of the other BRITs nominees, The Black Keys are also nominated at this year’s Grammys with 5 nominations in total including for Album of the Year for platinum-selling ‘El Camino’.

British Live Act: Coldplay, Mumford & Sons, Muse, The Rolling Stones, The Vaccines

Reinstated for 2013, the British Live Act award is back and tougher than ever before, with 5 festival favourites completing the competitive list of nominees. After an expansive and successful world tour with their album ‘Mylo Xyloto’, it is no doubt that Coldplay are favourites for the prize, with veteran rockers The Rolling Stones following closely behind.

British Producer: Damon Albarn, Jake Gosling, Paul Epworth

As three of the most influential producers in the British and worldwide music industry, Albarn, Gosling and Epworth have played an enormous role in shaping the year of music that 2012 brought us.

Following on from his success with Blur and Gorillaz, with Blur winning the Outstanding Contribution to Music at last year’s BRIT Awards, Damon Albarn has continued to use his musical talent in the production world, having worked with Bobby Womack and Snoop Dogg on their latest albums.

Jake Gosling is responsible for producing both One Direction multi-platinum selling albums ‘Up All Night’ and ‘Take Me Home’, as well as working with fellow former BRITs nominee Ed Sheeran with his debut album ‘+’ and Paloma Faith’s ‘Fall To Grace’.

Paul Epworth’s production credits span a long list of former BRITs nominees and winners, known most prolifically for his work with Adele on her ’21’ album. His work on both of Florence Welch’s albums and Plan B’s ‘The Defamation of Strickland Banks’ makes him one of the most successful producers of his generation.

Critics’ Choice: Tom Odell, Aluna George, Laura Mvula

As announced at the BRITs Launch Party, Tom Odell has become the first male winner to take the Critics’ Choice prize, following in the fruitful footsteps of Adele, Florence & The Machine, Jessie J, Ellie Goulding and Emeli Sandé. 22-year-old Tom is already on his way to success with his latest single ‘Can’t Pretend’.

Critics' Choice: Tom Odell with last year's winner Emeli Sandé

The evening of February 20th is set to be a wonderful night, with the public and industry experts revelling in the remarkable talent that the UK music scene has to offer. British talents and nominees Ben Howard, Emeli Sandé, Mumford & Sons, Muse, One Direction and Robbie Williams will all feature in the evening, with performances that are set to raise the roof of the O2 Arena. American sensations also included on the bill are Justin Timberlake and Beyonce, with rumours that her other half, Jay-Z, may join both of them in their performances.

Be sure to tune in to ITV1 at 8pm on February 20th so that you don’t miss one of the greatest musical shows and celebrations on the calendar.

8 things that every festival needs

After an extraordinary summer weekend listening to your favourite bands and DJs at a festival, there’ll always be something that you consider could be different or improved as you walk away from the campsite. Whether it’s wishing your favourite artist had been on the line-up or feeling like there was something lacking once the main stage closed in the evening, there’s always something. So what features would you have at your perfect festival? Here is a list of 8 things that I would introduce as compulsory festival elements.

1 – Mobile phone charging stations

There’s nothing worse than looking at your phone to see you have 1% battery remaining, especially when you’re standing in the centre of a vast field with no idea of your whereabouts, let alone your friends’ whereabouts. Of course, some festivals do offer phone charging points in the main arena, but there never tend to be enough or the right port for you. Who wants to charge their phone in the main arena anyway? To avoid missing the day’s action, more charging stations should be added to the campsite for overnight use giving festival go-ers 100% battery and 100% confidence that they will be able to contact their friends throughout the day.

2 – Festival essentials stalls

With an abundance of stalls and festival markets selling UV body paint, performer merchandise and of course that infamous flower headband that almost every female appears to wear at a festival, there appears to be a gap in the market and it is the simplest gap to fill. With the unpredictability of the British weather, you can never be too sure about what to pack, with many essentials going a miss. A rain poncho and sun cream can be fundamental necessities that every visitor needs depending on the weather, but it can be impossible to find them for the copious amount of stalls selling straw hats and Jesus bracelets. With a scattering of essential stands around the site, or perhaps even portable walking sellers, this difficulty can be greatly minimised.

Una Healy sporting a typical festival accessory that we've seen enough of!

3 – An element of glamping for the ladies

There are two types of people at festivals: festival veterans who are understanding of the common festival conventions, a lack of showering and dodgy toilets; then there are those who are attending a festival for the first, and probably last, time. Stereotypically, this demographic is mainly female and for these ladies, they require an element of glamour-camping, or ‘glamping’, at a festival. For these festival newbies, hairdryers would be preferable, mirrors to do their make-up, but perhaps a hair straightening stand would be a step too far.

4 – Food stands

Gourmet grub is quickly becoming a common festival feature, with some outlets charging between £10-20 for their deluxe burgers or fish-and-chips. When you’ve already spent hundreds on your ticket and transport, spending such extravagant sums of money on food seems barbaric. For one weekend, there seems little sense in being too health-conscious so just indulge in a cheap, greasy burger or portion of chips.

Snacks are extremely underrated at summer events, with noodle bars and burger shacks taking precedence. Sometimes it can be easier to stock up on crisps and sweets which are rarely available. A mini supermarket-style retailer may be a very successful business prospect within the campsite arena for people to buy a plentiful supply of snacks for the day.

5 – Water filling stations

If you’re fortunate enough to have a space in the crowd close to the front, you may be in with a rare chance of being given a small plastic cup of water between each performer. However, even this is hard to come by and it is even harder to remain hydrated if you don’t have this position in the crowd. Whilst there may be a handful of water fill points around the arena, they are often very busy or positioned very close to a leaking row of portable toilets and don’t pose the most sanitary hydration location on the site! With a greater number of better-placed stations, it could be suggested that there would be a lower risk of dehydration in the heat of certain summer festivals.

6 – Clean toilets

There’s nothing worse than feeling the need to ‘spend a penny’ on the final night of the festival, knowing the doom that awaits you at your destination. The physical state of the ‘portaloos’ as well as the aroma that surrounds the perimeter of the stretch of cubicles is unlike anything ever experienced and should be avoided at all costs. If the toilets were cleaned more regularly, troublesome incidents like these could be prevented!

7 – Night time entertainment

The main stage may close at 11pm but the fun need not end here. Every festival needs a late-night schedule of activities once the action in the main arena has shut down. Silent discos and movies are a visitor-favourite but this is often where the entertainment ends. The night-time agenda should be viewed almost as important as the main line-up, with DJs to play in dance tents and artists booked to play acoustic twilight sessions.

8 – Line-up

Although clean toilets and plenty of food stands are an important feature of your festival experience, there is no doubt that the biggest pulling-power of an event lies in the line-up. Every festival needs a spectacular line-up to draw in spectators to purchasing a ticket. Depending on the genre, size and typical audience of the festival, the line-up will vary. For the likes of Reading, Leeds, Glastonbury, V Festival and T in the Park, worldwide stars are key in attracting your audience, with smaller indie festivals needing to catch the latest upcoming talent to entice pundits. The power relies in the performers and a fantastic line-up will always lead to your ultimate festival enjoyment.