Features

John Kennedy at the 2008 final

Sign up for The Red Stripe Music Award 2009 now and have your chance to play at one of the country’s best loved live music venues at a date from January and April next year.

If you’re lucky enough to be picked and you prove to be a storm on the night you might even end up entertaining a raucous crowd at London’s Kentish Town Forum at the final in May, where four bands will play for a chance to become Red Stripe Music Award Winner 2009 and secure a slot at three of next summer’s favourite festivals as well as an opportunity to record and release your first single.

The gig series is open to all bands playing any manner of music, completely and utterly unbiased to trend or leaning. As a grassroots event, Red Stripe asks only that you’re over 18 years old and put your heart and soul into every performance with original tracks that deserve to be exposed.

This year the Red Stripe Music Award will be supported by Fender, The Fly Magazine, and Merc clothing.

Keep up to date on free regional gigs, shortlists, finalists and promotions over the next 6 months via www.redstripe.net and as per, we’ll see you down the front.

Last year’s finalists played alongside Dirty Pretty Things - and although things may not have worked out for Mr Barat and chums, our 2008 winner, Klaus Say’s Buy The Record, is still smiling :

Q) What’ve you been up to since winning in May?

I managed to finish my degree in sound design at Sussex Uni. I enjoyed it but I’m glad it’s over so I can actually spend more time doing what I want in between gigs.

Q) Best gig so far?

Playing at The Great Escape in May was by far one of the best individual gigs I’ve done. To be included on a line up like that feels great and affects your performance in a good way.

Q) Have you not been on any long road trips with the van you won?

I toured for about 3 weeks in the summer and played most nights. The van’s a belter and got me from Brighton to Scotland and back no worries. On the way back, I stopped in London to support The Paddingon’s at The Barfly in Camden which was pretty full on.

Q) Got any good roadie stories?

No salacious sex stories, sorry to disappoint. Bit of TV in the back of the van, you know how it is.

Q) Okay for the Record Klaus – what’s the deal with your band name?

I was an overly imaginative schoolboy.

Q) Tell us something you know now that you didn’t before winning the award?

That playing to big crowds can be so much fun. It’s addictive. I just hope they continue to get bigger.

Since winning back in May, Klaus has played alongside Get Cape Wear Cape Fly and Scouting for Girls as well as getting airplay on XFM and Radio 1.

See Klaus' video diary from last year at:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DV122EwHhps