Good to see Ghostpoet getting consistent but progressive love from the scene and even better that he has a headline show at Scala to look forward to this Autumn.

After working with us, in addition to a strong album behind him, hotly tipped for a Mercury nomination later this year and tour memories from all round the country and Europe, it will be good to see what is sure to be a great deliverance in London Town come Thursday 13th October.

Tickets are cheap, so honestly don’t be late on this one. Can grab them from here.

Festival season is well and truly upon us. With Glastonbury done and hibernating for the next two years, there is still room for plenty more festival fun, with Wireless and Hop Farm over the weekend and Lovebox and Soundwave still to come, I’m definitely ready for the summer months. Aside from multi artists, multi stage happenings, Janet is in town singing hit after hit at the Royal Albert Hall. We went down to the first night and she was amazing. Honestly.

Also in town is Ms Badu and her annual show at Brixton Academy, J*Davey is flying over to show UK some love and those Odd Future boys (and girl) are back to cause more havoc. Hit the jump, there’s tonnes.

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Yesterday evening, whilst some of the team went down to ol’ PinBoard favourites, Eletric Wire Hustle on one side of town, I headed down to East London’s coolest venue of the day, XOYO to witness how How To Dress Well would portray his unique ethereal pop/R&B live.

I was somewhat apprehensive since in the last few weeks that I have found out about HTDW, I have been intrigued by his sound, even those times when it was an awkward listen. But as I walked into the venue, I still  knew very little about the man. To ease me into the unknown, I was happy to see Holy Other was the opening act. I posted up his EP at the backend of last month, which after a few solitaire listens, I started to enjoy the emo’ness that was taking over my body courtesy of his intense mystique.

When the cloaked unknown producer came on, although I liked the tracks I was aware of and some of the fresher ones too, the new experience made up of a large group of people, all caught up in one hypnotic sway was definitely erring on the best side of depressing. Nonetheless a perfectly awkward opening act, for a even more curious headliner. Tom Krell, better known as HTDW came on stage initially thanking all in the packed room. Told us how he just got from Barcelona and he felt sick. Gotta love the honesty.

Not knowing much about HTDW, other than his distinctive  voice, I enjoyed the set and it seemed the crowd did too, performing new songs and mixing them with previous releases like ‘Sucicide Dreams 2′ and his Transparent release ‘Take It On’ where there were definitely moments of Justin Timberlake’ness sprinkled in for good measure.  As he scattered between high pitched vocal and Mika-like sounds, whilst pulling his jumper with childlike tendencies, there was a freedom in all that HTDW was doing – it was all  imperfect to the mainstream eye, yet for me, it was uncomfortably acceptable. That is what kept me watching. From the folkey acapella which suddenly had a fighting falsetto harmony section, to the three minutes which HTDW intensely stared at a projection playing a haunting (to say the least) montage, then rapidly leaving the stage. All out of the norm yet enjoyable to get drawn into.

He performed new songs, such as  ’How Many’ which had a easy on the ear dancey loop, with soothful harmonies kicking in midway. I also enjoyed what he described as his ‘Eurovision entry – possibly?’ ‘Happy’. The track possessed a massive thumping bass, rave sirens and a complete fall to floor that could only make you dance. All this alongside his nu-R&B flavour is all the more reason why HTDW will be closely watched by us PinBard lot for a while.

I’m a few days late into June, but you haven’t missed that much. Festival season is upon us and Queen Bey is making her debut at Glastonbury this month, the leftfield Spanish gathering, Sonar is set to be another great festival and theres loads else where throughout the country. Back to the capital, London is visited by Big Boi, Alicia Keys and tUnE-YarDs this month. Hit the jump and get into this months offerings.

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Mark July 12th on your calenders peoples, J*DaVey & Jesse Boykins III are heading over to London to headline Aesthetic Sounds 6th birthday show. The event, also headlined by Sarah Fonteyne, will be held at Vibe Bar in Brick Lane, tickets are £12 in advance / or before 9pm, £15 after.

Head over to aestheticsounds.com to purchase / for more info.

The ultra cool electric soul New Zealanders, Electric Wire Hustle are coming to London on Wednesday 22nd June. To perform for all their eclectic blend of music we so love, live and direct at Electrowerkz in Angel

This should be a good night and tickets are priced only at £8.50 in advance. Bargain! To whet your appetite even further watch this and book here.

Wiz Khalifa, one of the new class of hip hop hopefuls for 2011 was in London town this week for his first headline set of shows. Like fellow graduate, J Cole, the sold out shows were with much anticipation and fans bought tickets based off the success and love for the mixtapes.

Unlike J Cole, by the time the concert came around, a lukewarm album dropped, a mainstream anthem has become of ‘Black and Yellow’ and off the back of this, new fans have assembled themselves onto the Wiz wagon. All these ingredients led to a show of mixed emotions, not to mention the mixed smells in the air. Heading to the Kentish town Forum on Wednesday night, the queue was a blend of loyal hip hop alumni, seperated distinctively by exciteable young girls chanting the infamous colourways and matching their garments accordingly too.

Semtex warmed up the crowd with some grizzly bangers from Jay-Z to Rick Ross and definitely got the audience hyped. Wretch 32 came on as the support act and seemed to have a hard time convincing the crowd of his talents. I like Wretch and have seen him kill it with a live band before, but this time, most seemed uninterested. It’s a shame.

By the time, Wiz came on stage, expectations were hovering high, build up had been delivered, yet the result was mediocre. Considering I was among die hard followers, often times, they appeared well…bored. Yes there was a noticable wave of elation when he performed ‘Taylor Gang’, ‘Phone Numbers’ and ‘Roll Up’. Those moments had hands in the air and singalong crew in full effect. Wiz played along and the showman inside pranced, gyrated and worked the stage as much as possible. Even removed his top for added brownie points for those (pre-legal) girls who ignored their curfew, but a glistening torso made it all the more worthwhile.

Then there were a few lulls. Silences almost. Mostly when Wiz performed the three minute, something radio friendly album tracks such as ‘No Sleeping’ and ‘Fly Solo’. The reality of such average fillers in a venue that a moment before were charged with chants of ‘Money and Hoes’ courtesy of ‘Gangbang’, along with sporadic mysterious..ahem…clouds forming in the atmosphere only made for the most disjointed concert and ergo rapper I have seen in a while.

The short set was redeemed with the obvious ending of ‘Black and Yellow‘, where the crowd reconciled and found common ground, but the dichotomy of Wiz Khalifa and his fans remains present for now.