Serena Doherty · Storify

PJ Harvey wins the Mercury Prize 2011

Serena Doherty — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 15:07:37 GMT

PJ Harvey wins the Mercury Music Prize for the second time with her seventh studio album 'Let England Shake'.

Storified by Serena Doherty · Thu, Oct 27 2011 00:03:13

The nominations were announced in July 2011 and the ceremony was held on the 6th of September 2011. The nominees performed live, apart from Adele who has been ill recently, as she also cancelled live dates on her UK tour. Though a video was played of Adele performing.

In photos - Katy B, James Blake, Anna Calvi et al hit the #mercuryprize red carpet http://t.co/LRbKTg5
— NMEmagazine · Tue, Sep 06 2011 10:18:11

This is a cracking review of the Mercury nominated @kingcreosote & @Jon_Hopkins_ album, Diamond Mine: http://t.co/5q15U5u
— fencerecords · Tue, Sep 06 2011 08:20:00

Important #MercuryPrize live blog update: Tonight's menu features warm feta, pea and asparagus tart, grilled sea bream http://t.co/ZnEobwI
— guardianmusic · Tue, Sep 06 2011 13:32:10

There was a lot of speculation over who would win.

Adele Wins 2011 Barclaycard Mercury Prize (Gossip Girls) http://t.co/74IPB7T
— FZworldnews · Tue, Sep 06 2011 14:58:16

But deservedly PJ Harvey won with her seventh studio album Let England Shake.

P.J. Harvey won the 2011 Barclaycard Mercury Prize for best British or Irish album tonight, beating other artists including Adele, Elbow and Anna Calvi.
— Hiro Uchida · Tue, Sep 06 2011 14:56:47

PJ Harvey wins #MercuryPrize for second time with 'Let England Shake' find out about the nominees http://storify.com/dohsermar/mercury-prize-nominees-2011
— Dohsermar · Tue, Sep 06 2011 14:50:46

PJ Harvey talks to NME.com about the making of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize winning album.

PJ Harvey Video Interview Part One

Watch the latest NME videos, music videos, video interviews, live music sessions, music news and bands onstage around the globe.

Well done PJ Harvey for Mercury Prize - best album in a long time and glad to see her this year!
— holdinglc · Tue, Sep 06 2011 15:43:00

RT @matthewgain: PJ Harvey wins #mercury prize great album. Watch live sessions http://t.co/c5Y8f1E + http://t.co/ogMr2t6
— LouiseNealon · Tue, Sep 06 2011 15:42:53

But not everyone is supportive of the outcome. There's always an eclectic group of nominees but the results are often controversial: in 1994 when M People's Elegant Slumming beat the likes of Blur's Parklife and The Prodigy's Music for the Jilted Generation to win the prize.

PJ Harvey wins #mercuryprize. Mixed feelings here.
— DisorderMag · Tue, Sep 06 2011 14:45:43

RT @breakspoll: And people say our awards are fucked! RT @BBCBreaking: PJ Harvey wins Mercury Music Prize for second time
— saheywood · Tue, Sep 06 2011 15:42:32

I can't think of anything clever or funny to say about the mercury prize so I'll just swear and hashtag a bit #bunchofwankers #getonyourbike
— JopTulasiewicz · Tue, Sep 06 2011 15:42:54

RT @lukeabbottmusic: no body won the mercury prize, instead they all decided that music shouldn't actually be a competition and went for a walk and a cup of tea.
— deadpilotrecs · Tue, Sep 06 2011 15:46:36

Especially one Twitter user who has been wrongly tweeted congratulations.

RT @pjharvey: Oh here we go. I've not won a bloody mercury prize stop tweeting me!
— HelenMcGrath · Tue, Sep 06 2011 15:42:57

Londoners aren't all bad in the London Riots

Serena Doherty — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 18:07:11 GMT

After the three days of riots in London and the horrible images that have been circulated on the internet, the social networking sites blamed for organising the hooligans have been used to begin repairing the damage.

Storified by Serena Doherty · Thu, Oct 27 2011 00:33:05

UK riots + Gallery | UK news | guardian.co.uk

Residents of the capital join forces to clean the streets after another night of rioting and looting.

Big Brother isn’t watching you « Russell Brand

I no longer live in London. I've been transplanted to Los Angeles by a combination of love and money; such good fortune and opportunity, in both cases, you might think disqualify me from commenting on matters in my homeland. Even the results of Britain's Got Ice-Factor may lay prettily glistening beyond my remit now that I am self banished.

There have been some horrific acts of violence and opportunism in the capital in the past few days. Both disgusting and disheartening.

Londoners see people from their own communities, their neighbours, attacking it. The senseless violence and looting has caused a lot of anger and outrage, this can be seen in the reaction to pictures and videos.

NO FUCKING WAY, HEARTLESS Footage shot in Barking on Queens Road Just because I am allowing people to comment on the video does not mean i agree with some peoples extreme and racist opinions. We need to work together and be nice. We also tried to get through to the police but they were busy understandably. I would like to raise money for the victim. And I will try and get the money to him via the police. i have been asking TV channels and newspapers if they pay for showing this foota...
— Michael Peacock · Tue, Aug 09 2011 07:49:32

There have also been scary images of rioters fending off the police, police retreating and being outnumbered and unprepared.

yfrog Video : http://yfrog.com/0wtduz - Uploaded by jelvesie

Click on the video to comment, share or view other great videos

Londoners gawking at the violence and cheering on the police's strong handed approach are almost equally disconcerting. The fact that the police have to react this way and that people are encouraging it by jeering.

Clapham Junction riots - Police Catch looter coming out of Currys and Beat Him 8/8/11 · fiaz9860

And on the fourth night, in Manchester too.

Arrests #ManchesterRiots · twitpic.com

Then you have terrible individuals bragging online about their behaviour and trying to incite more violence and looting. Luckily, this usually shows their ignorance and the reaction to them is one of both disappointment and humour.

lmfao #londonriots on Twitpic

@it'sbarbzbabes you're a terrible human being. Hope you're nervous waiting for that knock on your door to come.
— i_bill · Tue, Aug 09 2011 04:20:35

s3.amazonaws.com

After the third night of riots in London, Riot Cleanup was quickly set up for Londoner's to repair some of the damage done to their local communities and support local business'.

yfrog Photo : http://yfrog.com/kj5oewj Shared by Lawcol888 · yfrog.com

Riot clean up in Clapham Junction · crickleworm

This includes the singer-songwriter Emmy the Great who has been brilliant in organising some of the cleanup in London.

@knitnhealthy @artistsmakers @forgetcape @katenash I'll do it every day if I have to. You guys rule. Broom power!! Xx
— emmy_the_great · Tue, Aug 09 2011 10:20:35

There's also a lot of support in communities for people protecting local business' and homes.

How to cover Amy Winehouse's death

Serena Doherty — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 22:41:05 GMT

The media has jumped on the death of singer Amy Winehouse with distasteful fervour. Publications have already begun to make apologies and turn on each other.

Storified by Serena Doherty · Wed, Sep 19 2012 15:41:05

The most heart felt, honest and empathetic writing online has come from Russell Brand. As a friend of the star, before and after her fame and a former heroine user he gives the most honest and empathetic account thus far.

For Amy « Russell Brand

When you love someone who suffers from the disease of addiction you await the phone call. There will be a phone call. The sincere hope is that the call will be from the addict themselves, telling you they've had enough, that they're ready to stop, ready to try something new.

Self proclaimed drug user and former xoJane Beauty Editor Cat Marnell spoke frankly about the effect Amy Winehouse's death had on her. She relates the tragedy to her own life which was particularly effective in her article On the death of Whitney Houston: Why I won't ever shut up about drug use.

MAKING SENSE OF AMY WINEHOUSE: Another Addict Reflects On An Awful-Feeling Celebrity Death

I was hugely, unexpectedly devasted to learn the news of Amy Winehouse's death on Saturday. When I first read about it on Twitter I liter...

Punk legend Patti Smith made a tribute song to the starlet in her 11th studio album Banga, released in June 2012. She is one of the few women who is both controversial and brave enough to release such a song and fans receiving it without reading alternative motives.

Patti Smith debuts "This Is The Girl," Winehouse tribute, NYC, 5/13/12. · delphisibyl

British singer Ellie Goulding has given her reaction, stating how media-hounding and sensationalisation causes strain on celebrities and may even fuel their unhealthy lifestyles. She also spoke about her hope that things would change.

Ellie Goulding Hopes Amy Winehouse's Death Will Stop Press From Mocking Her - Spinner

Gino DePinto for AOL | Dave Hogan, Getty Images Being a rock star is often glamorized as… Gino DePinto, AOL Up-and-coming British singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding is… Getty Images Ellie Goulding scored a few more American fans as she graced the…

The Guardian's comment and features writer Hadley Freeman has written a comment piece in response to the media's coverage, particularly tabloids. In true high brow style, she is able to write on celebrity gossip and lifestyles indirectly by criticising other media coverage.

Her article correctly portrays her disgust, giving a list of what-not-to-do when reacting to such news and it becomes evident how insensitive the responses have been. While The Guardian reader's comments, as always, are well worth a read (found below the article).

Amy Winehouse's death was badly reported

'What have we learned from the death of Amy Winehouse?" asked the hapless MSNBC news anchor. As this question was posed on Sunday morning when nothing was yet known about Winehouse's death other than the sad fact of it, the only answer to this question was, well, we seem to have learned that celebrities die.

A stand out example of what-not-to-do was provided by Huffington Post entrepreneur and marketer Tricia Fox. She seemed to use the tragedy of Amy Winehouse's death to draw attention to small business owners. The connection between these two topics is not immediately evident and it's ploy for internet traffic seems rather insensitive.

Amy Winehouse's Untimely Death Is a Wake Up Call for Small Business Owners

It would be terribly remiss of me not to blog about the untimely death of the 27 year-old British singer Amy Winehouse today. Unlike others, I won't be picking apart her chosen lifestyle, nor will I be judging her.

Twitter reactions were quick to pounce on the article with their feedback and outrage.

Well done Huffington Post for its article: 'Amy Winehouse's Untimely Death is a Wake Up Call for Small Business Owners'. What. The. Hell.
— pepper_tree · Wed, Jul 27 2011 06:16:14

RT @jonchoo: Huffington Post just compared Amy Winehouse's death to the issues faced by small business owners. #facepalm
— aktiwary · Wed, Jul 27 2011 06:19:02

RT @tomgara: From the piece of shit Huffington Post: "Amy Winehouse's Untimely Death Is a Wake Up Call for Small Business Owners" http://huff.to/r5RP5p
— travelhappy · Wed, Jul 27 2011 02:08:24

The Huffington Post soon took a more appropriate angle. Although the article seems aware that the cause of death has yet to be announced though they use her death to preach against drug policy. Though celebrities often seem untouched by drug policy, whatever it may be.

Amy Winehouse: Reflections from Two Drug Policy Activists

Like many of you, we heard the sad news about Amy Winehouse's death on Facebook. The news spread quickly. Her friend Russell Brand immediately issued an incredible tribute to her, which was one of the most widely discussed responses to her sudden death. Most people immediately assumed that a drug overdose must have taken Amy's life.

After Microsoft encouraged the sales of Winehouse's music they are now taking steps to make up for it, according to Twitter.

http://bit.ly/rqTyOb Amy Winehouse Death: Microsoft Apology, Campaign To Remember Her In Camden Square - Huffington Post
— socialnetwork91 · Wed, Jul 27 2011 02:49:21

Mercury Prize Nominees 2011

Serena Doherty — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:08:54 GMT

Barclaycard Mercury Prize nominates the most innovative and influential albums of the year before the annual winner is announced. Running since 1992 this alternative award has become increasingly influential.

Storified by Serena Doherty · Thu, Oct 27 2011 00:48:21

Announced this month by Lauren Laverne, the speculation is over. You can watch it below.

Barclaycard Mercury Prize - 2011 Albums of the Year Announcement · MercuryPrize

This year's nominees are:

Singer-songwriter Adele and her second album 21; the alluring Anna Calvi and her self-titled debut Anna Calvi; the 2008 winners Elbow with their latest offering Build A Rocket Boys!; Everything Everything and their hyped debut album Man Alive; the electronic rapper Ghostpoet and Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam; the acclaimed jazz pianist Gwilym Simcock with Good Days at Schloss Elmau; the newly appointed electronic, dubstep champ James Blake and his self titled debut James Blake; the dubstep sensation Katy B and her first album On A Mission; the folktronic duo King Creosote & Jon Hopskins and Diamond Mine; Metronomy and their third studio album The English Riviera; the alternative goddess PJ Harvey and her latest offering Let England Shake and grime rapper Tinie Tempah and the acclaimed Disc-Overy.

Oh look, Adele's on it.
— Nick Triplow · Tue, Jul 19 2011 05:09:10

News - Barclaycard Mercury Prize

6 days ago ... Lauren Laverne has announced the Barclaycard Mercury Prize ' 2011 Albums of the ... The overall winner of the 2010 Prize will be decided and ...

The nominees give their reactions to this highly sought after and sometimes controversial award.

Although this year's nominees shows how eclectic the British music is and pays tribute to that.

Both these statements were shown in 1994 when M People's Elegant Slumming beat the likes of Blur's Parklife and The Prodigy's Music for the Jilted Generation to win the prize.

Mercury Prize 2011 Nominees · aoluk

A look at the nominated albums and acts for the 2011 Mercury Prize.
— BBC Radio 1 · Tue, Jul 19 2011 11:57:22

Guy Garvey (Elbow) interview at Mercury Prize nominations 2011 · ABSOLUTERADIO

I am watching the Mercury Music Prize 2011 Nominees playlist on @VEVO for Android. http://v.vevo.com/t7s
— alanouli · Fri, Jul 22 2011 17:46:20

Everything Everything interview at Mercury Prize nominations 2011 · ABSOLUTERADIO

Sainsbury's Entertainment Music CD Mercury Music Prize 2011 - Nominees
— Sainsbury's · Sat, Jul 23 2011 02:19:35

Mercury Award nominees 2011: This is the start of a new sound in pop – Telegraph Blogs

It is an interesting Mercury Prize list this year, that suggests to me a nation of adventurous musical talent, stirring a bubbling cauldron of musical possibilities, and starting to forge something new. This is the sound of pop at a crossroads, looking out towards new horizons.

Here are my thoughts on the #mercuryprize nominees http://t.co/f2wCExj
— ilovemyframes · Fri, Jul 22 2011 07:51:41

Katy B interview at Mercury Prize nominations 2011 · ABSOLUTERADIO

Adele, Everything Everything, Elbow and more up for award...
— XFM · Tue, Jul 19 2011 04:00:23

The Mercury Prize 2011 Nominees are a load of self indulgent wankers..No change from last year then! #MercuryPrize
— Kriss_Jeff · Sat, Jul 23 2011 17:38:43

This Week on @StreetsOnDemand - OnNews :: Mercury Prize Nominees Announced - http://bit.ly/ru7tPn
— StreetsOnDemand · Fri, Jul 22 2011 06:46:07

The week in pictures: Dinosaurs in the Congo, shamed journalists, leaked demos, Mercury Prize nominees and more http://bit.ly/qqKC49
— nxthyp · Fri, Jul 22 2011 04:52:46

We've picked our dozen nominees for the 2011 Venus/No-Penis Prize. We'll reveal them at midday, right after we bring you news of this year's Mercury Prize nominations.
— Wears The Trousers magazine · Tue, Jul 19 2011 01:43:09

News from iTunes Festival 2011

Serena Doherty — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 02:27:26 GMT

Friendly Fires, White Lies, Foo Fighters, Glasvegas, My Chemical Romance, Bruno Mars, Adele, Arctic Monkeys, Beady Eye, Linkin Park, Manic Street Preachers, Seasick Steve and Paul Simon have already headlined the event this year.

Storified by Serena Doherty · Thu, Oct 27 2011 00:57:06

31 Nights of music at Camden's Roundhouse venue in London for iTunes Festival 2011. 60 bands with headliners such as Glasvegas, My Chemical Romance, Linkin Park, Arctic Monkeys, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Adele and many more.

Which you can watch on itv.com or listen to on XFM where you can also win tickets.

All tickets have to be won so you can also apply on their official website.

iTunes Festival 2011

iTunes Festival London 2011 returns to Camden’s Roundhouse from 1–31 July. Foo Fighters, Paul Simon, Adele, Linkin Park, Beady Eye and more. Apply for free tickets now.

ITunes Festival - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The iTunes Festival is an annual music festival and concert series which is held in London at The Roundhouse art centre and sponsored by Apple Inc. It was first held in 2007. The tickets are given away free to iTunes customers and fans through competitions.

The festival began this year with Paul Simon on the 1st July and you can check out the setlist of his gig and two encores and watch the gig.

Saturday 2nd June Seasick Steve headlined the Roundhouse supported by Smoke Faeries. This followed his success at the Isle of Wight Festival. You can watch the gig.

Seasick Steve - Doghouse Isle of Wight 2011 · JesstheBear

Sunday 3rd July Manic Street Preachers were supported by Dry The River, Ramona and Ukulele for Dummies. They also headlined a stage at Isle of Wight and this weekend played both T in the Park and Oxegen festivals. Watch the gig.

manic street preachers on the Itunes festival SHIT HOT
— Ben Reeder · Fri, Jul 08 2011 14:35:33

Monday 4th of July saw Linkin Park supported by the up and coming Neon Trees. See what you missed or saw on Linkin Park's setlist. Watch it here.

Neon Trees - Animal · NeonTreesVEVO

Watch our cover of Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" live at the iTunes Festival: http://t.co/xkFFPcH
— linkinpark · Tue, Jul 12 2011 10:07:13

On the 5th of July Beady Eye headlined the Roundhouse after supporting Kasabian at the Isle of Wight Festival and they were also at T In The Park and Oxegen this weekend. Although they've been supported by Miles Kane in 2011, iTunes Festival saw them suported by Steve Cradock and Gwyneth Paltrow in a studio session. you can check out their setlist and watch the gig here.

Why isn't there a Beady Eye iTunes Festival: London 2011 - EP? #SortItOutiTunes
— Kriss_Jeff · Thu, Jul 14 2011 10:07:14

Beady eye fuckin smashed it at iTunes festival, roundhouse. Nice one liam. Top fuckin boy
— Ryan Cockayne · Sun, Jul 10 2011 16:29:41

Arctic Monkeys hit the stage on the 6th of July supported by Miles Kane in his solo project, which you can watch here. Check out Arctic Monkey's setlist. Or read a review from Insightful Waffle here.

Adele was next to headline the venue on the 7th of July supported by Michael Kiwanuka which you can catch here. Followed by Bruno Mars supported by Ed Sheeran on the 8th which you can catch up on here.

Saturday 9th of July saw My Chemical Romance check out their setlist. You can read a review of their latest album here. They were supported by Evaline and you can watch their set here.

My Chemical Romance - "Na Na Na" (Official Music Video) · mychemicalromance

Glasvegas are back with their second album and headlined the Roundhouse supported by Cat's Eyes on Sunday 10th July, who's album is streamed for free online. You can watch the gig here.

Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes Album Sampler by Cat's Eyes Music

Cat's Eyes - Cat's Eyes Album Sampler

Pete Doherty jailed for cocaine possession for 6 months

Serena Doherty — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:44:35 GMT

He pleaded guilty to the charge and has once again been jailed on drug charges after recently been declared innocent of the death of Mark Blanco.

Storified by Serena Doherty · Thu, Oct 27 2011 01:39:05

Singer Doherty jailed over drugs

Singer Pete Doherty has been jailed for six months for possessing cocaine. The 32-year-old was charged after an inquiry into the death of filmmaker Robin Whitehead in January 2010. He pleaded guilty to possessing drugs. Ms Whitehead was making a documentary on Doherty when she was found dead in a flat in Hackney, east London.

Pete Doherty back in jail · itn

Pete Doherty jailed for six months for drug possession · Wiki143.com

So pete doherty finally landed himself with 6 months in jail.... the guy's a musical genius but what does he expect!!
— Stevie Wilson · Fri, May 20 2011 08:46:56

that pete doherty, his life is a shambles
— walterpico · Fri, May 20 2011 09:19:12

I see pete Doherty is in jail again for cocaine possession. Isn't that a bit like sending Vanessa phelps to mcdonalds for being too fat?
— RealJamesMay · Fri, May 20 2011 05:45:55

Gasp: Pete Doherty Jailed After Drug Conviction: You gotta be kidding, right? That was our reac... http://bit.ly/lJKTZe #hollywood #news
— Hollytainment · Fri, May 20 2011 09:16:37

Pete Doherty Jailed for Six Months Over Drugs Charges

Pete Doherty has been jailed for six months after pleading guilty to cocaine possession.

PETE DOHERTY IN COURT · hugo - firefox

Pete Doherty in jail. Again. For cocaine possesion? #didnotseethatonecoming
— downloadfest · Fri, May 20 2011 07:02:14

Leave Pete Doherty alone.
— macakikah · Fri, May 20 2011 09:19:15

http://www.nme.com/news/pete-doherty/56791 About time.
— Kailester · Fri, May 20 2011 09:20:06

Fan vs. Noob: The Libertines - 'Up The Bracket'

The Libertines' 2002 debut album Up the Bracket indicated a rebirth in the British indie music scene. They led on from American bands, like The White Stripes and The Strokes, in their renewal of lo-fi, DIY, garage rock. The Libertines infused an essentially British inflection to this genre similarly to Punk of the late 70s.

Pete Doherty In Jail · http://dirtywhorelebrity.com/

Pete Doherty Freed Early From Prison · skynews