This week saw another electrifying performance at ILUVLIVE, held in Proud Camden…

In true ILUVLIVE style the evening began with DJ Jay Diamond spinning us some tunes on the decks whilst the venue filled up with the expectant ILUVLIVE crowd. First up was last week’s open mic winner Sami Nathan who stunned us all last week in 60 seconds with her amazing voice. She performed two tunes to warm up the crowd and received some loving feedback from the audience really and truly warming up the mic. Next up was the second open mic winner Kellie who sang one song completely accapella allowing us all to hear her beautiful voice. It’s times like this with these two acts that I seriously think about all of the wasted talent in the UK. Both girls loved being on stage and performed without nerves and absolutely smashed it!

Next up was my personal favourite Ed Sherran, Ed was a lastminute.com act as I’d seen him perform at Ctrl.Alt.Shift’s event United Underground just two days before and booked him almost the second he stepped off stage. He performed five tunes and believe me when I tell you, he more or less received a standing ovation for every song and even had 80% of the audience dancing along, whooping and applauding him throughout. His sound is unlike any other although he describes himself as ‘unknown indie’, the audience heard an integration of 50 Cent and a very amusing Jamaican accent which turned them Sheeran crazy during his final song You Need Me I Don’t Need You.

With all that excitement to kick start the event it was necessary for our amazing hosts, Twin B (1Xtra’s crazily funny Alec) and I, to step on stage and reintroduce Jay Diamond on the decks whilst the crowd headed to the bar for a break.

Next to bless the stage was an MC, Twizzle, from West London. He performed his single Skydiving and two other tunes. The crowd (who are normally quite stush with rappers and MCs) seemed to enjoy his performance despite the technical difficulties he had. He definitely showed people exactly why he won the West On Lock freestyle competition years ago with a very powerful and confident performance.

Now this next performance seemed to be the most anticipated by the crowd following about eight people asking me “is Angel definitely performing tonight”. I’d never heard of him before – more fool me! He was marvelous. Angel was like a British version of the best R&B singers with a UK swagger to kill and a very healthy band to back up his awesomeness. He performed like a true professional and the crowd went crazy for him. He kept adding the words “it’s crazy” after everything, I was a bit baffled about this but the audience took it as a gimmick and those who weren’t frozen on the spot sucked in my his passionate singing voice seemed to be shouting it out during his performance.

Expectations were at an all time high for the next act, south London based MC Little Dee, the crowd seemed to know who he was beforehand and he stepped on stage to a warm welcome, he performed his new tune Smile a tune he’d made in Holland and had performed at ILUVLIVE for the first time, then he brought on a member of his crew O.G’z and a singer for his final song. Unfortunately he wasn’t using the astounding live band so he lost points there but the performances were good nevertheless.

Finally the open mic took place in which members of the audience have a chance to impress us in 60 seconds to win a slot opening next weeks ILUVLIVE. The winners were Stallion Solo and Adelaide McKenzie. If you want to have a chance to perform at ILUVLIVE make sure you’re there next week to take on the 60 second open mic challenge, you know we’re the best place to be on a monday night!!!…

Peace

Words by Sian Anderson

Tags: Dubstep, Grime, Hip Hop, House, ILUVLIVE, Little Dee, O.G'z, Pop, R&B