Versace's House

Yes indeed. Versace's infamous house (and front steps) are right near our hotel.

Miami beach!

What an iconic American image! The lifeguard beach hut - painted in summery ice-cream shades, lit in the afternoon sunshine against a blue sky. Perfect.

The Xcerts interview at CMJ

The Xcerts are a super UK band who I have written about in the past - and it was great to catch up with them in New York at CMJ and chat about how they found the festival, and their new album Scatterbrain. Check out my street-cam chat with Murray below.

CMJ in New York - all the photos

Check out all the photos from my few days at CMJ in New York city by CLICKING HERE!

Week 21 Video Report - CMJ in New York

Hey all.. check out my video report from CMJ Music Marathon in New York city - including chats with local New Yorkers and some of the cool bands playing around the city.

Jackie on the beach!

Welcome to Miami! YEY! Jackie and I went and had a look at Miami beach, right in front of our hotel. It's sunny and warm (and a bit windy) and totally beautiful. Hooray sunshine!

Hooray! Week 22 is go!

Welcome to Miami! Winners are here, pizza eaten... Let's go!

Cab stories

Another can story coming up now... Traveling back to the hotel late last night, I hailed a cab and was unable to open the side door, so went and sat up front with the driver. The guy had long grey hair and love heavy metal (a running theme it seems in america).

We chatted about his life and daily routine and he ended up telling me about the mad things he has seen as a driver in NYC over the years. These include:
- picking up John Lennon and Yoko Ono ("how the hell would I know what to say to them?")
- having policemen "commandeer" his car on more than one occasion and take part in high speed chases ("ya know, follow that car!")
- having gun shots fly past him through his window ("oh yeah, a few times")
- seeing a small plane land in the road in front of him at night ("the pilot taking a failed u-turn off the Hudson river")
- interpreting the living and breathing flow of the city and it's traffic lights.

This has all happened while he has simultaneously taught himself stocks and shares in his down-time (and "getting stoned" at the weekend).

Shame he wouldn't let me take a photo. He was awesome.

New york cooking

On the way to the airport this morning, my cab driver was chatting to me all about his life and loves. Let's start with the fact he loves heavy metal, and is the president of a biker gang... And goes by the name The Regulator. What a winner. Now let's add in the fact the guy is a keen cook, and thinks I should go visit Southern USA for some proper "rich" food. He chatted to me all about the etiquette of cooking and particular food ideas and expectations. And then passed on this; his own recipe for Corn bread.

Regulator Bread

Get some: Cornmeal, Baking powder and Rectangular baking tin.
Take the Cornmeal and mix in two table spoons of flour, baking soda, pinch of salt, tablespoon of sugar, one egg and then mix with milk and stir till "not gloopy". Grease your pan till hot and bubbling and then pour grease into your mixture, stir well, then pour into pan. Stick it in the oven and bake till edges brown or till cooked through (test with a knife). Use oven at 350 for 12 to 15 minutes. For a twist, you can also put in vanilla or cinnamon. Tasty.

Thanks Regulator!

Last nights CMJ mission...

Oh Lordy.. There's something I didnt tell you last night. On arriving at the venue (Crash Mansion on Bowery, see map) I found I has lost my drivers licence. Not a prob you'd think, as I look way over 21 years old, but law here stipulates that everyone must have ID if going into a place that serves booze. I can't even drink right now (antibiotics) but they still wouldn't let me in. I had to travel back to the hotel at the other end of town, travel back down to the venue downtown in just 30 mins before the band came on. Needless to say, I missed a few songs and was f-ing and blinding and super stressed rushing across the city - but it was totally worth it, and to be able to hear familiar songs and see familiar faces after having been back and forth travelling since May, was wonderful. Phew.

The xcerts at cmj

Uk band The Xcerts are playing at CMJ right now at Crash Mansion on Bowery. It may be the fact that I'm insanely tired, but I feel quite emotional watching Brit pals impressing the yanks on the other side of the pond. They're doing a great job. Very proud x

Vegan treats

I had been recommended to visit Atlas - a little vegan cafe - in Manhattan. It's very tasty indeed. Chocolate vegan cheesecake?! Hooray! It's on 2nd Avenue between 4th and 5th street.

New york breakfast.

I'm sure we'd all agree that Americans know how to eat. Whether you believe that takes the form of fast food and fried chicken, or the vast amount of health food stores and innovating diets - food plays a lot on the mind of the people of this fair continent. As such, I've chosen a range of food while here.. Attempting to act in the spirit of America. Freedom (of choice).
Yesterday I had granola and fruit.. Today is pancakes, bacon and syrup. Yum!

Wise words... Kinda.

There is a store here that sells bras. One of the styles of bras is called Katie. The shop assistant liked this coincidence and gave me this promotional ribbon.
"Be pretty, always be you... Love Katie"

Hmmm..

CMJ begins

So.. CMJ is like an international music and arts showcase across NY. Interested punters and music bizz boffins buy a pass, that then allows access into the hundreds and hundreds of events going on around the city. The booklet listing the gigs in super thick and a bit daunting.. So I decided last night to kick things off with a gig at the Highline Ballroom in manhattan to watch bands Title Fight, Bayside and Senses Fail. It was good to be back in a rowdy rock environment for a bit - and I even bumped into some friends from london who are out here to check out new music. Video to come x

Week 21 winners!

Here is a mildly blurred photo of this week's winners Carol and Colan getting their passes for CMJ in New York! Welcome to the big apple!

Post no Bills

Friends of mine will recognise this rant.. So bear with be while I explain why this simple sign, sprayed all across New York, drives me so irrationally mental.
Post No Bills. We know what it's trying to say right? It means, you are not allowed to put up fly-posters/adverts; bills being the word here for those large bits of paper or flyers. Post no bills. What bothers me, and always has - is the fact it says Post No Bills, not Don't Post Bills. By starting with an action word - "post" - its commanding you to do the action, and what action is that? To put up "no bills". To actually put up "a nothing". The sign commands you to almost go up to the wall and mime putting up a bill - not a real one.
Yes, I know I don't make sense. But nor does the sign. And it's everywhere. Who decided to use such bad grammar??

Hi from Times Square from Kp and @djtayo

Hi from Times Square!

The city is already buzzing and the tourists and locals have flocked to Times Square for a spot of shopping and sight-seeing. You like my bobble hat?

New york new york!

Good morning from New York! I woke early, ate breakfast and have headed out into the city - to spot many of the usual awesome cliches! Here's a classic yellow cab.... "taxi!!!!" x

MicroLoan Foundation Video

... And I'm off again!

One night at home and im back in an airport and heading to... NEW YORK! Woo hoo! I'm meeting up with winners Carol and Colan and we are going to explore CMJ and the Big Apple :) Cannot wait x
(very tired however and on antibiotics, sleeping pills and malaria tablets.. Eek!)

Week 19 winner Daniel... beatboxing

Week 29 winner Daniel had a secret talent - beatboxing! Luckily I managed to persuade him, on our last day in Cape Town, to commit this skill to camera... check the results!

Festival interview with C4 The Bomb

Check out this little chat I had with the lovely C4 The Bomb!

Festival interview with Tigris

I watched a performance from the awesome Tigris aka Angela Mizinga over the weekend - and then managed to get a little interview with her on the beach.. check it out below!

Festival interview with Ron Nkomba

Ron Nkomba's set was one of my favourite of the weekend - a real lovely mix of songs sung in multiple languages - and what a lovely gent too! Check out my little chat with him below - and his music over HERE.

Eddy Temple-Morris in Malawi

Before this wonderful international job, I used to present as a DJ on XFM Radio and I was lucky enough to work alongside the lovely Eddy Temple-Morris as part of this experience. It was brilliant to see him in Malawi (and at Standon Calling a few months ago too!). Check out this little chat with him about the festival and his DJ set on the beach.

Lake Of Stars - the video report!

Check out my little video report of all the sights and sounds of Lake Of Stars!

Lake Of Stars - All The Photos

Check out all the photos from Week 20 of the Trident Perpetual Festival by CLICKING HERE!

Winners Cy and Nathan

Winners Cy (in red) and his brother Nathan really seemed to enjoy themselves the whole weekend. It was a pleasure hanging out with them, and while I have briefly come back to London before flying out for week 21 in New York - the lads have headed out on safari for a couple of days - all part of their Trident prize! Wow wee!

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly

Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly were one of the international artists playing at Lake Of Stars. My pal Jamie plays bass for them, and I bumped into him at the bar on the last day. Blurry photo was snapped for us by a drunk guy. Hi Jamie!

Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi is VAST and stretches right up the edge of Malawi and across to Mozambique. Festival goers and local people spent the weekend swimming and washing in the lake. I had a little paddle, but had been warmed (perhaps overzealously) that it may not be safe swimming in there, and there was risk of disease. What I actually found out, was that there are crocodiles in there - and swimming after sundown is at your own peril!!

MicroLoan

As I mentioned below, one morning at the festival I went and visited a local village to learn about the MicroLoan foundation - and the work they have been doing to help women in Africa improve their lives and set up their own businesses to help village life. We had a talk from the local organisers and women then gave their testimonies about how they have been helped, and what they have done with their loans to help fight poverty in the area. The children of the village were extremely friendly and came and looked at my photos and laughed at the photos I had with me. Here is a snap of me on a little chair under a tree.
Katie x

EDIT: I just got sent this comment on this post - which I thought I would add to it, so you can all find out more.

"Hi Katie,

I hope your festival tour has been a great success and that you enjoyed seeing MicroLoan's work first hand. If anyone would like to read more about what we do please visit www.microloanfoundation.org.uk.

Thanks,

Alice"

x

True!

Having an amazing time. Cant wait to show you all the photos and write all about everything and show you videos!

Puncture kit

This is a chap performing as Puncture Kit - a drum kit on a bike frame jamming beats. He's amazing and did a spontaneous drumming show outside the festival entrance for the locals - video to come!