There has always been an individual spark about Cornershop. While Paul Morley from The Observer has described their long years "as interesting and adventurous as The Beatles," an Amazon purchaser has it that they are "a cult band for everyone," and a Twitterer describes them "instant aural sunshine for grey days."

Whatever source we follow about them, Cornershop have delivered one hit album after another hit album, together with a #1 single in Brimful of Asha, but leaving behind many unearthed classic tracks, for their eye has always been on the future.

In the Live arena they have always been successful, touring extensively in Europe mainland and America with the likes of Beck and Oasis. Their psychedelic sound of guitars and sitar within crafted nuggets of songs have had the power to work well at established venues such as the Brooklyn Academy of Music, rock festivals from Glastonbury to Lollopalooza, to even the smallest of school halls.

Now on their own respected ampleplay label they are at the height of their independence. Produced by their singer-songwriter Tjinder Singh, Cornershop have worked with some of the best, being the first UK band to collaborate with Dan The Automator, the last band to collaborate with legendary beat poet Allen Ginsberg, the first band to have two original Oasis members collaborate on tracks of the same album, the first band to have had an around the world 24hr mix of the one song… the shopping list continues.

They were always enthusiastically and affectionately championed by the late great John Peel, (who in turn they dedicated the name St John, in their song Lessons Learnt From Rocky I to Rocky III, before his parting). In the past year, Uncut have them down as "pretty much majestic," and The Independent describe them as the "cultural critique you can dance to," The Sun hailed their last album as the "Soundtrack to the Summer 09," whilst Mojo simply state "this bold fresh sounding album makes them a candidate for the quintessential 21st century pop group."

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Sounding like James Brown meeting James Bond The Herbaliser are all about moving forwards, onwards and upwards.

Bonding over a shared love of jazz, funk, rare groove and hip-hop in the early 1990s, West London duo Jake Wherry and Ollie Teeba have evolved with each chapter in their 15-year story. First it was instrumental beats, breaks and samples. Then they added guest rappers and vocalists. Today, as international festival favorites, their line-up has swelled into a mini-orchestra with lush arrangements to match.

Previous Herbaliser albums have featured guest slots by Roots Manuva, Blade, Phi Life Cypher and MF Doomin whilst Jake and Ollie have also produced music for the likes of Motorola, the soundtracks to Guy Ritchie's film Snatch and the PlayStation 2 game Tony Hawk's Underground.

On their latest album, Same As It Never Was, The Herbaliser hit a dazzling new peak. With a new label, a new main vocalist in the show-stopping, roof-raising talents of 22-year-old Londoner Jessica Darling, who possesses a timeless voice that can floor you in any era, and a new focus on soulful songwriting, they have created their richest and most diverse record so far. It's a timeless modern soul record, which appeals to a new generation seduced by the knowing pop-soul nostalgia of Amy Winehouse or Mark Ronson.

Glossy and gritty, organic and eclectic, Same As It Never Was builds on the band's hip-hop roots with jazz, funk, R&B, pop and instrumental soundtrack influences and reflects their love for the lush cinematic soundscapes of John Barry, David Axelrod and Quincy Jones.

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Based in Birmingham, Bentley Rhythm Ace are Mike Stokes and ex-Pop Will Eat Itself bassist Richard March, plus occasional friends.

Sharing a love for screwball novelty records and offbeat groove tunes BRA signed to legendary underground Brighton based dance label Skint and released their eponymous debut album, Bentley Rhythm Ace in 1997, spawning the popular single Bentleys Gonna Sort You Out; attracting wide acclaim for their energetic, irreverent blend of hip-hop, funk, and bizarre lounge, jazz, and exotica records. Alongside live performances that usually involved strange and unusual costumes and props.

BRA epitomized the Big Beat era alongside artist such as Fatboy Slim and The Chemical Brothers and enjoyed much commercial success with their music being used on TV advertisements whilst maintaining an enormous underground following.

Now recently reformed, Bentley Rhythm Ace return to the live circuit for a 2010 reunion tour, and their first live shows for a number of years.

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Cats in Paris are a trio of gentlemen from Manchester who play experimental synth-prog-pop to their heart's content. Their debut album was called Courtcase 2000 and they have also released two singles, Foxes and The One. They are currently recording new adventures in the studio, ready for release sometime in 2010 and have recently completed their first European tour.
On reviewing their debut album Drowned in Sound said "It's painfully rare an album comes along from a relative unknown sounding almost completely unlike anything else doing the rounds".

This is possibly to be expected from a band whose website includes a comic strip based on band rehearsals and a cookery corner hosted by their bassist.

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A hit of ITV's 'Britain's Got Talent' season 1, the Kombat Breakers were formed in the summer of 1999. The crew of breakdancers and entertainers mix breakdance and street into an explosive fusion of irresistibly eye catching entertainment. Born and bred in Coventry, the group mix different styles with crowd participation to keep their audiences entertained.

It started as a hobby and soon became a passion as they started to do roadshows and perform in schools. The boys shot to stardom on the hit ITV prime time show 'Britain's Got Talent' where they eventually finished runners-up in the nationwide search for the country's hottest new act. The Kombat Breakers have now worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment, having performed alongside Lemar, Beverley Knight, UB40, Kele le Roc and DJ Luck and MC Neat along with many more.

Lead choreographer Leeroy Bailey also starred in Sky One's 'Guinness World Records Smashed', earning himself a place in the record books for Breakdancing, and also reached the semi finals of Move Like Michael Jackson on BBC 3, where Michael Jackson's brother Jermaine, described him as intense and explosive!

With a host of performances lined up the boys continue to dedicate their time to training and working on new routines daily. They also dedicate a large amount of time to visiting schools and youth clubs, encouraging young people to take up Street Dance and passing on their knowledge and expertise.

For this year's Godiva Festival members of the Kombats are joined by the even more youthful Mini-Kombats for a twenty strong dance extravaganza. Featuring audience participation, humour, street and different dance styles you could even find YOURSELF up there on stage busting your favourite moves.

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Black Carrot are a vibrant quintet who perform new-wave krautrock jazz madness that oozes rock with a psychotic edge. Fierce and abstract yet serving the concept of the song, their unique sound nods towards Beefheart and Pere Ubu but is shot through with flavours of New York jazz skronk, and the loosest, funkiest Krautrock.

Formed in 2000, they released their first album "Cluk" in 2003 on their own Moon City Musik label to great reviews culminating in a feature on BBC Radio 3's "Mixing It".

The original line-up of Oliver Betts (woodwinds, keys, vocals), Stewart Brackley (vocals, electric/double bass) and Tom Betts (drums) was augmented in 2006 with the addition of Euan Rodger on clattering, daring percussion and live samples. More recently Olly Warren's fuzzed guitar scratch has widened the scope still further.

Their experimental live show has brought support slots with Faust, The Fall, Polar Bear, Damo Suzuki, Evan Parker, The Blessing, Chris Corsano, Kling Klang, Das Pop and many festival dates; including Cheltenham Jazz Festival, The Big Session, Drop Beats Not Bombs, Faust's Avant Garde Festival in Schiphorst Germany and two Polish support tours.

"Black Carrot are truly inspired musicians" - Jean Hervé Peron/Faust

"Fantastic, in all senses of the term." - The Independent, Nov 08

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Featuring slide guitar, harmonica and multi-layered backing vocals this last year has been pretty eventful for the City's' leading purveyors of indie-folk-alt.country-rock. They've supported Pete Doherty in Camden, had an NME name check and acquired a manager in Ron Brand whose son turns out to be a pretty famous comedian called Russell!

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There's a little bit of Portishead, Massive Attack and THAT Eminem meets Dido track about them, making Coventry based 7th Wave a laid back, yet razor sharp, experimental Hip Hop band. With a vibrantly energetic live show they play an innovative blend of fresh sounds combining genres such as Ska, Funk, Soul, Rock and Dance.

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With a line up of the ex-singer and ex-guitarist from Swamp Donkey, the ex-bassist from Boiling Peter Bread, the ex-lead guitarist from Hobo Exile Hotel and the ex-drummer from Dragster, The Pockets are either a Coventry Super Band or a post-local-music therapy support group.

They currently reside in the basement of the Standard Triumph Club, where they strum and beat; sing and shout and journey away most evenings, preparing themselves for frequent returns to their natural habitat, known commonly as the stage.

"These lads from sunny Coventry, will invite you in with a welcome smile, sit you down , bring you a drink, THEN knock the seven bells of B'JESUS out of ya, before gently showing you to the door, putting your coat on for ya, then giving ya a kick up the hole on ya way, for your troubles" - FLY MAGAZINE

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Inspire DJs during changeovers and your compere for the day Michael Leape.

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