For me, last Friday has become ‘unsigned Friday’.

In the morning we held meetings about a compilation CD full of unsigned artists, the evening’s task was judging five unsigned bands in the ‘Southampton Takedown’ at the Talking Heads and between those events I was invited to present a radio show on a national DAB station that only plays unsigned music.

The winners of ‘Southampton Takedown’ were ‘Plastic Toys‘ and they’ll now be supporting ‘YouMeAtSix’ when they play The Salisbury Takedown on July 26^th.

‘Plastic Toys’ narrowly beat deep grunge rockers ‘Burn The Fleet‘ who win the unofficial runners-up prize of an acoustic set at ‘Showcase UK’ in the Soul Cellar on Monday 20^th.

Meanwhile the CD is a collaboration between ‘Showcase UK‘ and ‘Angry Badger Records‘ and titled “Showcase Sett“.

Julian Aplin’s label is fast becoming a feature in the South’s music scene and this album will give 16 acts from Southampton and Portsmouth a great boost.

We’re also using Southampton artists for the cover and sleeve design and with one glimpse you’ll understand why the first collection is called ‘Propeller‘.

It’s released on Saturday 1^st August with a four band show at the Soul Cellar featuring ‘Dlugokecki‘, ‘The Queue‘, ‘Moody Tuesday‘ & ‘Thinking For Tuesday‘.

And finally the radio station is ‘Amazing Radio‘ which I believe is going to shake up both the radio and music industries.

It’s a great thrill and honour to be asked to join them and I’ll only be playing music from the South coast.

First published in the Daily Echo, Friday 10th July www.dailyecho.co.uk/leisure/music/news/4486773./

The first single from Birdpen’s debut album On/Off/Safety/Danger is released on Friday 15th August.

It’s called Breaking Precedent and is available to download from iTunes and Napster.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhcVH9Yeuek&color1=11645361&color2=13619151&hl=en&fs=1]

Birdpen first came to the original Showcase’s attention when we received the compilation “The Coming of The Railways” – the best of the south coast’s bands [search on ebay]

Collections like that are an ideal resource and, as the artists are from the same area, give a great musical snap shot of the local scene.

In that 19 band collection I had my first experience of Subgiant, Scarlet Soho, Plastic Toys and Sine Star Project all of which are Showcase regulars.

Last week another fine compilation landed on our desk and not only does it originate from the Isle of Wight but also serves another purpose.

Complied by John Cattle, chairman of the Save Ventnor Skatepark Group the CD “Transitions” is a major part in their fund raising process.

They’ve enlisted the help of Paul Butler and Aaron Fletcher from The Bees and on this first volume you’ll hear some old favourites of the Showcase: acts like Jet Harris, Jackson Analogue, The Chancers and Shanklin Freak Show.

But I have also been introduced to the Wight Light Orchestra, The Shutes and The Peas.

This Sunday we’ll be playing three more songs from the album which, for £10, you get 22 bands of varying styles but definitely a high standard. Visit
www.wight-trash.co.uk to buy your copy.