It’s been two weeks since the Crawl and we’re slowly returning back to normal back at the office. The addition of the first ever Dublin Crawl last week means that our recovery period has taken longer this year, but it was definitely worth the extra hard work we all put in.

Thank you to all the Crawlers who came down and enjoyed the weekend with us, what a year! From our opening night extravaganza at KOKO with the amazing Death In Vegas until the last DJ tune at 4am on Bank Holiday Monday, we partied non-stop.

XFM celebrated their 20th anniversary by taking over KOKO for the entire weekend with acts such as The Cribs, Glasvegas, Spector , The Futureheads, The Big Pink wowing the audiences. John Kennedy’s X-Posure, Ian Camfield’s Rock Show and club nights hosted by Mary Anne Hobbs and Eddy Temple Morris completed the line up and ensured XFM kicked off their celebrations in style.

CC2012 saw our first ever Crawlternative Media Expo (C.A.M.E.) which featured live screen printing workshops from Poster Roast, a fanzine and record fair and also included live performances from the likes of TOY, Dutch Uncles and Race Horses as well as spoken word guests in the impressive surroundings of St. Michael’s Church.

We were also proud to host our first ever event in conjunction with the UK’s most innovative and exciting broadcaster, SBTV on Sunday afternoon at Electric Ballroom which saw great performances from some of the most hotly tipped acts this year.

All these were just a few of the highlights that made this year’s Crawl a unique and exciting experience for us.

Please check out the review of the weekend in pictures up on our gallery page now. We will get back to you soon with all sorts of features and content soon but for now just a huge thanks to all of you who made it all worthwhile!

Xx http://dlvr.it/1b1jnB

XFM will be taking over Koko at the Camden Crawl this weekend and we are pleased to announce a whole host of great acts playing exclusive live sets across the May Bank Holiday weekend.

The Cribs are to give their new album In The Belly Of The Brazen Bull an airing, while The Futureheads will bring their a cappella show to Koko. Also playing for Xfm across the weekend will be The Big Pink, Glasvegas, Spector and Eugene McGuinness.

And that’s not all, Xfm will keep the music going from the afternoon through to the early hours of Saturday and Sunday with John Kennedy, Eddy Temple-Morris, Ian Camfield and Mary Ann Hobbs all hosting special events in the hallowed halls of Koko. http://dlvr.it/1WVPz9

The mighty Glasvegas are many things - the NME’s definitive band of our time, Mercury Prize nominees, simply Glaswegian greats - but dull is not one ofthem. They are endlessly inventive - their last record, EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \, was welcomed by our more easily surprised critics with something approaching shock. Their label seemed just as nonplussed, and yet the album still made the UK top ten and impressed all right-thinking lovers of music.

That’s what being Glasvegas looks like. We met up with the band’s bassist Paul Donoghue so he could draw us a picture.

What is your first memory or experience of Camden Town?
The first time we played in Camden, at Koko, is a bit of a blur. It was back in the days when we had Buckfast on our rider. We would mix it with Red Bull at the time. How we could ever drink that stuff is beyond me. The next time was a bit clearer, we played at the iTunes festival and had great fun. It was only marred by my drunk cousin talking rather too loudly about hating cockneys. I think it would have ended very badly if people hadn’t seen the look of embarrassment on my face. Making that comment in the middle of a packed Camden bar isn’t the most intelligent thing you can do.

In what one other city would you put on a festival like the Camden Crawl and why?
Probably Glasgow. The only thing near to the Camden Crawl in Glasgow I’ve been on was a tour where everyone playing played in the gents toilets of venues. It was some of the weirdest gigs I’ve ever been to. I could understand if they were in the ladies, but the mixture of urinal cakes and stale pish created an aroma I wish I hadn’t been exposed too.

If the band were to appear live on any US television series, which would it be?
We’ve already been lucky enough to appear on Craig Ferguson, Carson Daly, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon and David Letterman. But the only one we haven’t done is Saturday Night Live, so that’s one I’d like to do.
What one instrument that isn’t part of your line-up do you secretly wish was?
The Dube. An instrument created by Dion Dublin? Who couldn’t want one of those. Maybe shouldn’t have used the headline “Dion Dublin reveals instrument” to promote it though. A lot of people mistook that article for something else.

Describe your sound in 10 words or less:
Indescribable. Like trying to explain your own face.

What is the most interesting event the band has planned for 2012?
We’re still finalising some festivals in far-flung places which will be interesting but playing Glasgow on the day before the Easter weekend will be VERY interesting. Us playing + a public holiday = carnage. Looking forward to it very much.

Tipple of choice?
Beer. I can’t drink anything else or I’m sick. When I was younger I used to drink a lot of vodka which would lead to me vomiting mid-conversation. People talking to me often found that off putting. I was also thrown out of a club for passing out in a cubicle. The same thing happened at a hotel in Euro Disney last year. I need to take stock of my life a little, don’t I?

Anything specific you want to plug?
Last year I would have said the hole in the BP oil pipe but they seem to have got that under control so now I’ll say a Dutch dyke.

Glasvegas will be appearing at CC2012 on Sunday. Check out their profile page for more info http://dlvr.it/1WMDMX

THE Q&A CRAWL: GLASVEGAS

CLICK IMAGE TO BUY ADVANCE TICKETS FOR BOX OFFICE COLLECTION
http://dlvr.it/1W98fp

THE Q&A CRAWL: TOY

THE Q&A CRAWL: THE RUMOUR SAID FIRE

THE Q&A CRAWL: KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES

Hello its me …… Mr Jones…….

We met up with the head honcho of Wall Of Sound record label, Mark Jones, who will celebrate his label’s 20th anniversary next year. We’re chuffed to bits to have him and Wall Of Sound curate an afternoon of live music at the Lock Tavern next weekend where he’ll be showcasing some of Wall Of Sound’s hottest new talent. We caught up with the man behind it all though, to have a little chat…

What is your first memory or experience of Camden Town?
Probably reading about the ’ Blitz Club’ moving to the Camden Palace ( now Koko) back in the heady dayz of Nu Romo / Futurism .
London seemed like a long long long way away for me then even tho it really wasn’t that far !

What is the one single most important thing to know about Wall Of Sound?
That i’ve always done this for one reason….. To change people’s lives.
Not just the artists that i give a platform to and help them express themselves in creating music and their identity but your life too…. For when you first hear something from the label for the first time and you never forget it.

You can have one artist, living or dead, on your stage: who is it and why?
Brian Wilson ( Beach Boys etc ) - If you don’t know I’m not telling you

Recommend us a tune by a band that we should download right now.
Artist : Mayaeni
Track : Cold Love

What do you like and hate most about the festival season?
Likes………FOE ! - Freedom of Expression
Dislikes…….. I’m not a hater O-CTB ! - Over-Corporate Takeover Brandism

Tipple of choice?
PINK JUICE COCKTAIL. - Shake it up - don’t do that ‘other stuff’ anymore. It’s so boring ……

Anything specific you want to plug?
Apart from Myself ????

Well, hmmmmmmm now you mention it . There’s some cool nu stuff comin on the label very soon so keep ‘em peeled and ya ears WIDE open.
Watch this space ……..www.wallofsound.net

For starters. there’s A new MEKON album - here we go again ! Back to where it all began for WoS and also some killa talent …. Mayaeni , Killaflaw, Echoes, Saskilla
And more……

Oh and BacktothePhuture . Joins the dots too and never before has the connection been more relevant in music. www.backtothephuture.net

Get it ? Got it ? Good :)

You can catch Mark and his Wall Of Sound presents Rock N Roast event at CC2012 on Sunday 6th May. Check out the event page for more info and line up details http://dlvr.it/1VGyPw

Derek Andrew Safo - or Sway - is signed to Akon’s label, Konvict Muzik, for a very simple reason: he’s reinventing British rap, as an artist and a producer, and he means business.

Sway was born in our very own London, and has been producing tracks for the city’s acts since he was a kid. Whether as founder of underground production company Dcypha, or under the solo banner he’s been flying since 2003, he has been at the forefront of British hip hop and grime, winning a MOBO in 2005. His most recent Mixtape features almost exclusively UK artists and makes a virtue of Sway’s British background - less common in hip hop than you might think.

You can see the hometown boy at the Crawl - we grilled him beforehand for your edification.

Crawl virgin or serial crawler?
Serial crawler

Do you have any special plans for your set at the Crawl?
Yes, I’m gonna perform a track from my new album called Reign Dance! I don’t even know the lyrics of head I have to learn them just for this event.

In the film of 2012, who would you be played by?
Myself, I’ve done some acting recently with my role in Top Boy and I think nobody can play me better than me.

What words do you most associate with Camden?
Melting Pot

Describe your music without referring to a genre or another artist.
Aspirational, Inspiring, Empowering, Fun, Honest and Sway

What do you like and hate most about the festival season?
Hate most that sometimes there’s so much to choose from, you kinda always feel like you missing out. Love that there’s so much going on and the atmosphere of the festival and getting to perform to crowds as it’s what I love doing.

What is your ‘on the road’ breakfast of choice?
Eggs Benedict with Salmon

Anything specific you want to plug?
My new single Level Up is out on the 8th April you can pre order you copy here http://t.co/CeXoNmY3

Sway will be appearing on Saturday 5th at CC2012. Check out his profile page for more info http://dlvr.it/1V2cxb