Dead... and loving it!

02 February 2006

The Young Knives are set to headline the Dead Giraffe! event

IT MUST be many a promoter's dream to have music journalists from two national newspapers plug your first-ever event as "Gig of the Week" - with reviews to match.

But that's just what happened with Dead Giraffe! - a new monthly shindig at The Elbow Room, in Chapel Market, Islington.

The debut show sold out - no mean feat for an event held on January 5 - with a heady cocktail of new, cusp-of-success bands, a well-known comedian and a top-rate compere to keep it all running smoothly.

"It is an incredibly good start," admits Alan Stacey, one half of promoters New London Music.

"We weren't expecting such good national press on our first event.

"The combination of comedy and rock has happened before, but it is not a regular event in London."

He added: "And all the bands are very much interested in this concept and doing anything that's different to the average gig in London."

And with a line-up of great bands and comics booked by the highly-regarded Amused Moose comedy club, the future looks rosy.

"We thought Islington was a particularly good place to start because of the nature of the people who live there," added Alan.

"Our main audience comes from the people supporting the bands and those supporting the comedians, but we hope that in the future people will come to the event regardless of who's on because they know there will be some good bands and great comedians on."

There seems little doubt that Dead Giraffe! will go from strength to strength, continuing to blaze a trail this Thursday with a set from The Young Knives, performing ahead of a UK tour next month.

Already tipped as one of the bands to watch during 2006, The Young Knives will be supported by Metro Riots - regulars of Highgate's Boogaloo juke joint.

Also entertaining the mob will be comedian and compere Simon Amstell, the familiar face and wit of Channel 4's Sunday hangover cure Popworld, and top stand-up comic Paul Tonkinson.

January's show saw critically-lauded art rockers Art Brut headlining, backed by Forward Russia! whose latest single recently broke into the Top 40, and Perrier Award-winning comic Arj Barker provided yet more jollity.

With plans to set up live feeds of the shows to Bournemouth and Edinburgh before they get their own Dead Giraffes in May, why not pop down to witness the new music-and-mirth combo before everybody else catches on.

For more information, check out www.newlondonmusic.com.