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Happy new year and all that...in fact looking forward 2012 should indeed be a good one! And here's why...

TV or not TV that is the question 

Well if that is indeed the question - and is is - then the answer is 'yes'! Brighton has been announced as one of 20 "pioneer areas" to win government sponsorship to host it's own local TV channel, alongside the BBC's and ITV's and Channel 5's on the dial. This, I believe, is excellent news meaning locally-made programmes and news, could be broadcasting from our City as early as late 2012. It has been ridiculous in my view that a unique and important City like ours has had no local TV presence - news crews have to be ferried in from Maidstone or Southampton or whatever - and this initiative puts this right as well as providing exciting opportunities for creative local programme makers.  So, all in all, some really good news to start the year, we thinks.

Shaking it down

Gossip has it - and this is a gossip column, right? - that, following an extremely successful and particularly well organised inaugural event featuring some of the hottest acts in the country, the organisers of Shakedown festival have some amazing plans for 2012. With Brighton Live sadly having apparently hit the skids (?), and Beachdown still somewhat painful to the memory, the addition to the annual Brighton diary of a successful, major festival event of the type offered by the good people of Shakedown can only be a good thing. So we watch developments with interest.

Great Escape

Another very important event on the Brighton music calendar is the 'Great Escape', europe's leading festival for new music, where much of the national, nay international, industry decamps to our fair City during May. Recently, together with other members of our local music community, we were invited to meet up with the GE organisers; a meeting facilitated by the that great supporter of Brighton arts, Donna Close at Brighton and Hove City council. I was impressed by what Kat Morris and her team had to say in terms of how the Great Escape team value our City and by the 'inclusiveness' of their plans. Of course, this is an international event which happens to be held in Brighton, rather than an event for Brighton music, but there are still ways in which the best of Brighton artists can still be involved, not least in terms of great networking opportunities.

'As announced'

Meanwhile back at the raunch....one of the many tasks for a PR company like ours is keeping tabs on press for our artists from any number of sources. Including Korea, it seems, and surprised as you might be at this no one in the BiG iAM office speaks Korean so we used 'google translator' to help find out what they were chatting about. Here's the result...suffice to say we're none too much the wiser!

'Women in the UK Voice Jo Harman!!

energetic performances as a jazz club announced rekodinghae debut!! Jo Harman & Company (one trillion Harman & Company), a London-born female jazz / blues singer with a band led by guitarist Johanna Harman Mike Mayfield, pianist Carl Hudson, bassist Terry Lewis, is made up of drummer Jim Kimberley. Born and bred in London, England debeoneseo since childhood, she learned classical bassoonist in the orchestra with several youth hwaldonghaeoh after it acquired a degree in the performing arts which is currently residing in Brighton, Brighton Institute of Modern Music is continuing in the study. This project was formed to deliver her own meals without pity, and numerous performances at London famous jazz club brings awareness and skills accumulated and she is one of London's leading jazz club debut recorded live in Hideaway [Live At Hideaway] is presented. . This small [Live At Hideaway] the Jo Harman & Company (one trillion Harman & Company), inspired by Blue's debut as a voice to the clouds of energy neomchimyeo stacking fans as the band's live show debut rekodinghae. As announced'.

Also on the BiG i AM radar:-

- Kitten and the Hip. I'm reliably advised that singer Scarlett is not actually a kitten and that music man Ashley ('Turn On, Tune In, Cop Out') Slater is not merely a hip but has other bones (no pun intended) and body parts too. Collectively, though, they are making more than a bit of buzz on the Electro swing scene. Talks with the Freshly Squeezed label may result in album and touring plans it seems; watch this space.

- Raising Maisie. These Brighton teen popsters are getting even more 'Beatley' with their songwriting. 'Photobook' nods to the psychedelia of 'I Am The Walrus' and 'Strawberry Fields' etc. being a double 'A' side with the more jauntily uptempo 'Changes' ; available now on all usual download sites.

- OH!myhead - Pleasing eccentric London band now relocating to Brighton who somehow manage to merge punk and prog in equal measure. A rather fresh sound in a somewhat tired musical landscape perhaps?.

- The return to 'real' music values; hence the enduring thirst for folk, roots, rock, blues and Americana? Indie ('epic' indie bands particularly), electro bands and the like may need to beware?.

- Talking of which 'Songs From The Ark' by Del Day on Radio Reverb is a gem. Makes you pine for music which you thought you didn't like but found out you did!

Till next time dear chums.... You can follow/contact BiG i AM on twitter @BIGIAMBrighton and email comments and/or gossip and news to us on info@bigiam.co.uk