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The Boisdale Music Awards 2023

Last night at Boisdale Canary Wharf they hosted the 11th annual Boisdale Music Awards, a celebration of some of the greatest names in the worlds of soul, jazz, blues, rock, reggae and pop. Now firmly established as one of the most prestigious events in the music industry calendar, the Boisdale Music Awards was once again hosted by Boisdale’s Patron of Music, Jools Holland, alongside musician and broadcaster, YolanDa Brown.

With each winner performing on stage after receiving their Boisdale Music Award, an audience of more than 200 musicians and guests were treated to an astonishing array of unique, unforgettable performances.

From Kathy Sledge’s spontaneous, floor-filling rendition of Sister Sledge’s We Are Family through to a surprise finale which featured Jools Holland and his drum-tight band joining forces with soul superstar Gregory Porter for a deep dive into Muddy Waters’ ageless Hoochie Coochie Man, there was a palpable sense of excitement in the air that has now become synonymous with the Boisdale Music Awards.

Rapper and talk show host Big Narstie launched the evening in his irrepressible style when he presented Courtney Courtney with her Rising Star Award, whilst Mud Morganfield held the audience in the palm of his hand with a truly mesmerising performance of his father Muddy Waters’ iconic Mannish Boy. Alabama 3 unleashed an incendiary take of Woke Up This Morning (the Sopranos theme tune) that got everybody dancing, and newcomer Polly Gibbons delivered a sultry rendition of Bessie Smith’s timeless Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl that belied her age.

As the evening drew to a close, soul Queen PP Arnold sent shivers down everyone’s spines with a heartbreakingly beautiful show-stopping take on her 1967 signature song, The First Cut Is The Deepest, Kid Creole and the Coconuts got everybody singing along to Annie, I’m Not Your Daddy, whilst legendary funkateers the Brand New Heavies and Shalamar brought the 2023 Boisdale Music Awards to a fitting climax and helped to make it another brilliant Night To Remember.

BOISDALE MUSIC AWARDS 2023 WINNERS

Boisdale Music Awards Rising Star Artist of The Year: Courtney Courtney - song

Boisdale Music Awards Instrumentalist of The Year: Bluey

Boisdale Music Awards Blues Artist of The Year: Mud Morganfield – Mannish Boy & Alabama 3 – Woke Up This Morning

Boisdale Music Awards Jazz Artist of the Year: Polly Gibbons – Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl

Boisdale Music Awards Soul Artist of The Year: Shalamar – A Night To Remember

Boisdale Music Awards Reggae Artist of The Year: UB40

Boisdale Music Awards Scottish Artist of The Year: The Cuban Brothers -

Boisdale Music Awards Female Artist of The Year: PP Arnold – The First Cut Is The Deepest

Boisdale Music Awards Male Artist of The Year: Howard Hewett -

Boisdale Music Awards Band of The Year: The Brand New Heavies -

Boisdale Music Awards Album of the Year: Face to Face by Suzi Quatro & KT Tunstall

Boisdale Music Awards Lifetime Legend: Kid Creole & The Coconuts – Annie I’m Not Your Daddy

Boisdale Music Awards Global Icon: Snow - Informer

Boisdale Music Awards Outstanding Contribution to Music 2023: Gregory Porter – Hoochie Coochie Man

On arrival at 6.00pm for the reception in The Hine Bar & Garden Terrace, 240 guests were served Chateau D’Esclans Rock Angel Rosé 2020, Veuve Clicquot NV Champagne and Oxley Gin & Artisan Classic London Tonic. At 7.30pm guests flowed upstairs to the main restaurant for a sumptuous three-course dinner comprising London burrata with spiced chickpeas, coriander, peppers and caramelised walnuts, roast fillet of Seatrout with red dulce, lemon & saffron, Cornish potatoes, prawns, and Chablis sauce and finally a sumptuous selection of British farmhouse cheeses. After The Boisdale Music Awards were finished, guests danced the night away to legendary Mi-Soul DJ Ronnie Herel in The Hine Bar & Garden Terrace.

Unique amongst live music venues, Boisdale boasts an award-winning wine list, one of the finest spirit collections in the UK, an outstanding cigar humidor, a magical garden terrace and a mouth-watering menu that’s as famous as the iconic world-class artists that grace our stage.

Boisdale of Canary Wharf hosts live music performances five nights a week (as well as a Sunday jazz brunch) in the restaurant and Whisky Bar on the second floor. The venue is also home to four private dining rooms, a 1,000 square foot Cigar Terrace, Cuban Cigar Library and Shop and the Hine Bar on the first floor. There is also Boisdale Belgravia with live music six nights a week and live jazz on Sundays.

Boisdale is named after the remote port on the beautiful Isle of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides, off the North-West coast of Scotland. Boisdale was home to The Macdonald’s of Boisdale – the senior branch of the Macdonald’s of Clanranald, the largest and most anciently Royal of all the Highland clans. There are more than six million Macdonald clansmen throughout the world – all of whom can lay claim to this magnificent heritage, which has been charted down the generations since the 3rd century BC.

Boisdale’s founder is Ranald Macdonald - the eldest son of the 24th Chief and Captain of Clanranald - who launched the first restaurant in Belgravia 34 years ago in 1989. Boisdale continues to capture the essence of centuries of proud tradition with its warmth, informality, and unique atmosphere, simultaneously reminiscent of both a Highland country house and the Batcave in Gotham City!

Visit WWW.BOISDALE.CO.UK for more information.

The adventures of Rosie series for children. The Little Walnut Tree

The second and utterly enchanting children's picture book is currently in the early stages of planning.

It's written by Jo Beth Cairns and will be beautifully illustrated by the talented artist Beenid. 

This picture book is for children aged 5-8, will take children on a captivating journey via engaging storytelling and visually stunning illustrations, young readers will be introduced to the wonders of nature in an accessible, engaging way.

The primary goal of the project is to raise funds to cover the production, printing, and distribution costs of the book, ensuring that it reaches as many children as possible. 

By supporting this project, individuals and organisations have a unique opportunity to contribute to the education and inspiration of future generations, nurturing their appreciation for the natural world and encouraging a sense of environmental stewardship.

Jo Beth said: "I believe that connecting children with nature at an early age is vital for their well-being and the future of our planet. Through this picture book, I aim to spark curiosity, encourage exploration, and instil a sense of wonder in children, fostering a lifelong love for nature."

To achieve the fundraising target, The Little Walnut Tree has created an online Kickstarter campaign through a dedicated platform. Donors can visit the link at the top of the page to contribute and become a part of this exciting project. 

Jo Beth went on to say: "I'd love to invite individuals, businesses, and organizations alike to join us in this meaningful endeavour. Together, we can make a significant impact on the lives of children, empower their connection with nature, and inspire a generation of environmental stewards."

The Little Walnut Tree is committed to transparency and will provide regular updates on the project's progress, including milestones achieved, partnerships formed, and anticipated release dates. 

To be part of this journey please click the link or copy and paste it into your web browser for more details of where you can support this venture. Click the link here http://kck.st/3rcISO.

Jo Beth added: "Backers for the project will receive a  signed paperback copy of the first book for donations of £25 or over to help support this project.

"Please feel free to donate any amount from £1 upwards any donation is welcome. If my target is not met by October 13th, 2023 you will receive a refund from Kickstarter."

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The Beauty of Space: rare photographic treasures of early NASA space travel from the Victor Martin-Malburet Collection in Dorotheum online auction

Vienna, Austria - In the online auction The Beauty of Space - Iconic Photographs of Early NASA Missions, which ends on 27 September 2023, the Austrian auction house Dorotheum offers around 200 historic photographs of the US space agency NASA, dating from the very beginning of manned spaceflight in the early 1960s to the mid-1970s. 

A selection of vintage prints collected over a period of 25 years by French space historian and art collector Victor Martin-Malburet can be purchased at auction, with some attractive opening prices, beginning at 100 euros, and with no reserve.

The images, both colour and black-and-white, were originally taken for scientific purposes and most of them were kept secure, stored under lock and key. 

The auction includes important visual treasures from the Golden Age of astronautics, for example the first space selfie, the first human-taken photograph of the Planet Earth, and the first human-taken photograph of the surface of another world. 

An absolute rarity, with an estimate between 15,000 and 25,000 euros, is the only photograph of the first man on the Moon (Neil Armstrong) taken by astronaut Buzz Aldrin during the first lunar landing of the APOLLO 11 mission in July 1969.

Parts of the Martin-Malburet Collection have already been exhibited in renowned museums all over the world, including the Grand Palais in Paris, the Kunsthaus in Zurich, the Museum der Moderne in Salzburg and the Louisiana Museum of Art in Denmark.

You can view the catalogue online here https://www.dorotheum.com/en/a/99412

Happy Birthday, Time Team! Time Team is celebrating its 30th birthday with new dig investigating an Iron Age complex near Corfe Castle, Dorset

Time Team is celebrating its 30th birthday with new dig investigating an Iron Age complex near Corfe Castle, Dorset.

The British archaeology programme, Time Team is heading out into the field again for another of its ever-popular traditional three-day dig this weekend (15th to 17th September). 

The incredible site, absolutely brimming with archaeology, was put forward by Time Team’s own Dr Derek Pitman and Dr Lawrence Shaw. Working together with Harry Manley of Bournemouth University, a single test trench uncovered over 1,000 years of history, bridging the transition from the Iron Age into Roman Britain.

During the Iron Age, some 2,000 years ago, the area was home to the Durotriges tribe, and this site offers excellent opportunities to investigate how they lived and how they died. 

Early evidence indicates industrial activity, several phases of settlement and even burials, which is an extremely rare find for this period in British history.

The site is a stone’s throw from Poole’s ancient industrial harbour at Green Island, the subject of a previous investigation by Time Team, nearly 20 years ago. This new excavation seeks to explore possible links between the harbour, and this site, which sits just inland and is in a strategic position within the landscape.

Dr Derek Pitman says: “As a Dorset boy, I’m thrilled to welcome Time Team to my turf, for what looks to be an incredible weekend. I’ve honestly never seen so much archaeology in a single trench before, and we think this is just the tip of something even bigger. I believe we’re all in for a real treat!”

The excavation coincides with the 30th anniversary of filming Time Team’s first episode, back in 1993, which aired the following year. 

Time Team’s creator and Series Producer, Tim Taylor, says: “We couldn’t hope for a better site to celebrate three decades of Time Team. I still can’t believe it’s been that long, but here’s to the next 30 years!”

Many familiar faces are returning, including presenter Dr Gus Casely-Hayford, Prof Carenza Lewis, Dr John Gater, Prof Stewart Ainsworth and Dr Helen Geake. Guests for the weekend include old Time Team friends, Dr Philippa Walton and Dr Miles Russell.

Throughout the dig, subscribers to the Patreon account will enjoy exclusive daily updates, direct from the site via ‘Dig Watch’. These include site tours, Q&As with the team and production insights from the crew. The completed episode will premiere worldwide on YouTube at a later date (to be confirmed).

Tim Taylor says: “It’s thanks to our wonderful Patreon members across the globe that Time Team can investigate fascinating sites like this. I can’t wait to see what comes up in Dig Watch!”

Join Time Team on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TimeTeamOfficial

Time Team Classics: https://www.youtube.com/c/TimeTeamClassics

Time Team Official: https://www.youtube.com/c/TimeTeamOfficial

(EDITOR: If you are looking for the ideal Christmas present for the Time Team lover in your life, why not gift them a subscription?)

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