The Ivors
I spent a lovely lunch time at the Ivors (or “The Skivers” as my hard working office rechristened them) yesterday. The Ivors are know as the Oscars of music, and yet they get virtually no publicity at all, which is odd. Musicians take them very seriously, even Alex from the Arctic Monkeys was on best behaviour and seemed awed to receive one. Quincy Jones and Norman Cook both got standing ovations and Elton John gave the best speech - “Alex, I’m going up to Sheffield by helicopter after this, I’ll give you a lift. Amy, I’m coming to see you on Monday, don’t [expletive deleted] cancel again. Look, three poofs [expansive gesture to himself and two Scissor Sisters, the three having just won an award for their co-written song], haven’t we done well”. I also had the privilege of sitting next to Fergal Sharkey. What is it about Irish pop stars that makes them so articulate, passionate and welcome members of the new establishment? Mr Sharkey is doing great work on the Live Music Forum and the Government’s Creative Industries Task Force. He is great, and John Whittingdale agrees, rushing over to recall various Undertone and Angelic Upstarts gigs (and there were you thinking his range was limited to heavy metal -shame on you).