bah. and indeed humbug. Am I the only one that’s come away from last weekend’s Camden Crawl with a fetid taste in my mouth? and no, it’s not due to a late night binge at the Marathon, but a sneaking suspicion that this event may actually be rather cynical. i know, depressing isn’t it? yet more unscrupulous buggers extracting the urine in order to extract some cash from the music scene.

I’d previously been a bit of a champion for the Crawl, the idea of one of the world’s most famous musical locations opening up its many live venues for a couple of days of untrammelled indie meanderings was immensely appealing, but this year they jumped the shark.

The gigs were oversold, resulting in huge queues, thereby negating the main draw of the Crawl - the idea that one could traipse from venue to venue catching great up and coming bands. Hardly any of the bands were paid, believing mistakenly, that they would get some much needed exposure by playing. Sadly, most of the bands got no coverage, due to the fact that media passes were rarer than an early night for Kate Moss. Most of the people getting involved in the event were asked either to provide their services for free or were offered co branding. The main line sponsors paid a hefty whack, yet none of this cash was reflected in increased venues, payment for the bands or any form of investment in the very scene that’s generating so much money for them. Now maybe I’m being dreadfully old school here but that strikes me as cynical.

I could go on, but for me the most heartbreaking thing was seeing piles of folk who’d travelled down to London for the event, only to spend most of their time queueing in the pouring rain in order to catch a glimpse of a band before heading off to queue for another one. Tickets aren’t cheap, so surely they should at least guarantee that you’ll see some of the bands you came to see? or am i being naive again…? from where I’m stood though, the only people that spent money were the bands and the fans, whilst the only people making it and benefitting were the organisers.

Apparantly I’m a typical English woman because i find myself drawn and intrigued by this wierdo. He’s uniquely intelligent, eccentric, funny and a blatant slut, and now just so gloriously successful…I had to add this clip about him as an act of purging myself, i’d already spent at least 2 hours looking for clips of him on youtube after catching a press release about his latest film… I’m not alone am I?

As the weather decides to lgihten up we’d thought we’d give you a little taste of summer for your auditory delight…The dewy voice of JosieJo and ‘Party in the Country’ is sure to melt the frosts of winter… go and have a look www.myspace.com/josiejomusic