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| 'Klaus Says Buy The Record' crowned Red Stripe Music Award winner! |
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| 15/05/2008 |
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 Brighton-based ‘Klaus Says Buy the Record’ fended off competition from three other acts to claim the Red Stripe Music Award (RSMA) at the Kentish Town Forum on Monday night.
As well as winning the prestigious award, the band will receive long-term support from Red Stripe – kicking-off with a slot on the Red Stripe stage at the Brighton Coalition for The Great Escape Festival.
Over 1,000 bands entered the RSMA, with fifty gigs taking place across the country to determine the four finalists. As well as ‘Klaus Says Buy the Record’, the final acts were Glaswegian band The Down and Outs, Edinburgh’s Kiddo, and Leeds’ Fracas.
Headlining the RSMA at the Kentish Town Forum were Dirty Pretty Things, singer Carl Barat leading a judging panel which included Music Week’s talent editor, Stuart Clark, Coda’s Oli Hodgson, The Fly’s Will Kinsman, and Paul Noble of artist management company Normal Management.
Speaking of the day that saw him crowned the RSMA winner, Jon Klaus commented: “It was a surreal day. I've been gigging quite a bit since November, but never really had the chance to play anywhere special...or at least somewhere that holds more than 50 people!
“The whole experience really got my heart beating. The other three finalists were great. They all had what it took to win. I think an advantage I had was that I was probably the odd one out as I didn t sound anything like the other bands! It could have gone any way. Either I won or got laughed off stage.”
Last years RSMA winners, The Runners, awarded ‘Klaus Says Buy the Record’ with the prize. It’s been a good year for last years champions, having played sets on Steve Lamacq’s Radio 1 show, released two singles and toured Europe since their win.
‘Klaus Says Buy The Record’will play The Great Escape in Brighton (15-17 May), Lovebox Weekender (19-20 July), headline the second stage at Blissfields, and has also won his very own tour bus to keep. |