Craig David, Anne-Marie & WSTRN Kill It At Our Brand New For 2016 Showcase
The first of our two nights at London's Electric Ballroom WENT. OFF!
Something special happened last night (26th January). Let us fill you in...
It's a damp evening in Camden Town and a crowd is stretching a far as the eye can see from the doors of the Electric Ballroom, all eager to get in to the first of two MTV Brand New For 2016 showcases where tonight, Anne-Marie, WSTRN and garage legend Craig David will all perform.
And what a night it was! First up Anne-Marie, who's grandad even came to see her in the packed-out audience, sounded soulful and sassy as she performed tracks including 'Stole' and 'Gemini' from her first EP to the latest 'Boy' and current single 'Do It Right'.
Giggling away between songs, the Essex girl looked right at home on stage, no doubt helped from her extensive touring with her Rudimental pals.
Next to take the stage were West London RnB outfit WSTRN who took the vibes to another level with their sexy anthem 'Got Love' and had the crowd chanting along to their Top 5 smash 'In2'.
As the trio left the stage though, anticipation was high for the audience to witness Craig David's TS5...
Speaking before the gig Anne-Marie said of sharing the stage with the 'Fill Me In' legend, "Craig David was absolutely massive in Essex so he's a big one for me to see. I'm really happy that he's coming back on the scene 'cause his music is very similar to what's been bubbling up at the moment so good for him, I'm excited!"
WSTRN's Akelle added: "We're so excited to see the whole show tonight and especially Craig David. He's a legend to us and we've grown up on Craig's music and we've seen what he's done coming from the UK and he's a friend of ours!"
Legend doesn't describe it. We've never seen a reaction quite like it at a Brand New gig. As soon as Craig took to the decks, the monster 'Rewind' sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Then BAM straight into 'Fill Me In'! How can this get any better? Please welcome to the stage Big Narstie for a live performance of their latest single 'When The Bassline Drops'!
(Craig David)
All my ladies
(Big Narstie)
It's about to go down
(Ladies)
That garage sound
This is for my ravers, gettin' faded, faded
This is for my ravers
I know you waited, waited (bounce)
This one's goin' out, to all my people out there
Turn your speakers up, cause right now we're goin' in
Bringing you them vibes, ready for the weekend
Don't matter where you are as long as you're here with me
You have never heard about nothin' like this
Better listen up otherwise you're gonna miss
And I ain't even gassin' you
You have never heard about nothin' like this
Better listen up otherwise you're gonna miss
When the bassline drops you know what to do
When the bassline drops you know what to do
(Goin' out to all of my dj's)
All on your (doot) yeah, all over your (doot)
All on your (doot) yeah
(Sounds of the raving crew)
All on your (doot) yeah, all over your (doot)
All on your (doot) yeah
(Goin' out to all of my DJ's)
All on your (doot) yeah, all over your (doot)
All on your (doot) yeah
(Sounds of the raving crew)
All on your (doot) yeah, all over your (doot)
All on your (doot) yeah
(Goin' out to all of my dj's)
Bass, fill a bad girl like a sandwich
2 bottle of mo' we still standing
This one's out to the Charlie Brown
I'm lovin' it, lovin' it, old school anthems
Smellin' like cocoa, butter and Versace blue jeans
Ben Sherman top with blue jeans
Goin' in, living my movie
Bentekkers, I'ma steppers
It was art how I dodged that badness
In the corner smoking the maddest, BDL
ASBO Britain, the sound of the streets comin' through your aeriel
(Craig David), Big Narstie, all over your
All on your (doot) yeah, all over your (doot)
All on your (doot) yeah
(Goin' out to all of my dj's)
All on your (doot) yeah, all over your (doot)
All on your (doot) yeah
(Sounds of the raving crew)
You have never heard about nothin' like this
Better listen up otherwise you're gonna miss
And I ain't even gassin' you
You have never heard about nothin' like this
Better listen up otherwise you're gonna miss
When the bassline drops you know what to do
When the bassline drops you know what to do
(Report to the dance floor)
All on your (doot) yeah, all over your (doot)
All on your (doot) yeah
(Goin' out to all of my dj's)
All on your (doot) yeah, all over your (doot)
All on your (doot) yeah
(Sounds of the raving crew)
All on your (doot) yeah, all over your (doot)
All on your (doot) yeah
(Goin' out to all of my dj's)
All on your (doot) yeah, all over your (doot)
All on your (doot) yeah
(Sounds of the raving crew)
"Garage 2016 is going off, bruv," Craig beamed as he continued to drop classic old skool tunes from TLC's 'No Scrubs' to Ne-Yo's 'So Sick' to newer faves like Justin Bieber's 'Sorry' and Chris Brown's 'Loyal'. There was even a genius live mash up of 'Walking Away' with Dr Dre and Snoop Dogg's 'The Next Episode'.
To top the night off we were treated to a 'Fill Me In' reprise over 'Where Are U Now' before an "emotional" Craig gave us what we wanted...that infamous Live Lounge cover of Bieber's 'Love Yourself'.
QUA-LI-TY. Garage is well and truly back.
See What Happened When Craig David's TS5, Anne-Marie & WSTRN Played Our Brand New For 2016 Showcase
Massive thanks go to Emporio Armani Diamonds, to all the performers, the Electric Ballroom for having us, Club MTV's R3WIRE for sending us mental in between sets and the crowd for being up for it from the get go and being generally lovely people even though the queue was massive.
Tonight we're doing it all over again with Bloc Party, RAT BOY and Nimmo!
There's still time to vote for you MTV Brand New For 2016 winner. To vote, check out our nominees and tweet #MTVBrandNew followed by the name of your chosen artist. Alternatively comment the same on this Facebook post or upload an Instagram pic with it in the comment.
Brand New For 2016 is presented by Emporio Armani Diamonds.
By Michael Pell