Oslo, Hackney

DHP Family, which operates four live music venues in the city, has expanded into London with the opening of the £1m Oslo

IT started life as a railway station but the two-storey Victorian building in Hackney is now home to the first Nottingham-owned live music venue in London.

Oslo, which sits next to Hackney Railway Station, is the sixth venue owned and operated by DHP Family, the city centre company that is best known for Rock City.

It also owns Rescue Rooms, The Bodega and Stealth, and a venue in Bristol called Thekla, promotes national tours for the likes of New Order, James Blunt, Nick Cave and Ed Sheeran, runs its own ticket agency, and manages artists.

The focus of the business, started with the opening of Rock City more than 30 years ago, has always been in Nottingham, where they also run the annual Splendour music festival.

Oslo, which opened at the weekend, marks their first venture in the capital.

“We had a storming opening night, the place was packed downstairs in the bar and upstairs,” says DHP Family chairman George Akins.

“We’ve brought something new to this part of London; great music, great food and great drink all in one place – and it’s gone down really well.”

The name is a dedication to George’s mum, who was born in Oslo.

“There’s a bit of family heritage in there, which we like; family has always been important to us.

“And she loves it. It’s the only venue of ours that she wants to come and see. She’s been telling all of our Norweigian family about it.

“Hackney is now twinned with Oslo, which was a complete coincidence.”

They opened an office nearby last year as part of the tour promotion side of the business.

“We book a lot of bands into London already so it made sense for us to have an office there. This is taking the next step and doing what we do in Nottingham so well, in London.”

The 600-capacity Oslo will operate as a live music venue, nightclub, bar and eaterie.

“It’s like the Rescue Rooms... but with food,” he says.

“Hackney is an up and coming area. It’s very cool, it attracts a lot of fashion businesses... and we saw a good opportunity there.”

Bands booked to play in the next few weeks include Dry the River, Chrome Hoof, Long Eaton’s Indiana and an NME show.

“We’re confident we can keep the momentum going and make Oslo one of the hottest venues in London.”

DHP Family is now handling tours for Ed Sheeran, James Blunt and Flaming Lips and recently won Live Promoter of the Year for the second year running.

“We’re putting on more gigs than ever before and they’re bigger shows. We’re putting Jake Bugg, You Me At Six and Frank Turner in to the Capital FM Arena.”

Among the festivals they organise is Splendour. So who do we have headlining this year?

“We’re still working on it but we’ll be announcing a few names for Dot to Dot next week.”

For more about Oslo go to facebook.com/oslohackney, on Twitter @oslohackney and oslohackney.com.

DHP Group

January 2013

THEY rounded off 2012 by picking up an award for National Promoter of the Year, beating industry giants Live Nation, SJM and Metropolis. It was an acknowledgement of how far the DHP Group had come in just a few years of running tours around the UK, something that isn’t so well known about this independent Nottingham company.
DHP (Daybrook House Promotions) is probably better known for being the parent company of Rock City, the iconic Talbot Street venue now in its 33rd year. Then there are the Rescue Rooms, Stealth, the Black Cherry Lounge and the Bodega, plus Thekla in Bristol.
“Rock City is still the flagship venue and the venues are the biggest earners for us, but everything else is growing, particularly the tours,” says chairman George Akins.
Unless you’ve read the finer detail on your gig tickets for venues across the city and seen “DHP presents...” above the artist’s name, you may well have never heard of them. But DHP puts on around 1,200 gigs in the UK every year with artists such as Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Ray, Rufus Wainwright, the Human League, Flaming Lips and New Order.
A promoter hires out venues for a tour, organises the publicity, sells the tickets and guarantees the artist a fee.
“As the promoter you take the risk because you are guaranteeing the artist their money,” says George.
“They get that come what may.”
DHP began promoting shows in Nottingham, building relationships with bands who had played smaller venues like the Bodega and the Rescue Rooms, bringing them back to the city as their popularity grew to play Rock City and the Capital FM Arena.

Says George: “We did that with the White Stripes who had first played at the Social (now the Bodega) when few people knew who they were. In 2005 we put them on at the arena.”
The same year they also promoted Incubus and System Of A Down at the arena.
“We then moved out of Nottingham. Our first significant tour was Dropkick Murphys around the UK, then we did Human League, the Flaming Lips, Garbage, Imelda May...
“Last year we did nine shows for Ed Sheeran, a couple for Lana Del Ray, 11 dates for the Human League, some for Rufus Wainwright and New Order.
“This year we’ll be doing more with Lana Del Ray, the Gaslight Anthem and the Flaming Lips.”
As a festival promoter, DHP is responsible for Splendour at Wollaton Park, Hit The Deck (Nottingham), Dot To Dot (Nottingham, Bristol, Manchester) and Gathering (Oxford).
“We have more city festivals than any other company. Gathering is a new one that we did in Oxford in October and that sold out. We’ll expand that to another city this year. Hit The Deck we’ll expand to another city as well. Dot to Dot is essentially an indoor festival for new artists with a couple of names as headliners. It’s an important stepping stone for new acts.”
In Nottingham it’s held at Rock City, Rescue Rooms, Stealth, the Bodega and Jongleurs, with a 4,500 capacity. Hit The Deck festival in April is the rock equivalent.
DHP also runs a ticket agency, Alt Tickets, and relatively recently moved into artist management with Dog Is Dead.
Although DHP had tinkered with developing a band with House of Brothers, Dog Is Dead were their first “proper” signing and led to a major label deal, Radio 1 playlists, sell-out shows and TV appearances.
“I first heard about them from my manager at the Bodega, who phoned me up and said ‘these kids have brought about 70 people down with them for a support slot and their sound-check was really good. You should come and have a look’.
“At the time I was looking for a band for DHP to manage and develop and I was blown away by their songwriting. We didn’t actually sign a deal with them for a year or so because they weren’t yet 18. They committed to a gap year before going to university, then they committed to another gap year... and went from playing Junktion 7 to Glastonbury to Skins, Atlantic Records, selling out the Scala in London, the Radio 1 playlist...
“We’ve got a great band there that are going places. We expect them to sell out their show at Rock City in March.”
The band have been a part of the wave of Nottingham artists enjoying national acclaim, along with Jake Bugg and Natalie Duncan.
“There will be more from Nottingham this year. And we are looking at developing other acts. We are in a unique position to do that because we manage venues and promote shows nationally. We had the money to put out their first three singles before they signed to Atlantic.”

Who will be getting the Dog Is Dead treatment from DHP in 2013?
“We’ve been looking but we haven’t decided yet ,” he says.
DHP employs around 300 staff and HQ is on the corner of Talbot Street, behind Rock City, but there are plans to move into the Lace Market.
The company was started by his dad, entrepreneur George Akins, who made his fortune in bookmakers, amusement arcades and property.
The entertainment arm of the business came in 1980 when George senior transformed the variety venue Heart of the Midlands into Rock City. At the time, George junior (who also has a son named George), was just five.
“I think it was inevitable that I’d work in the family business. It just happened sooner than I’d expected,” he says, recalling the time he was called back from a jolly in Australia to begin managing the venue. He was just 19. His older brother Sean looks after the property side of the business, Bildurn.
George, 37, says: “It was just Rock City at the time, but we started expanding pretty quickly after that, with The Rig (now Black Cherry Lounge) in 1995 and RKO, the sports bar (now Rescue Rooms/Stealth) in 1996. I did my first festival in 1997, which was City in the Park at Wollaton Park with Saw Doctors.”
These were the pre-Splendour days and more followed with the Corrs and Bryan Adams headlining, then Green Day for Distortion.

“It didn’t really work for us back then but we teamed up with the city council six years ago for Splendour and that’s become a successful annual event.”
It returns this summer but he’s staying tight-lipped on possible headliners.
The glass trophy awarded to DHP at the end of last year for National Promoter of the Year is hidden away in a drawer.
“Don’t say that,” he laughs. “Say it’s pride of place in my office.”
It’s an industry award voted for by agents, bands and record companies.
“It’s the first time we were nominated and we won it. And to have someone from outside London or
Manchester winning was quite significant.”
For more about the DHP Group go to www.dhpgroup.co.uk or on Twitter: @DHPGroup.

Karizma

March 2012

Where are you now?

At the airport. I’m going to Austria for a gig with MJ Cole. I met him last year when he came to Detonate. He told the promoter he needed an MC and there I was. I’ve done a few gigs with him since then. It’s for Jack Wills, the clothing company. They have a horse box with a DJ stand in it that they tour around although I think this one is on a mountain.

Are you always heading off to Europe to perform?

This is my first international gig. I’m buzzing about it. I was pretty laid back but then on Sunday I couldn’t sleep at all. I was like a kid at Christmas.

Where have we seen you perform?

For a long time you’d see me at a Detonate night called Basslaced. That’s really where I started hosting for dubstep DJs and making connections. I did Lovebox last year in London with Starkey and Snoop Dogg was headlining. But we went on ridiculously early at something like two o’clock in the afternoon so we were performing to 40,000 blades of grass and no people. But by the time we’d finished our one hour set there were six or seven hundred people who were having a good time.

How would you describe your music?

You’ll hear a lot of dubstep, some grime and some hip-hop. I’ve done a soca tune, which is like carnival music from St Kitts where half my family are from. The other half is Jamaican so I also do reggae. But I’ll do anything. I’m not confined to any genre. I’m open to doing some indie crossover. Music is music. As long as it’s good and people enjoy it.

Where are you from?

I grew up in Radford and St Ann’s and now live in West Bridgford. I’m not feeling the energy but it’s nice for my son. He’s eight and his well-being is my top priority so I’ll tolerate the lack of jerk chicken in West Bridgford for his sake.

What’s the day job?

I work in personnel at Games Workshop. I don’t play the hobby at all but I appreciate people’s love for it. And their love for it pays my wages.

Is Karizma a character you’ve created?

When I was 15, I sat with my name best mate Renee and we went through the dictionary looking for a word that would make a good rap name. I’m myself. I don’t put on a persona.

How did you start in music?

I started with (St Ann’s hip-hop crew) Out Da Ville when I was 15. Everyone did. My grandma started with Out Da Ville. She told me the other day.

Where can we hear your music?

My single Bad Boy is available on iTunes. I had an e-mail yesterday saying it was going to be on the 1Xtra playlist. And they’ve played it on Kiss as well. There are about 28 other tunes at  www.soundcloud.com/IAmKarizma.

Karizma will be joined by Our Helical Mind at The Bodega in Pelham Street tomorrow from 9pm for Wax N’ Lyrical, which also features Caxton Press, eMCee Killa, Kount Masloff and Kalutski. Admission is £4. For more details go to www.facebook.com/waxandlyrical

Nina Smith

February 2012

My Nottingham

I’VE come full circle in terms of the place I call home. Although I grew up in Bakersfield, I was born in Sneinton and last month I moved into a flat just by Sneinton Market with my twin sister Katie.

Before that I was in Colwick and West Bridgford, which I loved because I could spend hours just sat by the river daydreaming.

Where I am now is an ideal location because it’s opposite a recording studio I use, near to a friend who makes my videos and I was always in the city centre anyway, either playing gigs or with friends, so it was a no-brainer to move there.

I’ve played all over Nottingham in the past few years: Rock City, the Rescue Rooms, The Bodega, Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham Contemporary and the Royal Concert Hall. That was my biggest show yet, supporting Belinda Carlisle.

It was a bit of a last-minute panic, as I was only asked to do it the day before but it was an amazing experience.

I had to race into town to buy a new outfit and I found one in Ark. That’s where I’ll usually do my clothes shopping. Either there, H&M, Topshop or Mimm in Hockley.

The gig was incredible. The audience seemed to enjoy it and even Belinda was dancing in the wings for a few songs. She was lovely and told me how much she liked my voice. I sold loads of copies of my EP, Lonely Heart Club, afterwards.

It’s a far cry from a show I did a while back at a community hall in Sherwood. It was a charity gig and we were half way through our set when the organiser stopped us and took the microphone. I thought it must be an emergency but she said: “Whoever ordered a sausage sandwich, it’s now ready for you to collect.” So funny. We had to laugh, then just carried on.

I hope to play Splendour again this year. I’d say it’s my favourite event of the year. Not just for playing. I went last year just to see friends playing in bands. It was a really good day. And night – we were literally the very last people to leave Wollaton Park. We were playing football with a milk carton and even the security staff joined in.

It’s odd I know but I don’t actually go to many gigs. I never have. When I was a teenager I was always out clubbing but I rarely saw bands playing.

I think the last one was at the end of last year when Swimming played Broadway. It blew me away. It was an audio-visual event where we listened to them from the next room through headphones. That was a bit special.

Other local bands and musicians I’m into are Just James, Cecille Grey, Parks – they’re proper men playing proper music – and Rob Green. His voice makes me melt. Ronika is a real ball of 80s hotness. I’m determined to touch her wild mane of blonde hair.

When I’m out it’ll usually be in Hockley, at Broadway, Bad Juju and Jam Cafe, which feels like a second home. I’ll tend to drink spirits. Vodka and Coke is a regular order but I do like cocktails. There’s a really nice one at Bar JuJu called Porn Star. It’s huge! It looks nothing like a porn star but it’s really strong. Which is how I like my men.

It was in Hockley that I last saw a comedy show. I don’t normally go and watch comedy, my sister Katie fills that void. She’s all the comedy I need. I did see Alan Carr at the Arena last year and he was quite good but a couple of weeks ago I did find myself at a comedy night in the Lord Roberts. It was actually really good. Quite camp and a bit stupid – which is also how I like my men.

I eat out a lot because I’m always on the move but it’ll be sandwiches mainly. If not it’ll be a fry up. I’m craving them at the moment.

If it’s a takeaway then it’ll be the nearest one to whichever bar or club I’ve crawled out of. Don’t ask me to remember which ones.

I know, I eat a lot of junk food. I should be rolling on to the stage but I’m always on the go so never put any weight on.

I did try a gym once when my friend got me a free pass for Virgin Active. But I just ended up going on the sun bed and using the pool.

I was a bit of a feral child so when I was growing up in Bakersfield I spent a lot of time in Colwick Woods. But my favourite outdoor place is the Arboretum. I love it there. Especially in the summer, obviously.

In fact, when the sun’s out I’ll tend to move out of the Hockley bars and head for Saltwater in The Cornerhouse. The roof terrace there is perfect for a sunbathe with a cocktail. And it attracts quite a few hotties. Which is really how I like my men.

Nina Smith plays The Pearl in West Bridgford on Tuesday as part of a Valentine’s Night special. For details: www.the-pearl.co.uk.

The Lonely Heart Club EP is available on iTunes. You can find her on Twitter @NinaSmithMusic and Facebook www.facebook.com/NinaSmithMusic.