Jess morgan - Monkey Chews-tastic (1 of 7)

In an intimate room above a buzzing, atmospheric bar, Jess Morgan is rocking away. Her melodic voice fills the low-lit room as her funky, folky geet-ar strumming sets the whole room nodding along. The place: Monkey Chew’s bar, Camden. The time: 9th December…oh, late-ish. The event: Laissez-faire Christmas Special.

Jess Morgan, 22, is one of those rare things: a young singer-songwriter with genuine talent. Not so new to the gigging scene, she played her way through her Bachelor’s degree at York St John University, before finally moving to London to make her name. Her voice doesn’t seem to be going unnoticed either: she’s been Steve Lamacq’s Demo of the Week, and had reviews from the likes of James Morrison…positive reviews, I might add. So I caught up with Jess after her latest gig to ask her a few questions…

Right! First, the basics: Name, age, and where d’you come from?
Jess Morgan, 22, from Acle…which is slap-bang between Norwich and Great Yarmouth. In the countryyy!

Have you always been into song-writing? What sparked your interest?
It was the move to York really. I have always been into music and lyrics - but being in a buzzing-ly cultural city like that really gave me a shove to put my ideas into real songs and let people hear them.

When did you decide…this is what I want to do?
I can't really remember really. I was dead set on joining the navy and seeing the world after Uni - until the music I was making and developing became something I wasn't prepared to give up. Between then and now I realised I don't want to do anything else right now.

What’s happening for you at the minute?
Lots of gigs coming up. I'm usually first on the bill or the support act - but it all takes time. My biggest achievent so far was being steve Lamacq's demo of the week and getting some radio play on BBC Radio 2.

Any future plans?
Future plans? Hmmmm. I've got plans to release a promotional single - limited edition on 7inch vinyl. its not a money spinner- just for promotion really. Ideally, I would like to record and sell lots of albums.

Record Signing?
Had a weeny bit of interest, but we (me and my manager Steve Whiteley) are playing it cool. We're not in a hurry to get signed. I'm still developing as an artist.

How long does it usually take you to write a song?
Not sure really. I'm currently re-visiting a lot of songs I wrote over the summer, and actually some from over a year ago. I used to hurry songs- because I thought I'd had this great idea and I wanted to play it live, or get it down on the tascam, but now I don't worry so much. I'm not afraid to take songs back to the drawing board and start again on them. I guess that’s me growing up!

And finally Jess, what do you do when you’re not playing?
I'm always playing! No seriously, I dream of one day having a gym membership, being able to travel, surf, eat French bread, pay my mum and dad back all the money I've borrowed, being able to paint massive canvasses again and go to the cinema with my lovely boyfriend. Fingers crossed it won't be too long, but for now its really just music, music, music.

Check out Jess's Demos here:




Jess' Myspace Page: www.myspace.com/jessmorganacoustic
Jess' official website: http://www.jessmorgan.co.uk/

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Starbooks Christmas Spirit (2 of 7)

Starbooks Christmas Spirit

Starbucks are really ‘passing the cheer’ this year by donating children’s books to a local primary school.

The book drive takes place nationwide every year, and Starbucks Uxbridge’s lucky local school in 2007 will be Greenwood Primary of Northolt.

Jolita Sodaityte, a supervisor at the store said: “I think it’s great that we can give a little something to the community. It’s part of the Starbucks spirit, and doing something good makes Christmas that little bit more special each year”.

Donated books don’t have to be new, and Starbucks urges everyone to drop in any unwanted children’s books of their own. But hurry, the drive ends Christmas Eve!

Uxbridge Battles Heathrow Extension (3 of 7)

Uxbridge Battles Heathrow Expansion

An exhibition is being held today as protests continue to grow over proposed Heathrow extension plans.

The exhibition is one of several being held by the Government and lasts from 10am to 6pm at the London Wetlands Centre. Experts will be on hand to explain the consultation proposals.

Local residents have until just February 27 to respond to the consultation. The document itself has drawn criticism from campaign group NoTRAG (No Third Runway Action Group) for its unreadable and confusing language. Christine Shilling, NoTRAG’s press secretary said: “this consultation insults, confuses and probably falls foul of the Government’s own legislation against discrimination. Unless people can read and reply to the questions they have not been consulted”.

The extensions would mean the number of flights at the airport could rise to 800,000 – an increase equivalent to building a new airport the size of Gatwick. Angry residents of Sipson, a village which faces being wiped off the map entirely, have been campaigning along with local MPs and pressure groups.

The move would also threaten listed heritage buildings, as well as Heathrow Primary School, a huge area of agricultural green belt land, archaeological sites and a nature conservation area.

Hillingdon council and the surrounding areas are being vocal in their opposition to the plans by helping fund NoTRAG and holding public meetings for the residents to voice their concerns. Tim Jurdon, manager of aviation at Hillingdon Council said: “We have been fighting these proposals for a long time, since before terminal 5 existed. All members of the council are opposed to them. At the minute we are analysing the consultation and will be responding in due course”.

Unsurprisingly, airline companies have welcomed the proposals for the third runway. Responding to claims that the runway would have a terrible effect upon the climate, Steve Ridgway, chief executive of Virgin Atlantic said: “Limiting growth at Heathrow wouldn’t prevent climate change because that growth would only go elsewhere”.

BA’s chief executive Willie Walsh had a slightly more reassuring answer to the same question however, saying: "We are committed to ensuring that growth is sustainable. By the time a third runway becomes operational, aviation emissions will have been capped by the EU for several years. If airlines want to fly more, they will have to pay for emissions reductions in other industries – so overall CO2 in the atmosphere will not rise because of a third runway."

Local supporters for the no-third-runway campaign include John McDonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, Uxbridge’s MP John Randall, and Councillor Ray Puddifoot, leader of Hillingdon Council who said: “We recognise the international status of the airport but for the sake of our residents we have to say, enough is enough.”

NoTRAG campain website: http://www.notrag.org/

Hillingdon Council: www.hillingdon.gov.uk

BAA Heathrow: Future Growth: http://www.heathrowairport.com/portal/page/General/Heathrow%5EGeneral%5EOur+business+and+community%5EFuture+growth/2155192363423110VgnVCM10000036821c0a____/448c6a4c7f1b0010VgnVCM200000357e120a____/

BBC Coverage:
"Village FAces Being Wiped Off Map": http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4731948.stm
"Locals Polled on Heathrow Plans": href="http://http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6952887.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6952887.stm