Coventry Music Museum curator Pete Chambers BEM writes for the Observer.
WELL Godiva is almost here – it runs from Friday to Sunday, September 2 to 4 – and as always, I let the others talk about the headliners as what I really care about is the local Coventry and Warwickshire talent.
This year there’s more local artists on show than ever before.
On Friday, there’s the ones to watch – Idle Noise, British-Ukrainian band Cov Kozaks, the very heavy Monastery.
Saturday there’s the very original Samo Songs, the superb Zanadoos and supergroup The Dirt Road Blues Band who will light up the mainstage at 2.10pm on Saturday. Sunit Music is a multi-genre musician and producer from Coventry guaranteed to get the crowd going on Saturday.
Speaking of getting the crowd going ,also on the main-stage Saturday, we have Original Rude Boy Doctor Neville Staple and his band giving the city of 2-Tone just what they want.
Latest Trenders A1 and J1 take the stage on Saturday at 7.10pm.
On Sunday, there’s pure gospel from the very talented MOBO-nominated, award winning artist Sandra Godley and her Gospel Collective.
I have no doubt the extremely talented 17-year-old singer-songwriter from Coventry Caitlin McCarthy, will make a bunch of new fans when she plays the main stage on Sunday.
That’s just the main stage, there are so many more local artists to look out for on The Next Stage like Rude Six, DJ Jazzie Jay.
Not from Coventry but Irish Ska band The Skatuesques have played Knights at the 2-Tone village on many occasions and are more than worth checking out.
More for Sunday, there’s the various winners of Godiva Calling of course and also on Sunday The Tin Smiths.
The BBC CWR Stage is always a fave of mine – this year there are some amazing local artists like Ruth Kelly, Duke Keats, BENNYWISE, Rapper Kanda, Abz Winter, Emma McGann, Danniella Dee, Chris Kafka, Stylusboy, Malc Evans, Courthouse from Rugby, Ants from Leamington and so many more.
The Hill Top Stage – run by local legend Sam McNulty – is a plethora of local talent which provides a healthy yin to the yang of the main stage.
I have no intention of listing these artists – instead get yourself along to hear some of the finest sounds coming out of the area round about now, you won’t be disappointed.
See you there..
Navin Kundra
Top Coventry-based international singer-songwriter Navin Kundra has landed what can only be described as an unusual role.
He is playing the voice of ‘Baba’ (the dad) in Netflix’s new animated children’s series, Deepa and Anoop.
It just came out on Netflix and I ended up watching far too much of this very endearing cartoon.
Navin said of the cartoon: “This will definitely keep your little ones entertained and occupied, and it’s adorably based on an Indian multi-generational family – it even has songs.
“Be sure to flip the audio settings over to ‘British-English’ to hear me voicing the lead character in this ground-breaking new animated series.
“I’d love to know what your little ones think of the show.”
