Ellie Goulding at Dingwalls

Image by joedawson via Flickr

Dingwalls is a venue adjacent to Camden Lock in London. It houses bars, cafes, clubs and it is one of the city's best known live music venues. As part of MTV’s Brand New 10 For 10, MTV have hand picked the ten most exciting new acts to watch out for in 2010.

The 10 For 10 promotion culminates in a series of MTV Presents live shows and we were at Dingwalls to see performances from Ellie Goulding, Tinie Tempah and We Have Band! Ellie Goulding was the headline act and she follows closely in the footsteps of 2009 successes Little Boots and Florence and the Machine.

Becoming a pop star in 2010 is no easy game to play when the underground has gone overground and the music industry has been relegated to sieving the web, a task every bit as difficult as it sounds, in order to appoint its Next Big Thing.

We arrived at Camden shortly after 7pm, a typical London evening with the reliable London Underground system and the predictable rain. Influenced to purchase Indian tonic water; the cold weather conditions matched the taste being distinctively bitter. Ellie Goulding hasn't yet released a single, but the anticipation for her live performances was evident as she finds herself packing out venues.

There were many photographers in attendance to capture the MTV event and we managed to negotiate the crowds to spectate from the stage area. The opening act We Have Band started the proceedings and I was familiar with them from Last.fm recommendations. Mainly through Bloc Party and their single You Came Out! The objective for the entire night was to acquire set lists and I achieved that and a drumstick from We Have Band.

From the same underground scene as chart-toppers Tinchy Stryder, Taio Cruz and N-Dubz; Tinie Tempah has energy and he's ready to break into the mainstream. Pass Out has emerged as a potential hit and Invincible provoked crowd participation. We even managed to receive a shout-out which was impressive and after his performance we secured the set list and 'borrowed' his jacket! He was unaware that he had left this behind and we made sure this was returned. We also provided footage from our evening on his video-recorder and my partner posed wearing the loaned jacket to show our gratitude.

Ellie Goulding is currently recording her debut album with Mark Ronson super producers Starsmith and has been tipped for greatness. Introducing a sound dubbed "folktronica", Goulding combines pop, folk and electro, even before she has released an album; her voice and distinct sound are destined to become synonymous with 2010. Opening with Guns and Horses, the delivery had significantly more impact than the earlier mentioned Indian tonic water. I wasn't familiar with the tracks that followed until Midlake cover Roscoe was performed. Then the highlight of the set Under The Sheets which incited a singalong, Wish I Stayed followed and the set closed with Starry Eyed which is one of my favourite songs at the moment. Amazing night and can't wait to hear further material from all of the artists!

Set lists -

We Have Band

1. Hear It In The Cans
2. Love, What You Doing?
3. How To Make Friends
4. Buffet
5. Centrefolds And Empty Screens
6. Oh!
7. You Came Out
8. Divisive
9. Honeytrap


Tinie Tempah

1. I'm Hot
2. Pass Out
3. Love Resurrection
4. Invincible
5. Tears
6. Biker Babe
7. Written In The Stars


Ellie Goulding

1. Guns And Horses
2. Every Time You Go
3. This Love
4. The Writer
5. Swimming Pool
6. Roscoe
7. Under The Sheets
8. Wish I Stayed
9. Starry Eyed

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• Ellie Goulding at Dingwalls, review (telegraph.co.uk)
• Ellie Gouding Music Video: Starry Eyed (beatcrave.com)