Leicester is a great dining destination, with a brilliant selection of Indian restaurants - and now the best of those restaurants have been recognised. The third annual Leicester Curry Awards took place last night at Athena - where the winners in each of the six categories were revealed. Hosted by ITV Central News presenter, Sameena Ali-Khan, the ceremony was attended by more than 400 guests including local dignitaries Lord-Lieutenant, Mr Mike Kapur, Lord Mayor Ross Grant and Lord Willy Bach. The red-carpet event, which was sold out weeks in advance, featured performances from Leicester’s Got Talent winner, Lauren Rose, and Leicester’s DMU Gospel Choir. The award categories were: Restaurant of the Year, Best Vegetarian Restaurant, Best Takeaway, Best Pub Restaurant, Best New Restaurant and Best Fine Dining Restaurant. The public voted for their favourites between December 1, 2018, and February 28, 2019. These votes decided the top five restaurants in each … [Read more...] about Judges find these are BEST Indian restaurants in Leicester
Best gospel choir
Kanye West ‘wants to become a preacher’ as well as run for president after starting celeb packed Sunday Service gospel event
KANYE West has plans to become a preacher as well as running for president, following the success of his Sunday Service. The rapper, 41, launched the private gospel events at the start of the year and will be bringing it to popular music festival Coachella on Easter Sunday – but he wants it become less of hobby and more of a vocation. An insider said: “Now Kanye’s Sunday Service is a huge success, Kim’s really backing Kanye to make it a real project – she’s asked friends like Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom to come along, she encouraged him to book Coachella. “The whole family agreed that Kayne seems happier than he has in a long time, and that his latest idea, to become a preacher, could actually be the best thing for him. He gets to voice his opinions, make music, spend time with family and friends. “As always with Kanye, the details around him actually starting a church are a bit vague, but Kanye’s got huge plans and the team around … [Read more...] about Kanye West ‘wants to become a preacher’ as well as run for president after starting celeb packed Sunday Service gospel event
Soweto Gospel Choir riding high after Grammy win
When the Soweto Gospel Choir was named as winner of the Grammy for Best World Music Album, it earned the ensemble a place in the music history books. Announced by Questlove, drummer from the US hip hop band The Roots, the award sparked an explosion of excitement among the South African singers. "He was almost stuttering, like: 'And the winner is Fr- Fr- Freedom, Sss- Soweto Gospel Choir,' then we jumped up! Like he took long, man," chuckled choirmaster Shimmy Jiyane. "I screamed my lungs out," admits choir member Mary Mulovhedzi. "Then the ululating came, the Sowetans (in us) just came out -- we couldn't hold back." What earned them the award was their album "Freedom" -- a 12-track tribute to Nelson Mandela released to mark the 100th year of his birth. It was the choir's third Grammy in its 17-year existence, adding to accolades which include an Emmy and a debut album called "Voices From Heaven" which reached No. 1 on Billboard's World Music Chart. "Freedom" gives a modern twist to … [Read more...] about Soweto Gospel Choir riding high after Grammy win
UK Choir Festival comes to Chichester for the first time
Spokeswoman Megan Deakin said: “On Saturday 16th February 300 choristers will descend on the city’s Westbourne House School to participate in the event with learning and great music making at its heart. Created to support, train and bring choirs together, the UK Choir Festival is a non-competitive event. This all-inclusive festival is open to all types of choirs, including community choirs, gospel choirs, barbershop choirs, a cappella choirs, youth choirs and choral societies. “Hailed by American Express Essentials as one of the most “Awe-Inspiring Choral Festivals of the World”, the UK Choir Festival enhances the city’s arts and culture scene by giving choirs the opportunity to learn from the UK’s very best workshop leaders. The festival runs throughout 2019, with events in cities across the UK including Manchester, York, Exmouth, Monmouth and St Albans. Producer Russell Scott, said: “I am thrilled the festival has been so popular and … [Read more...] about UK Choir Festival comes to Chichester for the first time
Best Music Video Grammy field showcases industry’s cutting edge
For many artists, the Grammy awards gala is not just music's biggest night -- it is also a cultural battleground rife with criticisms that provocative black artists are systematically not getting their due. This year, that criticism could be muted -- even if momentarily -- when the Best Music Video prize is handed out on Sunday in Los Angeles. The five nominees in the oft-overlooked category are boundary-pushing -- and they are all black. Their visual work showcases industry innovation and is rich with social commentary on Donald Trump's America. "It's the year of Trump -- the need to speak out is overwhelming," Carol Vernallis, a music scholar at Stanford University in California, told AFP. "I can imagine African-American artists feeling the need to push." Childish Gambino -- the favorite to win, according to award prediction website Gold Derby -- took the internet by storm last spring with his painfully striking viral video, "This Is America." The jarring clip offers a darkly … [Read more...] about Best Music Video Grammy field showcases industry’s cutting edge