BY COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENT JOHN JAMES ANISIOBI Launched in London in June 2004, ‘ILUVLIVE’ is a live event success story. With few live showcases open to home grown music, ‘ILUVLIVE’ has helped numerous performers present their artistry with a full live band to music industry virtuosos, journalists and fans alike and has provided many artists with a leg up in the notoriously fickle music industry. Jade Richardson is its founder and Rachel Bee is the general manager. These unsung heroes are true pioneers of UK music. Both hailing from south London and both working with some of the biggest names in the British music industry, they have carved out a successful career for themselves and others.

Jade Richardson first got involved in the music scene as an A&R at a major record label. “When I was an A&R I found it frustrating there was nowhere to go to see black music live. I was always at raves waiting to see mc’s at like 2am. If there was an event it didn’t represent the scene I was into and the quality control wasn’t up to scratch. My mission was to have a place people could come to see great emerging and established home-grown music live and up close, also a place to meet like minded people in the game.” Through making events like ‘ILUVLIVE’, Jade has given people a chance to get past the hype and hear the voice and lyrics of British artists. “This way you cross musical divides and touch people making music more accessible and in my opinion in turn giving young artists a chance to be heard.”

Rachael Bee has been working in music and promoting events for 22 years. “Along the way I’ve done management, artist promotions, PR and had a magazine as well as consistently working in clubs.” After initial success with putting together acts for the MTV Lick parties, Rachael felt she wanted to do more for the UK scene. “American performers are what worked at the time and in that environment but I wanted to find a way to do more to support UK emerging talent. Thus, when Jade asked me if I wanted to partner up with her on ‘ILUVLIVE’, it seemed the perfect partnership.”

‘ILUVLIVE’ is in its sixth year and it has grown consistently over the years to become London’s premier home-grown live music event. After it started out at in a small bar on Wardour St called Suga Suga, it then moved to Market Place on Oxford Circus, then Favela Chic, and then Bar Rumba iluvlive is now at the aptly named Proud in Camden. When Rachael Bee joined the successful brand she brought 20 years of event and promotion experience and she also persuaded MTV to feature the event on Trevor Nelson’s show The Lick. Live broadcasts with BBC Radio 1xtra and continued work with the right projects and partners are proof that this is a market that the UK needed and wanted. Its estimated that over 500 artists have performed on the ‘ILUVLIVE’ stage, including PLAN B, N-DUBZ, TINCHY STRYDER, MS DYNAMITE, CHIPMUNK, and TAIO CRUZ. You can attend ‘ILUVLIVE’ every Monday from 7.30pm at Proud Camden and for more information visit www.iluvlive.co.uk