Vince Power
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can. (January 2008) |
 |
This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone or spelling. You can assist by editing it now. A how-to guide is available. (January 2008) |
|
|
To comply with Wikipedia's lead section guidelines, the introduction of this article may need to be rewritten. Please discuss this issue on the talk page and read the layout guide to make sure the section will be inclusive of all essential details. |
| This article may not meet the general notability guideline or one of the following specific guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia: Biographies, Books, Companies, Fiction, Music, Neologisms, Numbers, Web content, or several proposals for new guidelines. If you are familiar with the subject matter, please expand or rewrite the article to establish its notability. The best way to address this concern is to reference published, third-party sources about the subject. If notability cannot be established, the article is more likely to be considered for redirection, merge or ultimately deletion, per Wikipedia:Guide to deletion. This article has been tagged since January 2008. |
 |
This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (January 2008) |
|
|
Sections should be added to this article, to conform with Wikipedia's Manual of Style. Please discuss this issue on the talk page. This article has been tagged since January 2008. |
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (January 2008) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
Vince Power is an Irish music venue and festival owner and founder of Mean Fiddler who lives and operates in London. He was born on 29 April 1947 to a poor rural family in Kilmacthomas, County Waterford and moved to London aged 16. He worked in various manual labour jobs, eventually moving into demolition, house clearances and most notably trading in second-hand furniture. Pioneering new methods of advertising his business, he soon had a host of second-hand furniture shops all over North West London. The success of this business allowed him to pursue his first love, music, more specifically country & western. After numerous visits to Nashville, Tennessee, he realised an ambition to open his own Tennessee style country & western bar in London. In 1982 he opened The Mean Fiddler on the site of an old boxing gym in Harlesden. The venue quickly gained a reputation for its Irish music nights, showcasing new bands such as The Pogues and Billy Bragg. Within five years The Mean Fiddler was staging high-profile gigs by superstars such as Roy Orbison, who played his last UK gig there in 1987, and Johnny Cash. By the late 1980s it had become a showcase venue for new and established talent within the capital's expanding live music scene. It was the springboard for expansion into other venues and bars and created an opportunity for Mean Fiddler Group, with Power at the helm, to enter the UK outdoor music festival market. He is a controversial figure in the UK music scene, and has a reputation for his hands on approach to business, spotting gaps in the market and quickly moving into them. He has earned the nickname ‘The Godfather of Gigs’. In 1988 Power launched the Powerhaus, Islington, which went on to showcase some of the most promising new bands in the country, including Oasis, Stone Roses, Pulp and Radiohead. In 1989 Power launched Subterania, Ladbroke Grove, which hosted both successful clubs, such as Rotation (Winner Best Club 1998 MOBO Awards) and high profile gigs from artists such as Annie Lennox, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the Fugees. In the same year Mean Fiddler took over the organisation of the Reading Festival; acts included New Order, The Pogues, The Wonder Stuff and the Sugarcubes. Vince is credited with reversing the fortunes of the long-established event, turning Reading into a highly anticipated and very successful fixture on the annual festival calendar; headline acts of the past have included Oasis, Eminem, Travis and Manic Street Preachers. In 1990 Power launched the Fleadh festival in Finsbury Park, an annual event featuring a veritable who’s who of the Irish music scene, including Christy Moore, Van Morrison, The Pogues and the Dubliners. In 1991 Power launched the Grand, an 1800 capacity venue in Clapham, which featured large-scale gigs from acts including Jamiroquai, Suede and the Pretenders. In 1992 Power purchased & relaunched the Jazz Café, Camden (Winner Best Music Venue 1998 Time Out Awards) which has featured top acts such as Roy Ayers, Gil Scott Heron and Courtney Pine.. Mean Fiddler promoted the Scottish Fleadh in Glasgow, as a sister event to the Fleadh in London. They also promoted “In The Park” in Finsbury Park, headlined by the Cult, featuring three stages of indie acts, and introduced the first Madstock, also in Finsbury Park, featuring two shows from the reformed Madness. This has been followed by further Madstocks in 1994, 1996 & 1998
In 1993 Power launched both The Forum and The Garage, two of the Mean Fiddlers’s most popular venues, on 4th May. The Forum, a 2110 capacity venue, has featured sell-out shows from some of the biggest international acts, including Prince, Oasis, Velvet Underground and Macy Gray. The Garage has a reputation as the breaking found for new talent, such as Elastica, Radiohead and Catatonia, and for secret gigs by bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers. In the same year Mean Fiddler held the first Phoenix Festival, near Stratford Upon Avon, a large scale four-day event – the first four day music festival in the UK, which over the next five years featured top acts such as Black Crowes, David Bowie, Sex Pistols, Alanis Morrisette and Neil Young. Mean Fiddler also held Fleadh Mor in Tramore, Ireland, as a sister event to the Fleadh in London and held two further events in Finsbury Park; a concert featuring Neil Young and Pearl Jam, and Jazz on a Summer’s Day.
In September 1994, Power launched Upstairs at the Garage, a separate 150 capacity venue above the Garage, which has featured artists such as Bernard Butler, Mazzy Star, Midge Ure and Black Box Recorder.
In 1995 Power launched the Crossbar in March in Kings Cross, a late night music bar that featured quality club nights with a diverse selection of DJs serving up multiform musical genres. May saw the first year of Mean Fiddler’s involvement with large scale outdoor dance events, working with Universe to co-promote the first Tribal Gathering in Otmoor Park, Oxfordshire, featuring acts such including Orbital, Prodigy and Moby. In June, Power launched the Mean Fiddler Dublin, a fully refurbished 650 capacity venue that featured a diverse selection of acts including Iggy Pop, Christy Moore, Underworld and Dodgy. December saw the launch of The Palace, in Luton, which featured acts such as Squeeze, Average White Band and Percy Sledge.
In 1996 Power launched three different bars; The Cube, a three floor bar in Swiss Cottage; Powers, a traditional bar in Kilburn High Street, offering a convivial atmosphere and occasional live music from traditional Irish and roots musicians, and Zd Bar, also in Kilburn which was shortlisted for the 1997 Time Out Eating & Drinking Awards. Mean Fiddler hosted shows in Finsbury Park by Paul Weller, and the comeback show from the Sex Pistols. They also co-promoted with Universe two further outdoor dance events; Tribal Gathering featuring Black Grape, The Chemical Brothers and Leftfield, and Big Love, headlined by Underworld. The year was brought to an end with a final dance event Mount Universe, held at Alexandra Palace on New Year’ Eve, featuring Orbital.
In 1997 Power oversaw the addition of the Minibar to the Garage, offering gig-goers a bar to relax in both prior and after shows, with possibly the coolest jukebox in town. The landmark festival of the year was the New York Fleadh, Mean Fiddler’s first venture into the United States with partners FMI, featuring all the famous Fleadh perennials such as Van Morrison, Christy Moore and Shane McGowan. Mean Fiddler also held Jam in the Park featuring Jamiroquai, in Finsbury Park
In 1998 a one day sell out festival Creamfields in May was co-promoted with Cream, the Liverpool Superclub. Featured over 100 leading DJ’s and dance acts including Run DMC, Finlay Quaye, Pete Tong, Carl Cox & Roni Size. The success of the New York Fleadh was repeated and also paved the way for the Chicago Fleadh and San Jose Fleadh. Three further bars were opened; Bartok in Camden, offering a wide range of classical music with a decadent & relaxed atmosphere; Ion Bar & Café offering a laid back hang out in Ladbroke Grove; and Point 101, marking the Mean Fiddler’s expansion into the West End. Mean Fiddler also hosted two of the biggest end of year parties, Temptation, headlined by New Order at the Manchester Evening News Arena and at Alexandra Palace.
In 1999 Mean Fiddler promoted three dance festivals; homelands, co-promoted with international club venture home, featured 10 themed arenas with lives sets including Chemical Brothers & Faithless and DJ sets by Paul Oakenfold & Fat Boy Slim to name a few; homelands Scotland, co-promoted with Ron McCulloch of Big Beat Entertainment and home in the surrounding of the Royal Highland Exhibition Grounds near Edinburgh; homelands Ireland, co-promoted with John Reynolds of POD and Darren Hughes of home, which was held at the Mosney Holiday Centre, and featured live performances from Underworld and Orbital. Mean Fiddler also held the first Carling Weekend, comprising of Reading 99 and Leeds 99, a new annual parallel event held in Temple Newsam Park. The Charlatans, Blur and the Red Hot Chili Peppers headlined the weekend.
In 2000 Power launched The Rex in Stratford, an extraordinary building that incorporated original art deco features into a 2,600 capacity multi-purpose venue. He also set up meanfiddler.com, which has the exclusive rights to broadcast live music performances from all Mean Fiddler venues and festivals via the internet and digital TV. Next, Mean Fiddler acquired the prestigious London Astoria and Mean Fiddler (formerly LA2) on Charing Cross Road in the heart of London’s West End. One of London’s largest and coolest music venues, the London Astoria has had artists such as Prince, Nirvana, U2 and David Bowie pass through its doors. The Mean Fiddler has picked up the baton of the former Harlesden venue, showcasing the best in modern music from established songwriters to up and coming bands. In the summer the Mean Fiddler successfully co-promoted with Renaissance a series of live events at Privilege in Ibiza featuring acts such as All Saints, Kylie Minogue, Moloko, Leftfield and Moby. They also held the first Gig on the Green festival, an annual two day festival held on the August Bank Holiday co-promoted with Regular Music. The event featured performances from acts such as Oasis, Beck, Stereophonics and Paul Weller.
In 2001 Mean Fiddler launched One Seven Nine, and elegant and spacious restaurant that has attracted such diners as Bill Clinton and Bono. They also held the G-A-Y New Year’s Eve Party at Alexandra Palace. In November Mean Fiddler Music Group Plc joined the stock market following the reverse takeover of Mean Fiddler Holdings Ltd by meanfiddler.com.
In 2002 Mean Fiddler took on the Operational Management role at Glastonbury Festival, held at Worthy Farm, Pilton on 28th –30th June. The company held a 20% stake in the event. They also announced that acquisition of the Manto bar and restaurant in Old Compton Street, Soho, which was re-named G-A-Y as a feeder bar for London’s best know Lesbian and Gay club night at the nearby Astoria. The Company acquired a 50% interest in the G-A-Y brand from promoter Jeremy Joseph. In July Mean Fiddler co-promoted with SJM and Metropolis three Oasis concerts in Finsbury Park. In the same year Mean Fiddler bought a 25% stake from Concert Cooperation Bonn in the Bizarre Festival, the annual rock and pop festival held in Germany, launched Mean Country radio station and purchased three dance nightclubs, Media in Nottingham, Tunnel in Glasgow and Universe in Coatbridge. In the autumn Mean Fiddler Concerts promoted a string of dates with world famous flamenco dancer Joaquin Cortes across the UK and Ireland. This followed on from the success of European tours by Usher and Destiny’s Child
In 2003 Mean Fiddler launched Union Undeb, a restaurant and bar in the heart of Cardiff, a stone’s throw from the Millennium Stadium. They promoted Justin Timberlake’s sell out “Justified” tours in May and December, with nearly 260,000 tickets sold across the UK, including four nights at London’s Earls Court In June they co-promoted Doctor Music Day at the Estadi Olympic in Barcelona with Doctor Music Concerts and three Eminem shows at Milton Keynes Bowl were co-promoted with Metropolis Music and Straight. Mean Fiddler promoted the first major UK solo tours by Destiny’s Child stars Kelly Rowland in September, and Beyonce Knowles in November. In December Power announced the acquisition of live music venue The Borderline and bar Radius in Charing Cross Road, London.
In 2004 Mean Fiddler Music Group promoted tours for Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Norah Jones, Nelly Furtado, Usher and 50 Cent. They promoted two Jazz Café Picnics featuring Joe at Kenwood House and Zero 7 at Marble Hill House and re-launched Radius as a luxurious new gay lounge bar & club Shaun & Joe
Power sold his stake in The Mean Fiddler Music Group plc in July 2005, and went on to set up the Vince Power Music Group Ltd. Power’s current projects include the following: The Pigalle Club, a 1940's supper club located in Piccadilly, London, The Bloomsbury Ballroom, a historical 1930's art deco ballroom in the heart of Bloomsbury which was awarded the RSVP 2007 New Venue of the Year award and Odettes, a critically acclaimed fine dining restaurant in Primrose Hill, where the head chef is Bryn Williams, winner of the BBC TV series great British menu. Odette’s was awarded two Rosettes by the AA Restaurant Awards
VPMG also runs The Berkeley Square Ball. Now in its third year this event has become a firm fixture on the high society social calender, named annually as a top ten UK event by the Sunday Times Style section. In the past Vince has entertained guests with A list performers such as James Brown and food from top chefs like Jamie Oliver, Locanda Locatelli, Richard Corrigan and Tom Aitkins.
VPMG also took over the Benicassim music festival in Spain, which under his guidance sold out for the first time. VPMG also runs Profile Bar, a three story bar in Soho promoted with partner Gaydar, SPIGA, an Italian Trattoria in Wardour Street, London, Bar 101, a massively popular bar underneath Centre Point, Power Acoustic Room, located in Kilburn High Road, Lo-Profile and Moose Bar. On 19 December 2006 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced that he was to be made an Honorary Commander of the British Empire (honorary because he is not a British Citizen). Vince has been greatly involved in a number of charitable organisations, particularly Cradle, a Bosnian Children’s Charity. Latest achievements are concentrated on Thailand following the Tsunami disaster and saw the Pang Chong School opened in February 2006. Through various fundraising methods, including collections at the festivals, Vince Power has helped to rebuild a primary school in Mostar, and in Thailand following the Tsumani. Vince is also closely associated with the Phillip Hall Memorial Fund, and is a patron of UNICEF, Human Rights Watch and the Depression Alliance. Vince has promoted many shows and been involved with many projects at the Roundhouse and has donated to their redevelopment of The Roundhouse which will have the ‘Vince Power Music Studio’ in his honour as well as being a patron of its Millennial Committee.
He is currently working with the journalist and Loaded founder James Brown and journalist David Whitehouse on his autobiography.
