Third Space

Jools Holland prepares to host the Boisdale Music Awards 2024

The musician, presenter, band leader and singer talks Isle Of Dogs pubs and playing in special rooms

Image shows Jools Holland and YolanDa Brown hosting the Boisdale Music Awards
Jools Holland in full flow hosting the Boisdale Music Awards with saxophonist YolanDa Brown

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Jools Holland has a long association with Boisdale Of Canary Wharf.

He’s been patron of music at the Cabot Place venue since it opened its doors way back in 2011.

But his musical connection to this part of London goes back even further. 

“Growing up, I lived in Greenwich – just the other side of the Blackwall Tunnel – but nobody dared go through ‘the pipe’ as it was known,” said the band leader, pianist, presenter, singer and former member of Squeeze. 

“It was another world, but we were teenagers so we went through and discovered the people on the other side of the river were just as nice as us.

“I cut my teeth playing in pubs on the Isle Of Dogs such as The Watermans Arms and The Gun.

“I even won a talent show in one at the age of 15.

“The prize was that you got to play there for four weeks.

“They sacked me after three, because I didn’t know any more songs.

“Pubs used to have piano players and then, once a week, maybe a band.

“There was one in Rotherhithe – The Prince Of Orange – which had trad jazz. It was open all night for a while and it was fantastic, although it’s closed now.”

That regularity of live performance was what first attracted Jools to Boisdale. 

“I went to the restaurant in Belgravia a few times and got to know the owner, Ranald Macdonald,” said the musician.

“I just thought it was so great that they put on music, because there aren’t that many places doing that consistently.

“Boisdale does and that’s amazing because it’s a really hard thing to organise.

“Right from the first time I went in there, it had an atmosphere, something a bit glamorous – as though it was from another age like a 1940s American film.”

Jools performs with Gregory Porter and Nick Reynolds of the Alabama 3
Jools performs with Gregory Porter and Nick Reynolds of the Alabama 3

patron of music: Jools Holland

As patron of music, Jools regularly hosts a Boogie-Woogie Spectacular at the Canary Wharf venue, featuring his favourite stride and boogie-woogie pianists such as Neville Dickie, German Axel Zwingenberger and Swiss Ladyva.

He also hosts the Boisdale Music Awards annually and is set to do so again on September 18, 2024, in the company of saxophonist YolanDa Brown – herself now an east London restaurateur.

“Boisdale Of Canary Wharf is really a wonderful place,” said Jools.

“It has a magical atmosphere that’s like walking into another world.

“You have the joy of the music, the food and the buzz.

“The awards are really great because you get people from all different fields of performance at varied stages in their careers.”

Previous winners have included the likes of Alabama 3, PP Arnold, Snow, Tony Iommi, Kiki Dee, Suzi Quatro, Emeli Sande, Lemar, UB40, Lisa Stansfield, Mud Morganfield and Maxi Priest.

It’s also recognised emerging acts such as Errol Linton, Emily Capell and Charlie Pyne.

“Forget what they say in the media, there aren’t different sorts of music, these are just great players and singers,” said Jools, who often collaborates with winners on the night.

“It’s a bit like Later, my TV programme.

“The event is a real mix of things rather than just a load of pop music – although there’s nothing wrong with that.

“I’d use previous winners Gregory Porter and Albert Lee as examples.

“Albert is one of the greatest country guitarists the world has ever known and Gregory is one of the best jazz singers alive today.

“I love the fact that they’re in different spheres, but they can both fit into Boisdale and both receive awards from this venue in Canary Wharf – I think that’s wonderful.”

PP Arnold on stage at the Boisdale Music Awards
PP Arnold on stage at the Boisdale Music Awards

Boisdale Of Canary Wharf: home of the unexpected

One of the endearing things about nights out at Boisdale is that you never quite know what’s going to happen and its awards ceremonies are legend for their unexpected appearances and juxtapositions. 

Where else might you spot Hugh Laurie swapping tales with a founder member of Black Sabbath or see a Sex Pistol perform with David Bowie’s sideman?

With going on a decade and a half of performances, its stage has hosted an unrelentingly diverse programme of acts, with Mel C, Rebecca Ferguson, Alexander Armstrong and Suspiciously Elvis giving it their all.

“My friend Rod Stewart did go in and perform one night and loved it,” said Jools. “He didn’t realise I could have been there playing with him.

“Boisdale Of Canary Wharf has become a great room. When these places are new, I think they’re harder. I do think rooms have a spirit – now it’s got a vibe in it.

“It’s a curious thing. I’m not a mumbo-jumbo person, but there is definitely something about a musical instrument that’s been played a lot, or a room that’s been inhabited and has had a lot of music played in it, with people enjoying it. That really adds to the atmosphere.

“You can’t put your finger on what it is, but the likelihood of something great happening is much increased.

“For me, that was playing with Gregory Porter at Boisdale.”

People attend the Boisdale Music Awards dinner hosted by Jools Holland
The event packs our Boisdale Of Canary Wharf

Jools Holland on Canary Wharf

It’s not just the venue itself for Jools, however.

Having grown up locally and formed Squeeze across the river in Deptford, he’s seen Canary Wharf emerge and grow and he’s a fan.

“Some people say that, years ago – when there was nothing there – it was really great,” he said.

“But I say what the great gurus say, which is that it’s now that’s the moment

“If you have a room with all those great people in it and great food too, then now is its pinnacle – paradise is now – and now is the time to go.

“When Canary Wharf was first built it was a big thing.

“You’d look over from Greenwich and you’d see it towering above everything else, but now everything’s around it – there’s a whole world here.

“When they said the piazza in Covent Garden was a great place after it was first built, others said they’d preferred it as a mediaeval village.

“The great thing about Canary Wharf is that it’s been very well built.

“Then with the live music you have here now at Boisdale it becomes a place.

“You’ve got to give places like the Wharf a chance sometimes, rather than saying it was better in the past or it will be better in the future.

“Now is the time that it’s actually good.”

Son of Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield on stage at the awards
Son of Muddy Waters, Mud Morganfield on stage at the awards

a burger for preference

While on duty Jools prefers a clear head and stomach, so he’ll be waiting until after the presenting is done to enjoy Boisdale’s hospitality on September 18, 2024.

But his dish of choice at the venue perhaps harks back to another memory from his personal relationship with Canary Wharf. 

“Their cheeseburger is a delicious thing,” he said. “The food is always very consistent – you feel as though you’ve had a proper night out when you eat there.

“They have a great wine list there, and I quite like wine.

“You could take your aged aunt there and she’d think it was fantastic, or you could take some teenagers and they’d have a fantastic time.

“It has that personal touch, it’s not like a corporate chain, but it has the contents of Ranald’s brain all around the room and it’s a very nice brain to have a look at.

“I remember, back when One Canada Square was first built, I used to take my children through the Blackwall Tunnel and we’d pretend we’d driven all the way to the USA.

“There was an American diner at the foot of the tower serving burgers and that was great.

“There’s a lot more than that here today.”

Emerging artist Emily Capell performs at Boisdale Of Canary Wharf after receiving an award
Emerging artist Emily Capell performs at Boisdale Of Canary Wharf after receiving an award

key details: Boisdale-Xejoff Music Awards 2024

The Boisdale-Xerjoff Music Awards 2024, hosted by Jools Holland, are set to take place on September 18, 2024, with ticket prices starting at £149.

The evening starts at 6pm with a Champagne and cocktail reception followed by a three-course dinner. 

The awards will then be presented by Jools Holland and YolanDa Brown alongside performances from the winners.

The party will go on until 1am.

Find out more about the awards here

Read more: How Vertus continues to evolve its brand

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
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Canary Wharf: How the Boisdale Music Awards showcase talent at the venue

Evening saw recognition for the Alabama 3, Mud Morganfield, Polly Gibbons, PP Arnold and more…

The Alabama 3 play the Boisdale Music Awards 2023

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What connects a single that spent seven weeks at No. 1 in the US, the voice of Muddy Waters, the theme song to The Sopranos, The First Cut Is The Deepest, celebrity gangster Dave Courtney  and Jools Holland? 

It’s Boisdale Of Canary Wharf, as the restaurant, bar and live venue celebrated its annual music awards on September 20, 2023 – showcasing the breadth and depth of the kind of artists who regularly perform there on the stage above Cabot Square.

Hosted by Jools and celebrated jazz saxophonist Yolanda Brown, the annual event brought together a host of talents – some starting out, some well established and others who’ve enjoyed whole lifetimes in the business. 

That meant an evening where two-time Grammy winner, Gregory Porter, performed Hoochie Coochie Man with Nick Reynolds of the Alabama 3 in front of Mud Morganfield – Muddy Waters’ son, Snow belted out his 1992 global platinum hit Informer and Dave Courtney’s daughter, Courtney Courtney, won the rising star award.

PP Arnold was a vibrant presence on stage

Other highlights included Mud taking the stage himself (again with Reynolds), Kid Creole And The Coconuts’ energetic rendition of Annie I’m Not Your Daddy and a potent set from the Alabama 3, making good on their promise to deliver upbeat, acid house country all night long.

In short, the atmosphere was electric, warm and wild – as unpredictable as Boisdale always is at its best under the singular leadership of owner Ranald Macdonald.

This year’s winners were as follows:

Reggae Artist

UB40 

Best Album

Suzi Quatro and KT Tunstall 

for Face To Face

Global Icon

Snow  

Outstanding Contribution 

To Music

Gregory Porter 

Scottish Artist 

The Cuban Brothers

Canadian rapper Snow performed Informer after winning the Global Icon award

Lifetime Legend

Kid Creole And The Coconuts 

Blues Artists

Alabama 3 

+ Mud Morganfield

Soul Artist

Shalamar 

Instrumentalist

Bluey

Rising Star

Courtney Courtney

Band

The Brand New Heavies 

Jazz Artist

Polly Gibbons 

Female Artist 

PP Arnold

Male Artist

Howard Hewett

UPCOMING GIGS AT BOISDALE OF CANARY WHARF
 
PP Arnold
OCT 25- 9.30pm
From £19, show only. From £69, with dinner
A living legend in the soul world and this year’s best female artist, audiences can expect hits such as The First Cut Is The Deepest, Angel Of The Morning and It Won’t Be Christmas Without You. Critically acclaimed, she’s worked with everyone from Stevie Wonder and Ike And Tina Turner to Nick Drake to the Small Faces.


Citrus Sun ft. Imaani
NOV 15 - 9.30pm 
From £19, show only. From £69, with dinner
Formed by musician Bluey in the late 1990s, this group are set to present music from their latest album with inspiration from guitarist Jim Mullen. Expect jazzy numbers such as Mais Uma Vez and Calling Mr Wolf from the rhythm section and star of Incognito, fresh from winning the Instrumentalist award at Boisdale.


Jools Holland's Boogie Woogie Spectacular
APR 24, 2024 - 9.15pm 

From £149, with dinner (there is no show-only option)


This might be a way off, but Jools Holland’s Boogie Woogie And Blues Spectacular always sells out with the band leader allowed to indulge in his great passion for tickling the ivories. The evening will also feature the talents of Neville Dickie, the hair of Axel Zwingenberger (google him) and the slick playing of Ladyva. 

With unexpected collaborations, dancing on the tables and a spirited address from rapper Big Narstie, it was an event to remember.

Here’s what a few of the winners had to say:

Gregory Porter

Outstanding Contribution To Music

“It’s wonderful to win this award. The community of musicians and artists here are some of the best, so I’m really honoured. 

“Having Muddy Waters’ son in the audience and performing one of the songs that made his name was incredible – it’s the history and the lineage of the music and I’m appreciative of Boisdale for that.”

Dave Courtney’s daughter Courtney Courtney warms up during the sound check

Courtney Courtney

Rising Star

“My mind’s a little bit blown, to be honest. I’ve always sung.

“My brothers and my cousins all make music but I’ve only recently started to write my own stuff.

“I’m testing the waters. People seem to be enjoying what I’m making and so I’m going to keep creating. 

“I write with my best friend – he’s been through every major life event with me and that’s amazing. 

“At the moment, heartbreak is my inspiration – it’s one of the only emotions I’ve processed and healed from and it’s easier to write when you’re on the other side of something.”

Mud Morganfield 

Blues Artist

“It’s fantastic to be recognised in this country.

“I’ve pretty much spent my whole life in music and I’d give anyone starting out the same advice – you don’t need a drink or drugs to play better, don’t believe the hype.

“You just need what God gave you.

“The blues is everything to me, it’s life. You can run but you can’t hide. It might not catch you today, but it’ll catch you tomorrow.

“I had this music running through my head since I got to this world. A lot of my music is my father’s – a lot of people didn’t get a chance to see Muddy Waters and I just hope I can give them a glimpse of what that might have been like.

“I don’t think anyone gets the style quite like I do and I’m proud of that.” 

Gregory Porter performed Hoochie Coochie Man with the aid of Jools Holland and the Alabama 3’s Nick Reynolds

Rob Spragg aka Larry Love

Blues Artist

“When the Alabama 3 started, it was very much with this kind of awards ceremony in mind. We’d go to the Brit Awards and pretend we were from Alabama, not Brixton.

“Now we’ve risen to the heights of Boisdale in Cabot Square. I was totally spooked out by seeing Mud perform – we sampled Muddy Waters on Woke Up This Morning, which became the theme song for The Sopranos on TV.

“The blues allows for a certain raggedy-ness that the world needs alongside earthy rock and roll.

“Hopefully, this award puts us on the ladder of success after years of dirty gigs and tours – maybe we’ll wind up in some penthouse in New Jersey or something.

“For us, creating music is about the community you put yourself in and what you absorb.

“We’re very blessed by the stories that Brixton generates and all those things that come out at 4am in the pubs – then we put it all together in the studio.”

Muddy Waters’ son, Mud Morganfield in full flow

Polly Gibbons

Jazz Artist

“I’ve never won an award before so I’m very pleased. It’s lovely to have been considered and even better to have won.

“I’ve just released my ninth album, although in some ways it feels like my first, because this is the only one to feature all my own songs and arrangements.

“It’s called As It Is and the song I performed was Man Of Moderation, which is about my dad and features my family on backing vocals.

“He was diagnosed with Parkinsons but was quite a dynamic person – he played electric bass, got me into the blues and founded a festival called Green Belt.

“The disease has brought him to his knees – he was 6ft 2” and is now about 5ft 8” and it’s my observations as a daughter of a life very well lived.”

Howard Hewett

Male Artist

“I’ve been singing since I was 10 years old – inspired by my mum.

“She was a gospel promoter in Ohio and that’s how I cut my teeth.

“As an artist and lead singer of Shalamar, the thing I want to communicate to my audience is integrity.

“There’s a whole lot of crap out there right now, so it’s about quality not fads.

“Connecting with people when you’re performing is a really great feeling. That’s what we need.”

  • The Boisdale Music Awards takes place annually, usually in September.

Find out more about the venue here

Read more: Sign up for the Santa Stair Climb at One Canada Square

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
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Canary Wharf: How the Boisdale Music Awards act as a showcase for the venue

Event celebrates the breadth and quality of talent that graces the Cabot Square restaurant’s stage

Boisdale Music Awards hosts Jools Holland and Yolanda Brown

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Boisdale Of Canary Wharf recently hosted its annual music awards, with a roster of 14 honours for individuals and groups presented.

While the event recognised the talents of the winners and brought together a diverse crowd in celebration – where else can you see Black Sabbath’s guitarist casually chatting with actor and crooner Hugh Laurie? – it perhaps best served to draw attention to the breadth and quality of the artists Boisdale regularly draws to its stages in Canary Wharf and Belgravia

Effervescent owner Ranald Macdonald plus hosts Jools Holland (patron of music for Boisdale) and boisterous jazz saxophonist YolanDa Brown, presided over the proceedings including awards for the following:

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath at the awards

Tony Iommi

Lifetime Achievement Award

As co-founder and the only constant member of ground-breaking heavy metal band Black Sabbath, Tony’s contribution to music alongside Ozzy Osborne, Bill Ward and Geezer Butler is well documented.

 Their work includes genre-defining releases such as their eponymous first album and its follow-up, chart-topper Paranoid, named for the song that remains their only UK top 20 single.

Having lost the tips of two of his fingers in an industrial accident at the age of 17, he was inspired to keep playing after listening to a recording of guitarist Django Reinhardt.

After being told the gypsy jazz great was only using two digits having been injured in a fire that left two of his fingers paralysed, Tony redoubled his efforts, going on to make musical history himself. 

He said: “Getting this award feels lovely. I’ve got five lifetime achievement awards now, but it’s  great – I think any recognition is fantastic, I love it.

“Music is a different way of life now to when we started. I’d always say, get a lawyer and then get going, to those beginning a career now. 

“My real advice though would be to love what you’re doing, enjoy it and then whatever else comes is a bonus. You have to enjoy what you do.

Paranoid the song was on the second album – we’d had the first one, which was in the charts for a long time and then we did Paranoid, which went to No.1.

“It was a throwaway single but it got to No. 4 – we didn’t have enough songs for the album and the producer said we needed another one, just a short track.

“I came up with this idea, then we played it and recorded it in a few minutes and that was that.

“The whole thing about this business is about believing in what you do. I have always believed in what we do and that’s why we’ve been around a long time. It’s because we don’t change from what we love.”

Cleveland Watkiss performs at Boisdale Of Canary Wharf

Cleveland Watkiss 

Jazz Artist Award

Hackney-born singer and composer Cleveland was named best jazz artist for 2022. Having studied at the London School Of Singing and subsequently at Guildhall School Of Music And Drama, his career took off in the 1980s as a member of the Jazz Warriors with the likes of Courtney Pine and Dennis Rollins.

He has since gone on to work with a diverse and varied collection of artists including The Who, Bjork, Bob Dylan, Art Blakey, Wynton Marsalis and Robbie Williams, to name just a few.

Cleveland said: “It’s always good to feel that your art and your work is appreciated. These awards are really encouraging, they give you a lift – especially in these tough times.

“It’s my wish and desire to keep performing and this award is just more encouragement to keep doing what I do.

“You know that saying – give people their flowers while they’re alive? Well not everyone gets those flowers, so I want to dedicate this to some of the people who inspired me coming up.

“There were a few people who passed away during the pandemic including my aunt, whose funeral I wasn’t able to attend because of Covid. She was like a second mother to me.

“She was one of these people who regardless of the situation would have a positive outlook on life. She was always encouraging us when we were growing up.

“I lost my father when I was nine and I stayed with her as a kid.

“She was always inspirational and, even though she suffered with illness, she’d lift you up.

“There’s other people too like Ray Carless, a fantastic tenor saxophonist in the community in Hackney where I grew up.

“He recently passed away but he was such an icon in terms of the work he did in east London and beyond.

“He was a hugely celebrated musician who played in some of the most iconic jazz bands in the UK. We’d be here all day if I sat here and named them – top artists like Adele and Elvin Jones.

“Ray was a big inspiration to me when I saw what he was doing. I watched him at Ronnie Scott’s when I was in my late teens and I thought: ‘Wow, if he could do that, playing with one of the greatest musicians in the world – Elvin Jones, who played with John Coltrane – then maybe I could too’. 

“I want to dedicate this to people like that – people who never really got their flowers when they were alive.”

Gina Larner belts out new single Heavy Heart

Gina Larner

Best Up And Coming Artist

Brighton born singer songwriter Gina is set to release her first and, as yet, untitled album later this year. 

She said: “It feels really good to win. I sang Heavy Heart, the first single from my new album, which should be out in a few weeks.

“I sing and write Americana and country pop.

“People often see the pink hair and assume punk, but I’ve just loved Americana and country since I was a kid – I really like Stevie Nicks, KT Tunstall and Kacey Musgraves and I listen to a bit of Dolly Parton too.

“I’ve been writing for a long time – don’t get me wrong, my songs were shit originally, 14-year-old me did not write bangers – now, hopefully, 24-year-old me is writing better songs.

“I like to think what I write is very honest – that’s what I aim for.

“I’ll be back at Boisdale supporting KT Tunstall when she plays here on November 11.”

KT Tunstall is set to perform at Boisdale on November 11

3 DIARY DATES FOR BOISDALE OF CANARY WHARF

Oct 25-29, 9pm, from £24

Audiences can expect jazz-funk and r’n’b from The Blackbyrds, who are set to play five nights at Boisdale Of Canary Wharf in October. Assembled in the mid-1970s in Washington DC by legendary trumpeter Donald Byrd, their output has been sampled by everyone from De La Soul to Massive Attack.

Nov 3, 9.30pm, from £49

The UK Queen Of Soul is set to bring her velvety vocals back to Canary Wharf. Known for hit singles including My One Temptation, Breathe Life Into Me and Where Is the Love, audiences can expect a track or two from her critically acclaimed album Gospel, released in 2020.

Nov 11, 9.30pm, from £75

Known for Suddenly I See and Big Black Horse And The Cherry Tree, the Scottish singer-songwriter returns to Cabot Square with support from award-winner Gina Larner.

Read more: Quiet Rebels invade the stage at The Albany

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- Jon Massey is co-founder and editorial director of Wharf Life and writes about a wide range of subjects in Canary Wharf, Docklands and east London - contact via jon.massey@wharf-life.com
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