bimm student SUCCESS STORIES
Check out the latest success stories + news from BIMM students - both past + present.
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	All Success Stories Top 10 Success Stories Archive

		BIMM musician Jon Mills wins Red Stripe Awards 2008 (May 08) BIMM musician Jon Mills recently beat over 1000 musician’s to win the Red Stripe Award! Jon got to support Dirty Pretty Things at the London Forum and play to an audience of 2000 people. He received headline slots at The Great Escape festival supporting Lightspeed Champion, ZOO 08 with Mark Ronson, Gallows and The Hives and The Go Team at Lovebox Festival. The main prize also included a Mercedes Sprinter tour bus with a plasma TV inside! Since the awards Jon toured extensively with Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Jacobs Stories and Youthmovies. He’s had features and album reviews in NME and The Fly and his debut single was aired on BBC Radio 1 and XFM. Recently Klaus Say Buy The Record aka Jon Mills released his EP “Centurion” on London label “Unlabel”. Buy your copy now!

		BIMM Degree Graduate goes on board with Xenomania (June 08) Massive congratulations to BIMM degree graduate Steve Carter who just signed to Xenomania Records and Warner Chappell Music! Steve has secured his role as an in-house songwriter and guitarist for the company whose track record is enormous! Clients include Girls Aloud, Franz Ferdinand, Kylie Minogue, and Alesha Dixon amongst many others. Steve will also be playing with some of the acts signed to Xenomania too. In response to his new role in the company Steve said "it is an honour to be working with the greatest songwriters and musicians in the country, this is a one off opportunity and I am thrilled to be in this position!"

		BIMM musicians sign to Columbia Records (June 08) BIMM musicians Charlie Wride and Matt Harris recently signed to Columbia Records after appearing in the forthcoming feature length film “Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging”. Charlie and Matt are part of the film’s band “Stiff Dylans” and their first single “Ultraviolet” was released on July 20th. The band booked numerous tour dates over the summer and has already included an appearance at Wireless Festival filmed by MTV. You can catch Charlie and Matt in the film that was released nationwide on 25th July. For more information on the band you can check out their MySpace by clicking on the link below:

		BIMM Musician Elliott Andrews in Kate Nash band (Oct 07) BIMM musician Elliott Andrews is playing drums in Kate Nash’s band. Elliott performed with Kate in various destinations within Europe, USA and the UK. They have received a UK number two hit for single “Foundations” and the album (produced by Paul Epworth of Bloc Party and Maximo Park fame) went Number 1 all in the same week! With massive UK festivals under his belt including O2 Wireless, Glastonbury, Oxegen, T in the Park, Isle of White Festival and Carling Weekend the success doesn’t end there. UK TV performances this year include Popworld, Later with Jools Holland and The Friday Night Project. Elliott recently performed at the Royal Albert Hall, received Best British Newcomer at the Q Awards and has a sold out UK tour. Extra dates at Hammersmith Apollo for 2008 are already selling fast. Elliott’s previous professional experience includes The Maccabees, Wolfmother and The Fratellis. It’s amazing to think Elliott only finished BIMM in 2006!

		The Kooks - Top 10 Album (Feb 06) Congratulations to The Kooks who’s debut album “Inside In Inside Out” have sold more than a million copies and obtained triple platinum status. The album stayed in the UK Top 20 charts for more than half a year in 2006! The band received nominations for Best New Act at the Q Awards 2006, The Brit Awards and won Best UK and Ireland Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards 2006. The band recently released their second album “Konk” which came in at number 1 in the UK Album Chart. The album was produced by Tony Hoffer (The Thrills, Beck, Turin Brakes, Air) who previously produced their first album.

		BIMM Musician Kate Walsh Storms iTunes Chart (SEPT 07) BIMM songwriting graduate Kate Walsh stormed the UK iTunes chart topping Elton John and Take That! Kate’s second album “Tim’s House” was released under Kate’s own label ‘Blueberry Pie’ and soon became the No. 1 album on the download chart. Her most popular song on the album “Your Song” has received critical acclaim from BBC Radio 2. Kate has recently signed to major label Mercury Records. Kate’s influences include Claude Debussy, Tori Amos and Joni Mitchell.

		BIMM Musician Dani Wilde signed by Ruf Records (Oct 07) BIMM graduate Dani Wilde had an amazing summer in 2007 after completing her studies and getting a first for her degree. After opening shows for Gary Moore and Jools Holland at The Royal Albert Hall, Dani signed to blues label Ruf Records. Ruf Records is home to artists such as Canned Heat, Omar and The Howlers and Jeff Healey. What’s great is some of Dani’s blues heroes are under the same label she’s now signed too! These include Sue Foley, Aynsley Lister and Jimmy Vaughan. You can get more details on Dani by clicking on the link below:

		Vocal Graduate Beth Rowley to release debut album (March 08) BIMM graduate Beth Rowley debut album “Little Dreamer” reached number 6 in the UK Top 40 Album Chart. Beth studied Professional Diploma Vocals at BIMM during which time she supported backing vocals for artists such as Ronan Keating and Enrique Iglesias. After her studies she went on to be signed to major label Universal. Beth has collaborated with Crowed House on their track “Transit Lounge”, Duke Special and more recently with Burt Bacharach on BBC Electric Proms. Her music was also featured in the film “The Edge of Love” (Keira Knightly, Sienna Miller) and she supported David Gray on his tour in March 2008. Other TV appearances include Parkinson, Top of the Pops, This Morning, The Charlotte Church Show and GMTV.

		Ollie Cooper and Koopa make music history! (Jan 07) Ollie Cooper and his band Koopa released debut album “Blag, Steal and Borrow” to critical acclaim. The band made music history when they became the first unsigned band to reach the UK official Top 40. Their single “Blag, Steal and Borrow” reached number 31! Consequently the band was invited to open Isle of Wight festival 2007 on the main stage. Something of a rarity for an unsigned band! The guys have previously toured with Space, played a packed Arsenal Stadium and recorded for the BBC Peel sessions at Maida Vale studios. This band is tipped for big things so look out for them and make sure you check out their killer live gigs.

		BIMM band tours with The Hoosiers (Oct 08) Former South Coast Sounds protégés and BIMM graduates Will and The People have recently signed to RCA. The band consists of five artists, three of which all studied at BIMM: Will Rendle, Alison Brown and Dan Lundholm. Since being signed Will and The People confirmed three dates with chart topping band The Hoosiers performing at major venues such as The Brighton Centre and London’s Brixton Academy. Their debut album is due for release early 2009.