Rumours: NOHA to Represent Bulgaria at Eurovision 2011

German-based group NOHA, best known for its hit song “Tu Cafe”, will represent Bulgaria at Eurovision 2011, according to persistent rumours, circulating in Bulgarian media. Bulgaria’s state-owned national television BNT started negotiations with the musicians from the international band in October and were surprised by their modest financial requirements, reports say. The deal was reportedly inked and the contract signed at the beginning of this month. According to unofficial information NOHA have already recorded a song with the working title “BULkanika”, which combines Spanish and Bulgarian ethnic motives. BNT has committed to cover only the expenses about the recording of the song and the video clip that will go with it, according to sources from the TV channel. The promotion of the song across Europe will be financed by the group itself. The main difference compared to last year will be that there will be no viewers vote – the song that will compete for Bulgaria at Eurovision will be directly presented to the public. NOHA Includes Minerva Diaz Perez – Gijon, Spain (voc), Chevy – New York (voc), Prague born sax-player Philip Noha, Jochen Eickenberg (keys), Tim Rashid (bass) and Tobias Belker (drums) from Germany. The musicians say that when it comes to performance, NOHA stands out as a band that really knows how to bring their complex sound on the stage, shifting and reshaping the border of club-scene and live performance. After massive successes on many European …

Northside were formed at the beginning of 1989 in Blackley and Moston areas of North Manchester by Man United fan Warren ‘Dermo’ Dermody (vocals) and Man City supporter Cliff Ogier (bass). They were joined by Michael ‘Upo’ Upton (guitar) and Paul ‘Wal’ Walsh (drums) soon after. At the time Moston was a typical working class area, suffering following Thatcher’s recession, but with the arrival of ‘E’ around 1986/87 and the emergence of the Acid House scene, the mood began to change. Reflecting in 1990, Dermo explains, “it used to be all football and violence but now it’s chilled.” Local heroes The Stone Roses were becoming a force to be reckoned with in popular music, bands like James were finally getting noticed after many years of trying, shops like Eastern Bloc on Oldham Street become the place to hang out during the day and then the Thunderdome on Oldham Road at night, listening to tunes and being seen. Often fuelled on drugs, alliances were made, many of which remain to this day. These factors, mixed with a healthy dollop of punk DIY attitude, led to the formation of many bands, supported by their mates, their families, and with a desire to do something different, to tell the truth, to make people sit up and take notice. Six months on from their first practice in February, Northside recorded their first demos in August at The Cutting Rooms, part of Abraham Moss College. These received regular plays on the show hosted by Tony the Greek’s on Piccadilly Radio, as well as …