» Gigs

What a great month!

March was a really busy month for us MADHEN’s

We started on the 1st with a showcase in Berlin which was great fun. We performed at a beautifully converted Water Pump Building (Rheinnacht – Eventlocation Wasserwerk).

The crowd were brilliant and we already have gigs in the diary from a fun night. Thanks to all involved and those who came down to party.

Then we had the MGT conference at Alton Towers – always fun playing there.

It was another trip to Aberdeen in the middle of the month to the AECC

Strictly’s Natalie Lowe and Ian Waite were performing that night too and were spectacular!

The team in Scotland had once again pulled out all the stops and created a great party. We’ve already been asked back for next year!

We performed for Irish rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll’s Testimonial at the Grosvenor House Hotel on the 18th

Nearly 2,000 guests were in attendance. It was the first red carpet appearance for the couple since the birth of their daughter Sadie in February. The night was hosted by Patrick Kielty

Amongst the guests attending were Prince William, Script star Danny O’Donoghue, former Attorney General of Ireland Peter Sutherland, Hollywood actor Michael Fassbender, and One Direction singer Niall Horan. Brian’s fellow rugby teammates – including Johnny Sexton, Rob Kearney, Cian Healy, Shane Horgan and Ireland captain Jamie Heaslip – all turned up to celebrate Brian’s career and raise money for charity.

The highlight of our evening was when U2′s Bono walked into our dressing room. Helen offered him a G&T and he came back later for pics with us. A true legend!

Emeli Sandé performed a stunning acoustic set before we took to the stage. It was a wonderful night – one we’ll all never forget!

We had a fun night at the Travel Marketing Awards at the Intercontinental Hotel (Hyde Park)
The MADHEN boys performed ‘stings’ throughout the awards which were hosted by Radio 6 presenter Shaun Keaveney

It was another Irish affair as we flew to Dublin for Skoda on the 22nd to perform at the stunning Convention Centre

It was a great evening with lots of entertainment and hosted by the very funny Dara O’Briain

Alton Towers

We’ve performed a number of times at Alton Towers including their big 80′s concert alongside Midge Ure, Rick Astley and Kim Wilde back in 2010 to celebrate their 30th Anniversary.

It’s one of the UK’s top attractions and we always have fun when we perform there.

This year we were at Alton Towers for the ACE awards on 28th February which was a fun night. We had MADHEN PRODUCTIONS on board with us too, which is always fun!

Here’s a picture of Big Chief Mark Chant…the caption says it all!

MADHEN & MADHEN PRODUCTIONS SETTING UP FOR THE NIGHT

The ACM Choir performed too who sounded awesome!

It was a late night but a fun party. Thanks to all those who came and thanked us personally for our performance, we hope to see you again

We were back within a week to perform at Merlin Entertainments Groups annual conference. Merlin own many attractions around the world including: Madame Tussauds, Legoland, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, EDF Energy London Eye, Chessington World of Adventures, The Dungeons, Sea Life…to name but a few!

So it was a global gathering of it’s companies executives brought together for their annual conference which this year was held at Alton Towers.

Also performing on the night were the stunning Alleviate

ALLEVIATE IN REHEARSALS

And the amazing Flawless

Click on the pics to visit their websites – you must have seen them on TV – they were both great!

MADHEN SETTING UP

It was a late finish for us at 2:30am but we had the pleasure of staying in Splash Landings overnight

Thanks to the amazing team at Alton Towers who always look after us so well! x

 

Taylan’s Project

 

 

 

Since their terrible loss both Andy and Figen have set up Taylan’s Project to raise awareness and much needed funding in order to help find a cure for this devastating illness. Commemorating Taylan’s short and happy life, whilst helping others.

Click the page below for a link about the event

 

Here’s some lovely pics from a great night:

 

 

A Night at the Museum

One of London’s finest buildings was host to a great party that was held on the 25th February 2013.  We’ve performed at the Natural History Museum a number of times now.  It really is breathtaking as you walk into the main hall and see how it has been transformed into a unique party venue.  As the last guests leave the museum, the team there and the great people at Production Bureau transform this historic building into something truly spectacular.

SETTING UP AT THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

MATTHEW & HELEN CHECK OUT THE DINOSAUR

IT WAS A GREEN THEME!

Not the easiest room to play in sound wise, but luckily we had MADHEN PRODUCTIONS on board to sort this out for us!

The audience were amazing and even left their lemon meringue pie on the tables to rush to the dance floor as we started our set!  We couldn’t have asked for more

At one point the dinosaurs tail was even moving to the music as the audience went wild!

“Open the door get on the floor, everyone walk the dinosaur…”

A wedding to remember

We never set out to be a ‘wedding band’ at all when we first started. But over the years we often got asked to perform at peoples weddings.

When MADHEN first started some 13 years ago, we performed as a Blondie tribute band called ‘Bleach’. We then put together an 80′s tribute band called ‘So 80′s’ when Matthew joined us.

It was years later that a ‘school disco’ style band called ‘Class A’ were added to our roster and we even put on bespoke ‘Grease’ show for 1800 people for Barclay’s Bank at Excel in London.

Gradually over the years events organisers and party planners asked if we could put together a ‘party’ set. So adding new material and incorporating a lot of the music that we were already performing, Madhen was born.

We had always used the name Madhen Productions as an umbrella for the entire company and it seemed only right to call our ‘party band’ Madhen.

Most of our work is now ‘Madhen’ and we have grown from strength to strength in a very organic way.

We get to perform at amazing locations and venues around the world and weddings is one of our biggest bookings alongside corporate clientele.

At the end of 2012 (Our most successful year to date). We were asked by Rachael Godfrey to perform at her wedding to Olly Mourant on New Years Eve.

Rachael has worked with us on numerous occasions with Delta Production Services. We were absolutely thrilled to be asked and even turned down a gig in the Maldives!

We’ve performed at some very prestigious weddings over the years (including the wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall at the Palace of Holyroodhouse). Rachael and Olly’s wedding was an absolute blast.

We had such a wonderful time and it was great to perform to colleagues whom we now regard as friends. What a great way to see out 2012 and welcome 2013.

Below is a video slideshow of the day. Amazing pics taken by our good friend Matt Porteous

Rachael and Olly are now expecting a baby in July, so we think that’s a great excuse for another party!!!

Rach & Olly Mourant from Matt Porteous on Vimeo.

Matt Porteous Photography

New Year

2012 was our most successful year to date.

We performed across the globe totalling over 100 gigs.

The amount of work we have to turn down is immense, but we pride ourselves on the fact that if you book ‘MADHEN’ you get ‘MADHEN’!

With over 40 gigs already confirmed in this years diary, we’re looking forward to another amazing year.

We can’t wait to perform for new clients and work again with those of you who book us time and time again.

Thanks to all those who’ve contributed to MADHEN’s success…that’s a lot of you beautiful people!

Here’s to a great 2013!

Busy busy band!

November 2012 was one of our busiest months to date, with 15 gigs all over the UK and abroad it was hard work for us MADHEN’s but amazing all the same.  We performed in Cirencester, London, Vienna, Glasgow, Birmingham, Richmond, Aberdeen, Manchester, Brockenhurst and Bath – to name but a few places.

Cirencester was the first of our ports of call on the 3rd for a hunt ball at Oxwold House near Barnsley.

It’s such a beautiful part of the world and we went to one of our favourite places for lunch – The Village Pub,  for a pre gig nibbles and drink.

 

It was the prestigious Marriott Grosvenor Square on the 6th for ‘The Big Red Ball’ – it was also the night of the American election!

 

We stayed at Heathrow after the gig as we flew to Vienna the next day for a powdered wig extravaganza!

Vienna was ‘amazeballs’ and we’d hired costumes from the lovely people at Angels specifically for the event.

Below are a few pics and a snippet of video footage from the event.

Such a well produced party and the crowd couldn’t get enough.  We’d like to thank Anupa and the team for looking after us so well!

Below is the video from the event.  The party starts at 3 minutes 50 seconds

From Vienna it was up to Glasgow to join the gorgeous Concerto Live team for a party at the breathtaking Mar Hall

Birmingham bound for the Slimming World Awards on the 10th at the Birmingham ICC! Great crowd – inspirational evening – met some lovely people.  The event was hosted by ex TOWIE star Mark Wright!

It was back to Aberdeen later that month for a gig for Stena Drilling with the lovely people at Roselle. The gig was at the beautiful Marcliffe Hotel just outside Aberdeen.  We performed alongside legends Madness who did an amazing set before we took to the stage.  That’s one band you don’t want to have to follow!

 

Next stop – One Mayfair – in the heart of London with Rocket Food.

It’s such a beautiful old church and the team had transformed it into an absolutely stunning party venue for a 40th Birthday.

It was such a fun night! Helen and Matthew got to strut on the diners tables and we were joined by our good friend DJ Justin Charles and Madhen Productions too!

Thanks to Charlie Grant and the team for a great evening

Battersea Evolution was our next stop

Such a great venue in the middle of Battersea Park

We’ve played here many times.  Tonight was in aid of Sports Aid

More than 800 guests were in attendance at the event which was sponsored byEversheds and London Clubs International

They  raised a phenomenal £50,000 to help the next generation of British sportsmen and women

Among the guests were London 2012 stars Sarah Storey, Tim Baillie, Katherine Grainger and Greg Rutherford, as well as the medal-winning trio of Kristian Thomas, Max Whitlock and Sam Oldham who presented fellow gymnast Courtney Tulloch with SportsAid’s One-to-Watch Award.

The crew had done an amazing job creating a beautiful setting for a very worthy cause.

The stage itself looked like something from the X Factor!

We road tested our new sparkle-tastic Tripp NYC jeans which were a hit!

Here’s some more pics of us from the evening

The next day we were at the stunning new Westminster Park Plaza Hotel.  With views across to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament it was a great location for a party!

We’d never played the venue before and we were getting to stay overnight too which is always a bonus

Another great team did a sterling job at turning the ballroom into a place to party – and boy did they party!

It was a great gig and we even got to celebrate our Drummer Paul’s birthday with a delicious cake!

It was the Guys and St Thomas’ charity ball the following night.  Marking the start of a string of dates for us at Old Billingsgate with the lovely Concerto people!

We love performing here.  The guys do such an amazing job in transforming this historic landmark into one of the best party venues that London has to offer.

There’ll be plenty more pics and stories from here in our next blog

Big hugs to all the team involved – much love from us all x x x x x

 

 

 

 

Wella Trend Vision Awards 2012

The world of hairdressing came together in Madrid last week for the Wella Trend Vision Awards 2012. The event was organised by the amazing team at Jack Morton who pulled out all the stops to create an event to remember for the worlds top colourists and stylists from around the globe.
We flew out from Heathrow to Madrid the day before the event to set up on stage and run through a soundcheck and technical rehearsal. There was a giant video screen behind the stage and the lighting, sound and staging were great. We were lucky enough to spend the next day in the glorious autumn sunshine walking though this beautiful city. We’ve had many gigs in Spain over the years, but none of us had ever visited Madrid before.

On the Sunday evening we made our way to the venue to party with all the competitors from around the world. We performed a 45 minute set for Wella that evening. The audience did not disappoint. Such a great crowd who did not leave the dance floor as we wove our way through global hits. Together with our own video backgrounds projected on giant screens and a great lighting and sound team, it was an event we’ll never forget.

We’d like to thank all those who came and said hi after the gig, from Wales to Columbia!

Thanks once more to Cat, Kiki and all the team who looked after us so well. We hope to see you guys again very soon!

Also big thanks to Jillie Bushell’s team for all your hard work too.

Viva España!

BP Parties

We had two great gigs this month in South Cave at the Cave Castle Hotel for BP

Our friends at Concerto Live put on the events and did a sterling job in transforming the hotel into a party palace

Booth Pix were there to take snaps of all the partygoers
They take amazing pics in their funky booth

We couldn’t keep Matthew and Helen away from it

Click the link below to go to their website

DJ Max Elliott appeared at both parties and played some stonking tunes!

But there was enough time for a pout off with Matthew!

Much fun was had by all and as always it was a pleasure to work with such a great team of guys and girls

See you soon for more fun and games!

Tesco Finest

We had two gigs at the beautiful Celtic Manor Resort this week for Tesco. It was the non food side of the company brought together for conferences and parties at one of our favourite hotels.

Guest speakers promoting their books at the event have included cookery Queen Lorraine Pascale

The delicious Nigella Lawson

and  TV host Paul O’Grady

 

Funny man Stephen K Amos had the audience in stitches on Monday night

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday night was the turn of Jason Manford to entertain the Southern Division.