Coppafeel Festifeel heightens breast cancer awareness through music extravaganza

The Islington Metal Works played host to the annual Coppafeel Festifeel event yesterday, with a multitude of both up-and-coming and big name acts turning up to support breast cancer awareness.

Curated by Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton, the one-day indoor festival was put on to urge those to regularly ‘check their boobs’ for signs of potential breast cancer, and the message certainly was clear, with Coppafeel branding ever-present throughout the venue, including all the artists and organisers who happily donned stickers and tattoos to show their support.

The charity is clear with their message, saying that “We’re on a mission to stamp out late detection and misdiagnosis of breast cancer by ensuring that you know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, know what your boobs look and feel like normally, check your boobs regularly throughout your lifetime and have the confidence to seek medical referral if you detect any changes.”

Starting the day with British singer VV Brown, the indie/pop artist graced the crowds with cuts from her forthcoming album Samson & Delilah (which marks a considerable about-turn in terms of musical style; think more AlunaGeorge-esque!), whilst also playing a beautiful rendition of her 2009 hit Shark In The Water.

VV Brown – Shark In The Water (live @ The Coppafeel Festival)

Moving swiftly in to the ‘main room’ was Gabrielle Aplin, the British artist who shot to fame with THAT rendtion of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s The Power Of Love (used as the soundtrack to John Lewis’ infamous Xmas 2012 TV commercial).

Proving to have as much on-stage charisma and presence as someone both older than her years as well time-in-the-industry, Aplin’s cut-down acoustic set silenced the crowd, performing tracks off her debut LP Home as well as a cheeky Bruce Springsteen cover of I’m On Fire

Gabrielle Aplin – I’m On Fire (live @ The Coppafeel Festival)

Gabrielle Aplin – Home (live @ The Coppafeel Festival)

After a quick lookie into new indie band the Tribes (which the crowd clearly enjoyed!), as well as a brief encounter with 1Xtra DJ Mistajam playing some disco and funk (opening with anything by Chic is sure to get a party started!), it was time to return to the main room to witness headliner Maverick Sabre.

Again, playing a stripped-down version of his normal live set (unfortunately backing vocalist Chantelle Nandi was nowhere to be seen), Mav gee’d up the crowd, performing multiple tracks from his breakthrough album Lonely Are The Brave. In a surprise move, the singer also performed an exclusive new track, so new [it’d only been written two weeks ago], that it’s yet to be named!

Maverick Sabre – These Days (live @ The Coppafeel Festival)

Maverick Sabre – I Need (live @ The Coppafeel Festival)

Maverick Sabre – Let Me Go (live @ The Coppafeel Festival)

Maverick Sabre – Exclusive new unnamed track (live @ The Coppafeel Festival)

The Coppafeel team, lead by founder Kris Hallenga, really put a great day on. To find out more about this fantastic charity, as well as to set up alerts to ‘check your boobs’ or even to provide a donation, head over to the Coppafeel website!