The London Dossier: News

The Heptones live @ The Hootananny - Sun 19 July

2009-06-25T23:12:00.006+01:00

The legendary Heptones (minus Earl Morgan) are to perform live at The Hootananny in Brixton on Sunday 19 July.

Led by Leroy Sibbles, The Heptones are one of the greatest vocal groups in the history of Jamaican music. Following a stint at Caltone, this soulful trio came to prominence in the late 1960s recording immortal rocksteady classics for Studio One. For this London date, the group are backed by Basque Dub Foundation (BDF).

When The Heptones played The Hootananny last year, the gig understandably sold out, so make sure you get your tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

The Heptones @ The Hootananny
95 Effra Road, Brixton, SW2 1DF. (020) 7737 7273
Tickets: £12 in advance
Doors: 8pm
Info and tickets: www.hootanannybrixton.co.uk

You can find out more about Basque Dub Foundation and listen to some of their music on MySpace: www.myspace.com/bdfbasquedubfoundation

The Dualers live @ The O2 - Thu 16 July

2009-06-25T21:39:00.004+01:00

South London's ska dynamic duo are to headline their own show at The O2 on Thursday 16th July. The Dualers are one of the most authentic 60s style ska vocal groups around at the moment and have supported legends like Prince Buster in concert. They have a loyal following of their own, thanks not only to their vocal harmonies, but their youthful good looks, great stage presence and fantastic dance moves.

DJ support on the night comes courtesy of DJ Cello (Coast To Coast) who has an enviable collection of rare ska 45s.

For more info and to book tickets, visit: www.thedualers.com

Swingin' at The Jazz Joint with JP - Tue 30 June

2009-06-25T21:23:00.005+01:00

I've been invited to DJ alongside JazzMonkey at The Jazz Joint @ The Last Days Of Decadence this coming Tuesday, 30th June.

Held in the basement of this elegant club, The Jazz Joint is a night of swinging jazz; from Charleston and big band swing through to 60s organ grooves, flighty bop and honking R&B stompers. On top of this, there is also live jazz upstairs in the lounge bar.

Beginners and intermediate level Lindyhop classes are held at the beginning of the evening, between 7pm and 9.15pm, so you can learn some steps to try out later in the night. The club session itself runs from 9.15pm til just before midnight.

The Jazz Joint @ The Last Days Of Decadence
145 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JE
7pm - midnight
£5 for lesson or club session / £8 for both lesson and club session

For more info check out: www.tomkerwin.com/thejazzjoint
To find out more about the venue visit: www.thelastdaysofdecadence.co.uk

Mose Allison @ Pizza Express this week

2009-06-15T16:55:00.006+01:00

The great Mississippi blues-jazz composer/singer/pianist Mose Allison returns tonight to Soho for his week-long annual residency at The Pizza Express Jazz Club. Once hailed as a "Jazz Sage", Mose Allison is acclaimed for his witty and intelligent lyrics, authentic blues voice, laid-back stage manner and fast-fingered piano playing. He has been recording and performing since the late 1950s and still shows no sign of slowing down. Although his voice is not as strong as it once was, he is still an excellent singer and if anything his piano playing is better than ever. Whether you are familiar with his music or not, if you are a jazz or blues fan, make sure you do not miss him.

Mose Allison live @ The Pizza Express Jazz Club
10 Dean Street, Soho, London, W1D 3RW
Monday 15th June - Sunday 21st June
Doors: 7:00pm
Tickets: £22.00

Note: Dining is not compulsory, but if you do wish to eat (and the pizzas are pretty good!) I would advise you to arrive early in order to finish before the music begins.

For further information and to book tickets, call 0845 6027 017 or visit www.pizzaexpresslive.co.uk

To find out more about Mose Allison check out moseallison.com

The Story of London @ Tate Britain - Fri 5 June

2009-06-01T14:38:00.006+01:00

On the first Friday of every month, Tate Britain presents an after-hours evening of free performances, music, talks and films. Half-price entry is also offered to current exhibitions (no concessions).

This month's Late At Tate Britain takes place on Friday 5th June, and sounds particularly interesting. The theme is London's many histories. Highlights include:

* A walking tour of the Tate's neighbourhood to find out how today's gallery was shaped by an imposing prison, a Victorian sugar baron, a military hospital and abandoned yet ambitious schemes

* Discussion of Black History in London including the 1975 film "Pressure", widely acknowledged to be the first feature film drama to be made by a black film-maker in Britain

* A recreation of William Blake's 1801 Soho exhibition and a talk about Blake's Life

* Explorations of the Tate's archive including rare Blake images, Hogarth engravings, Dore illustrations and other early images of London

* A programme of silent films from a Lost London brought to life with a newly-commissioned score; from the bustle of the Victorian commute to the ordeal of the Blitz

On top of this, The Shellac Sisters will be present playing a selection of original 78s on their vintage 1920s gramophones. They'll be in Room 9 - "Romantic Painting in Britain" - for the whole evening.

The Story of London
Late At Tate Britain
Millbank, London, SW1P 4RG
Friday 5th June. 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Free admission

For full details visit www.tate.org.uk/britain/eventseducation/lateattatebritain/lateattatebritainjune2009.htm

To find out more about The Shellac Sisters check out: www.shellacsisters.co.uk

Amato is no more

2009-05-30T03:28:00.005+01:00

Sadly I've just seen that Amato on Old Compton Street has closed down. This was the place to get the best cakes in Soho and as such it will be sorely missed.

Things could be worse though, as the site is to become a branch of English restaurant / tea house Richoux. Watch this space for news of its opening.

You can read my review of the Piccadilly branch of Richoux here: www.londondossier.info/cafes.htm

Havana Rakatan @ Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre

2009-05-18T01:44:00.010+01:00

Havana Rakatan has returned to Sadler's Wells Peacock Theatre for its third year. With a press release that promises "Mambo, jazz, bolero, son, cha-cha-cha, rumba and salsa all come alive in a dazzling dance display of Cuban passion [...] Havana Rakatan is a captivating journey through the dance and music of a truly unique country", it was with high hopes that I set off to see the show for the first time.

I must admit I envisaged Havana Rakatan being something of a Cuban "Brasil Brasileiro". This was an incredible show that ran at the main Sadler's Wells theatre in 2006. Given that it was one of the greatest music and dance spectacles I've ever been fortunate enough to experience, it may be that my expectations were a little too high. Frankly however, Havana Rakatan was just not in the same league.

Another mistake I made was to expect an array of authentic Afro-Cuban dance forms. In fact it became clear from the outset that this is not the case. The dances fuse traditional Cuban styles with elements of contemporary, ballet and street, to varying degrees of success.

The show's opening scene was particularly weak. This could have been an opportunity to really show off and get the audience excited, but instead I found it uninspiring and lacklustre. I think the idea was to "transport" the audience to Havana before going back in time to examine the roots of Afro-Cuban music and dance, but I feel the show would have benefited from skipping this scene entirely.

The second scene is titled "Afro-Flamenco" and for me contained one of the best dances of the entire show: an excellent solo Flamenco from Maria Mercedes Perez Rodriguez. What then follows is an examination, through dance, of the historical melding of the African and Spanish cultures. Though a challenging concept to choreograph, I felt this scene had a lot of potential. Unfortunately it was not adequately realised and I found parts of it rather clumsy.

After this, things went further downhill and I was left sadly disappointed by most of the first act. There was frequently too much going on and the show didn't seem able to make up its mind as to whether it was a serious dance piece or a humourous musical drama complete with multiple props. I have no problem with a fusion of styles in principle, but in this case it just didn't work. At best it came across as slightly messy and at worse quite cheesy. There was even a momentary diversion into Chippendales territory (I couldn't help but think the dancing and costume should have been sexy enough to make a gimmick like this redundant).

Fortunately the second act is stronger and far more enjoyable. It disposes altogether of any pretensions at musical theatre (props and all), shifting focus almost entirely to the dancing itself. However, even this act was not consistent enough for my liking and it becomes increasingly evident throughout that some of the dancers are far better than others.

All of the music in the show is played live by a group called Turquino. Instrumentally, this group are top-notch, though vocally I was not so impressed. The best of the singers was Geydi Chapman who I found far more soulful that her male counterparts. It also struck me as a mistake to have the singers come front stage at times as it becomes obvious they are no dancers.

The material itself was generally good though, with only the performance of "Guantanamera" (unaccompanied by dance) coming across as unnecessary cliché.

Musically, the real highlights were instrumental versions of "Babara Batiri" and "Manteca"; both played superbly. "Babara Batiri" was actually one of the show's highest points as it also featured some fantastic dancing well-suited to the music. Unfortunately the same can't be said of "Manteca", which I feel was a wasted opportunity. Although the dancing itself wasn't bad, it just did not fit in with the music. Another example of poor choreography.

It isn't only the choreography that lets the show down though. I frequently found the synchronised group dances just not tight enough, giving the impression of too little rehearsal. At times, some of the dancers' mannerisms spoiled otherwise good performances. The fact that some of the costumes left wanting also did not help proceedings.

In conclusion, the show contained some interesting ideas, some excellent music and some exciting dancing, but there was too much filler and not enough of the good stuff. In fact, the programme which provides a short history of Cuban dance alongside some wonderful vintage images, was almost more inspiring than the show itself.

Havana Rakatan runs until 23rd May. For details visit: www.sadlerswells.com/show/Havana-Rakatan-09

Dave Barker at Coast To Coast - Sat 20 June

2009-05-05T20:37:00.017+01:00

The Coast To Coast club night will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary on Saturday 20th June. To mark the occasion, legendary reggae star Dave Barker will be performing live alongside up-and-coming ska outfit Intensified.

Dave Barker is a fantastic reggae and rocksteady singer with a string of solo albums to his name. He also recorded as a one-time member of The Techniques and as half of the duo Dave and Ansell Collins who topped the UK charts with 1970's infectious "Double Barrel".

Despite their relatively young age, Intensified are making quite a name for themselves and have already backed other Jamaican greats on stage such as Dennis Alcapone and Winston Francis.

This promises to be one of the greatest nights ever at Coast To Coast so make sure you arrive early and don't miss out.

Coast To Coast @ On The Rocks
25 Kingsland Road, London, E2 8AA
Doors: 10pm - late
Admission: £10 (NUS £7)
Band on stage at 11pm

For more information check out www.coasttocoast.org.uk

Jazz Jamaica live at The Albany - Sat 25 April

2009-04-22T02:21:00.007+01:00

Saturday 25th April
Jazz Jamaica: Tighten Up!
@ The Albany
Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG
£13.50 in advance
£17.50 on the door
Doors: 7.30pm

Gary Crosby's award-winning group Jazz Jamaica return to The Albany this Saturday 25th April with a brand new set: Tighten Up! They promise to raise the roof with their special blend of rocksteady, ska, jazz and pumping reggae grooves. Tighten Up! pays tribute to some of Jamaica's greatest artists and record labels, featuring all-time classics like: The Skatalites' "Guns of Navarone", Prince Buster's "Al Capone" and Harry J All Stars' "Liquidator".

Given the name of the new show, who better to provide DJ support than Mistah Brown from the Tighten Up reggae club (recently relaunched in Brixton) who will be joining Bid Mosaku (Rugged Tunes Sound System) to spin a selection of the finest Jamdown sounds.

The line-up for the gig will be:

Gary Crosby – Double Bass / Band Leader
Abram Wilson – Trumpet
Nathaniel Facey – Alto Saxophone
Denys Baptiste – Tenor Saxophone
Harry Brown – Trombone
Rod Youngs – Drums
Robin Banerjee – Guitar
Ben Burrell – Piano
Pete Eckford – Percussion
Zara McFarlane – Vocals

For more information and to book online visit: www.thealbany.org.uk

You can find out more about Jazz Jamaica and listen to some of their tunes on MySpace: www.myspace.com/jazzjamaica

Eco-friendly club night on Easter Sunday - 12 April

2009-04-09T03:51:00.004+01:00

This Bank Holiday Sunday (12th April) I will be DJing at Club Surya in King's Cross for the relaunch of The Reference Library club night.

You can expect to hear some fantastic soul, jazz, reggae and funk, as well as other soulful black music from the early 60s to the early 80s - all on original vinyl.

Surya is the world's first eco-friendly nightclub. It runs on green power and uses water-saving devices and carbon-friendly and recycled materials wherever possible. It even has a dancefloor that generates electricity when people dance on it via vibrating piezo-electric crystals!

Other DJs on the night are:

MISTAH BROWN (Tighten Up / Chick-A-Boom)
TEXAS RANGER (Bang Radio / Trojan Explosion)
MARK PROFESSOR (Trojan Explosion)
ANDREW IBI (Home Cookin' / Acknowledgement)
MR NODSTER (Sindecut)
VIRGO (Hoxton's Lost Society)
TRUCK TURNER

Full details as follows:

The Reference Library @ Surya
Sunday 12th April (Easter Sunday). 7pm - 3am
156 Pentonville Rd, London, N1 9JL (5 min walk from King's Cross)
FREE before 10pm then £5

The London Burlesque Festival - 1st-5th April

2009-03-26T03:53:00.007Z

How time flies! Seems like yesterday I was at the opening of last year's festival, but in less than a week Chaz Royal's International London Burlesque Festival returns for its 3rd year, showcasing the best in British and international burlesque.

The Festival will expose Londoners and burlesque connoisseurs from around the globe to over 100 of the world's top ecdysiasts hailing from North America, Europe, Australia and of course the United Kingdom. The festival will feature a variety of acts, from the nostalgic traditional style of burlesque's early years to 50s 'Bump and Grind' and more modern avant-garde interpretations that are growing in popularity with neo-burlesque's younger set.

There will be several showcases of sizzling striptease, vaudeville variety and burlesque pageantry taking place across London over the span of five nights:

Wednesday 1st April
Opening Press Party 'Glitterati Gala'
@ CAFE DE PARIS, 3-4 Coventry Street, W1D
7pm-1am, Tickets £18.50 - £24.50
www.cafedeparis.com

Thursday 2nd April
UK Showcase Night: *2 Showcases
@ MADAME JOJO'S, 8-10 Brewer Street, W1F
Early Showcase - The Princess Palace: 6pm-9pm, Tickets £24.50
Late Showcase - Burlesque Social Club: 10pm-3am, Tickets £22.50
www.madamejojos.com

Friday 3rd April
Newcomers Contest 'Battle Royale'
@ THE SCALA, 275-277 Pentonville Road, N1
8pm-3am, Tickets £12.50 - £18.50
www.scala-london.co.uk

Saturday 4th April
International Gala 'Jetsetters Ball': *2 Showcases
@ BUSH HALL, 310 Uxbridge Road, W12
6pm-9pm, 10pm-1am, Tickets £24.50 - £29.50
www.bushhallmusic.co.uk

Sunday 5th April
VIP Closing Party
@ CAFE DE PARIS, 3-4 Coventry Street, W1D
Dinner Soiree, Secrets in Lace Fashion Show, Closing Showcase
6pm-1am, Tickets £34.50 - £39.50
www.cafedeparis.com

For full details and performer schedule visit: www.londonburlesquefest.com

Tickets are on sale exclusively from www.ticketweb.co.uk

You can read my review from last year's opening show here

Not sure I'll end up on stage again this year, but I will be behind the DJ decks on Saturday 4th April at Bush Hall for both the early and late shows.

To further whet your appetite, here are some photos from last year courtesy of Elizabeth Shingleton:

Muddy Waters Jr. at The Luminaire - Thu 19 Mar

2009-03-17T12:34:00.005Z

Muddy Water's first-born son, Mud Morganfield, will be playing live at The Luminaire with Big Joe Louis and his Blues Kings this Thursday 19th March. This will be Mud's debut London show and should be an unmissable night.

Tickets are still available from wegottickets.com and ticketweb.com, but be quick!

The Luminaire is at: 311 High Road, Kilburn, London, NW6 7JR

Doors open at 7.30pm

Just like his father, Mud Morganfield was a truck driver with a passion for music and in his spare time he would sing with various soul groups. As he grew older and particularly since his father's funeral in 1983 (where he met his half brother Bill Morganfield for the first time) he moved towards and finally embraced the blues. Mud is his fathers son, looking remarkably similar and possessed of a fine baritone voice in the tradition of Muddy Snr. Mud cut his teeth in the clubs of the Chicago Southside, but has until recently kept a low profile and quietly built a solid audience with childhood friends like Eddie Taylor Jr helping him out on the bandstand.

In July 2007 Mud stepped out into the limelight playing a show with Big Bill Morganfield at the Muddy Waters Memorial Festival in Westmont, Illinois and then straight on to his own set at the Chicago Blues Festival. He then released his debut record in 2008 and hasn't looked back.

Mud Morganfield's first UK shows in 2007 were a sell-out success and he has since toured throughout Europe, North America and South America. Mud's show at The Luminaire on Thursday 19 March will be his first ever London appearance so don't miss out on a piece of living blues history!

You can listen to some great performances from Mud on Youtube here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgLVdBgJxBM
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzlU5EQ7Wjg

For more info on the venue visit www.theluminaire.co.uk

To find out more about Mud Morganfield, check out his website: www.mudmorganfield.com

The Cavern threatened with closure - please help

2009-03-14T19:13:00.005Z

Just received news from the promoters of 60s soul night Walls Of Heartache that the club's venue, The Cavern, has been threatened with closure. This is a great night and a lovely little venue that I've DJ'd at myself in the past and it would be a sad thing for the Waltham Forest community if it were to shut down.

If you have time and would like to help protect another independent quality music venue from closing down, then you should email Brian Bowater at Waltham Forest Council ASAP to voice your concerns.

You should send emails to: Brian.Bowater@walthamforest.gov.uk with "The Cavern, Forest Road, Walthamstow" as the subject line.

Please also copy Dave from Walls Of Heartache in at: dave@brhodgson.co.uk so that he can print off the emails ahead of the venue's license review.

Here is the info I received from Dave:

"Dear Walls Of Heartache friends,

Our home in Walthamstow for the past four years - The Cavern on Forest Road - is under threat after one complaint about noise and a petition from a resident following an incident nearby, not even inside, The Cavern over Xmas.

The license is up for review next week and there is a real possibility that the club will be closed.

We are asking people who care to drop an email to the Council's Noise Team/Licensing Dept showing your support for the club.

It's important that we can show that while there may be a few people who want to see it closed for their own reasons, that we see it as an important place where local people of all ages and backgrounds can come together and enjoy themselves without having to travel into Central London or further afield.

We would appreciate it if you could take ten minutes to email the Council officer detailed below.

Many thanks

Fingers crossed

Andy & Dave Wall Of Heartache"

Skinny silk tie clearout at John Pearse

2009-03-14T18:27:00.006Z

Soho tailor John Pearse is currently clearing out hundreds of lovely hand-made slim silk ties in dozens of different designs. I have a few of John's ties myself (such as the one pictured) and they are amongst my favourites. They are lovely looking, very narrow and just as importantly they tie extremely well.

The ties have been reduced to £30 each or three for £60 - bargain! Some of these designs are very limited with only one or two left, so get down there now to check them out. And don't forget to say Jean-Paul sent you!

To find out more about John Pearse visit: www.johnpearse.co.uk

Saturday nights at The Last Days Of Decadence

2009-02-18T11:54:00.006Z

Starting in March, the sumptuous Art Deco Last Days Of Decadence bar/club in Shoreditch is launching a series of weekly Saturday night extravaganzas featuring live music, burlesque and DJs spinning vintage dancefloor sounds.

I've been booked to DJ there myself on Saturday 21st March and will be joined by big little (or little big, depending on how you look at it) jazz band The Andy Williamson Buzztet plus divine burlesque beauty Chrys Columbine.

The night runs from 8pm till 2.30am and admission is just £5 all night. The club is situated at: 145 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JE

To find out more about this lovely venue, visit www.thelastdaysofdecadence.co.uk

Penny Reel meets Rock A Shacka - Fri 27 Feb

2009-02-09T18:08:00.004Z

A night of old-school Blues dance vibes coming up later in the month, as Japan's ska master Tommy from Rock A Shacka records meets London's foundation reggae journalist and collector Penny Reel.

Musical Fever is the name of this promotion and they describe their musical policy as "jazz and r'n'b through boogie-woogie, ska, rocksteady, reggae and roots; through soul, Latin and Afro"

If you heard Penny Reel DJ at Right On! a few years ago you'll know you can expect some serious ska rarities from this veteran collector who bought his first Blue Beat single back in 1961.

And as Rock A Shacka is the label that brought out the official reissues of Prince Buster and Gayfeet rarities and unreleased tracks a few years back, I would expect some real rarities from Tommy too.

Details as follows:

Musical Fever presents a night of pure Jamaican Vibes
@ The Others (above snooker hall)
6-8 Manor Road, Stoke Newington, London, N16 5SA
Advance tickets: £6 (more on the door)
9pm - 3am
Sound system supplied by Gladdy Wax

For more info visit www.myspace.com/musicalfever67

Seydou Keïta's photography at Tate Modern

2009-02-09T17:05:00.006Z

If you haven't seen it yet, you still have time to get down to the Tate Modern for their exhibition of Seydou Keïta's excellent photography, titled "50 Works". But do hurry, as I believe the work is only on display for another couple of months.

Seydou Keïta (1921-2001) was one of the most celebrated photographers in West Africa. From his studio in Bamako, Mali where he lived and worked, Keïta took about 20,000 portraits between 1949 and 1963.

To find out more and to preview some of the photographs in the exhibition, visit:

www.tate.org.uk/modern/explore/room.do?show=1333&code=10&action=1

Jean-Paul Séculaire at Jukebox Jam - Fri 13 Feb

2009-02-05T03:13:00.006Z

Well, it's nearly my birthday again! Where does the time go?! I was planning to celebrate at Chick-A-Boom, but unfortunately the Vibe Bar have cancelled it for the time being. So instead I'll be guest DJing at the excellent Jukebox Jam club night on Friday 13th February (don't worry... I ain't superstitious!)

It's a great session in a well-known East End boozer-cum-arts venue and features live bands and DJs playing 50s and 60s rockin' R&B, Southern soul and Jamaican ska. I haven't been there for some time as Chick-A-Boom always fell on the same night, so I am really looking forward to returning. Details as follows:

Jukebox Jam @ The George Tavern
Friday 13th February. 8pm - 3am
373 Commercial Road, London, E1 0LA
£4 before 9:30pm then £6 (£4 for members)

Live music this month will come courtesy of the relaunched Blue Beat label house band No. 1 Station plus a solo set from blues pianist/vocalist Cookie The Cutter.

Please note that the venue only has a 150 person capacity, so do be sure to arrive early if you're coming!

For more info check out www.myspace.com/jukejam

Texas Ranger's new show on Bang Radio

2009-01-16T04:49:00.007Z

If you like your old-school Jamaican music, then make sure you tune into DJ Texas Ranger's new show on Bang Radio. The show now runs from 8pm till 10pm.

Texas Ranger is a highly regarded record collector and an excellent DJ. Every Sunday evening she will be spinning rare and classic rocksteady, reggae and more from her enviable collection. If you're based in North West London you can pick up the show on 103.6 FM; otherwise you can listen live online from anywhere in the world by going to:

www.bangradio.fm

Formerly known as Life FM, Bang Radio is an award-winning community station run by charity Bang Edutainment. The station is based in Harlesden and specialises in reggae, soul, hip hop, rap and urban music. To find out more visit: www.bang-ed.com

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas live - Sat 20th Dec

2008-12-07T11:51:00.006Z

Legendary Motown artist Martha Reeves is to play a one-off date in London on Saturday 20th December. The concert takes place at the beautiful Bloomsbury Ballroom in Holborn (formerly home of The Magic Theatre club night).

Tickets are priced at £25 and can be bought online from www.seetickets.com - though a £3 booking fee and £4.80 transaction fee apply!

For more information visit www.bloomsburyballroom.co.uk

Gladdy Wax @ Chick-A-Boom - 12 Dec

2008-12-06T07:14:00.003Z

Legendary Jamaican sound man Gladdy Wax is going to be joining myself and Mistah Brown on the decks at the Chick-A-Boom Xmas special this coming Friday, 12th December.

Gladdy is well known as one of the UK's top revival DJs and sound system operators and hosts a sound at Notting Hill Carnival every year. He has been DJing for nearly 40 years and has an extremely enviable collection of vintage black music.

He has been a regular guest at Right On! over the years and played a brilliant set at Chick-A-Boom earlier this year. If you missed that one, then make sure you get down to this as you will hear Gladdy selecting some fantastic ska, doo wop, 50s r&b and 60s soul.

Being the festive season, you can also expect me to pull out some interesting Xmas dancefloor numbers to get you in the mood!

Details as follows:

Chick-A-Boom! @ The Vibe Bar
The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
(nearest tube/train: Liverpool Street)
Friday 12th December
8pm - 1am
£5 on the door

NOTE: Unfortunately The Vibe Bar does not admit under 21s.

Natty Bo presents Killer Dillers - Sat 29 Nov

2008-11-20T03:28:00.005Z

Natty Bo's Killer Dillers club night returns to central London for a second outing on Saturday 29th November. This time the venue is Guy's Bar near London Bridge - another club owned by The King's College Student Union, so expect the same super cheap drinks prices. Natty tells me this venue is more intimate and more atmospheric than Tutu's, though I'm not sure whether this one has a view of the river.

Musically you can expect another phenomenal night of 78rpms from Natty and Count Sizzle covering blues, jazz, swing, calypso, mento and Latin sounds so don't miss out!

Killer Dillers (part 2) @ Guy's Bar
St. Thomas Street (through courtyard), London Bridge, SE1 9RT
9pm - 2.30am
£5 admission

DJs battle all weekend - 21st & 22nd November

2008-11-20T02:38:00.005Z

Maybe it's something about the cold winter air that makes us DJs feel all competitive, but the last ever Wheelie Bag Clash took place last Sunday at the 100 Club and now there are two more clashes to look forward to this coming weekend!

First of all is The Sagaboys DJ Cup Clash on Friday 21st November in Clapton. I am taking part in this myself and would love to see some of you down there. It's hotting up to be quite a night so make sure you bring your whistles and make some noise! For full details see my previous blog post here.

Then on Saturday 22nd November some of the biggest revival reggae DJs in London are gathering to clash in Dalston. Names include Gladdy Wax, Tiny T and Asher G (The Rocksteady Daddy). One things for sure, this will be quite a contest with some amazing tunes being showcased. Especially as the winner will walk away with £1000 (the winner of the Sagaboys Clash just gets a trophy!)

Details as follows:

I Remember That! (clash and dance) @ Bar 512
Saturday 22nd November 2008
512 Kingsland Road, Dalston, London, E8 4AE
10pm - 5am
admission: £7

URGENT - Ronnie Scott's night CANCELLED - 15 Nov

2008-11-14T17:44:00.006Z

I am extremely sorry to announce that just half an hour ago I received a phone call telling me the management of Ronnie Scott's have cancelled my night there tomorrow (15 Nov). Apparently they double booked the venue and forgot to tell the promoters and DJs until this evening! Unfortunately there was absolutely nothing I could do to change this decision.

As you can imagine, I am shocked and upset by this. In seven years DJing and promoting this has never happened to me before and I would never have expected a world-famous venue like Ronnie Scott's to display this level of unprofessionalism.

All I can do is offer my sincerest apologies to you all. Especially for the unbelievably short notice. If I had any idea this could have happened I would never have arranged the night there.

Not only has this messed up my weekend and wasted many hours of my time spent in promoting and preparing the night, but around 150 people have also had their weekends messed up including people who were going to celebrate their birthday there and some who had planned to travel from outside London like those from Brighton & Hove and even the Midlands. I really hope this hasn't put anyone out of pocket.

Please could I ask you to pass this information on to anyone you know who might be planning on attending tomorrow night? I would really hate for anyone to waste their time and money travelling down there.

I can only apologise again and assure you I will do everything in my power to never allow this to happen again at any venue I DJ at in the future.

Thank you for the music

2008-11-10T17:48:00.004Z

More sad news today. I was shocked to read of the death of legendary South African singer Miriam Makeba - also known as Mama Afrika.

You can read the story here: www.miriammakeba.co.za

This comes just days after the death of Byron Lee whose band The Dragonaires were responsible for some of the finest ska, rocksteady, calypso and reggae recordings of the 1960s.

Despite the joy the news of Barack Obama being elected the first black president of the United States has brought to the world, this is a sad time as we have lost so many inspiring musical heroes during the last few weeks, including one of my all time favourite singers - Alton Ellis.

Read more about the passing of Alton Ellis, Byron Lee and other Jamaican greats here

Other legends who have just recently passed away are Levi Stubbs (lead singer of The Four Tops), Dee Dee Warwick (soul singer and sister of Dionne Warwick) and Andrew "Mike" Terry (Funk Brother and Detroit saxophonist who played on so many of the great 60s soul tunes).

This coming weekend I am playing Right On! sets at The Vibe Bar and Ronnie Scott's and am dedicating the sessions to the memory of all these wonderful singers and musicians. I will be paying tribute by playing many of their fantastic and life-affirming recordings. Their music will live forever.