OSAKA MONAURAIL @ Apolo 05/12/10

Sunday 5^th December 2010

Apolo

Nou de la Rambla

08001 Barcleona

20:30

Entry Price: €18.00 / €21.00

www.myspace.com/osakamonaurail

OSAKA MONAURAIL

There is something intrinsically clever within Japanese musical culture, that allows their musicians to take the elements of many Western genres – ska, jazz, hip-hop – reproduce them perfectly and then add an undefinable element to the mix, to give them a completely original stamp. OSAKA MONAURAIL, have been doing this with funk for the last eighteen years… using the classic, early 70s, James Brown style as their template they manage to create a sound and performance that is now totally their own.

OSAKA MONAURAIL deliver a terrific live performance. Nine incredibly tight musicians including a three-piece horn section, dancing with perfectly choreographed moves onstage – decked out in the sharpest of suits (so sharp in fact, that they include an iron and ironing board in their backstage rider). In Ryo Nakata they have a frontman, with a huge amount of charisma, whether he’s belting out soul on the microphone or executing ‘the splits’, he’s a singer that audiences automatically want to get up and party with.

The band has received many accolades from their funky heroes and heroines. Touring throughout Asia and Europe with the original Soul Sister No.1 - Marva Whitney, from the James Brown Review, with whom they also collaborated in the studio, to produce her first album in thirty-six years! They’ve also hosted shows with other legendary funk musicians - trombonist Fred Wesley and drummer Clyde Stubblefield, from The JBs.

OSAKA MONAURAIL have visited Barcelona several times, in the last four years and their most recent album/DVD ‘Live In Spain’ was actually recorded at the Apolo in November 2008. So if you’re in the market for some razor-sharp funky sounds, executed with exquisite style and showmanship, then make sure you put this date in your gig diary.

Roger C

IMELDA MAY @ Bikini 11/11/10

Thursday 11^th November 2010

BIKINI

C/Diagonal 547

Barcelona

19:30

Entry Price: €20.00/€24.00

www.imeldamay.com

IMELDA MAY

In the last few years there has been a huge resurgence in the fusion of country, blues and rock’n’roll music known as ‘Rockabilly’. Rockabilly, in all its’ aspects, has emerged from the underground, and is busy flicking its’ greasy quiff all over mainstream culture.

There are the new Rockabilly stars as well, of which IMELDA MAY is undoubtedly the most successful. Born in Dublin, Imelda was raised on a diet of Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochrane and Gene Vincent… when she began her singing career at sixteen it was in the cities burlesque club scene, most of which she too young to even be inside.

In 2006 Imelda started her first band, which caught the attention of Joolz Holland, whom she supported on tour and appeared on his television show ‘Later’. Her debut album ‘Love Tattoo’ (2009), did incredibly well – reaching the top of the Irish Album Charts, and going on to sell Triple Platinum, making Imelda the first Irish female artist to be at number one for twenty years. The new album ‘Mayhem’ released in September, slammed straight into the top spot at number one, an astounding feat for any artist, but for one playing a supposedly ‘minority interest’ music style like rockabilly, it is a rare achievement.

Imelda and her band, whose collective CV reads like a ‘who’s who’ of rock’n’roll talent – have been touring extensively for the last few years, in 2010 alone taking in festivals such as Glastonbury, T-In-The-Park, WOMAD and Electric Picnic. Imelda’s incredible voice has won her accolades from the likes of guitar-legend Jeff Beck, who invited her to perform with him at this years’ Grammy Awards.

You don’t have to be a Rockabilly aficionado to appreciate Imelda May, she’s a great performer with a really exciting band, who create such a party onstage that you just want to get up there with them.

Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, November 2010)

SHARON JONES & THE DAP-KINGS @ Apolo 26/10/10

Tuesday 26th October 2010

Apolo

Nou de la Rambla

08001 Barcleona

20:00

Entry Price: €20.00 / €23.00

www.sharonjonesand thedapkings.com

SHARON JONES AND THE DAP-KINGS

With a live show reminiscent of the great Stax and Motown revues of the 60s, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings are undoubtedly, the most exciting live funk and soul band, in the world today. Sharon herself possesses enough energy and onstage electricity, to power a small city, her incredible voice embodies everything that is great about rhythm and blues… in turn both raw and tender, sweet and strong – inspired by the likes of Mavis Staples, James Brown, Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin.

Her compatriots of the last ten years, the eight-strong Dap-Kings are the amongst tightest musicians that you’ll ever hear, and when they’re not touring the world with Sharon, you’ll find them in the studio with the likes of Al Green, Mark Ronson or playing on Amy Winehouse’s Grammy Award winning album “Back In Black”.

The bands’ latest album “I Learned The Hard Way” (their fourth), on their own Daptone label, was recorded exclusively on an 8-track tape machine, in order to capture that authentic deep soul sound, and is their most ambitious to date.

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings have been frequent visitors to Barcelona over the years, and with local funksters The Excitments in support, this promises to be one of their biggest shows so far, so get your tickets early.

Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, October 2010)

DOMINIQUE YOUNG UNIQUE @ Razzmatazz 21/08/10

Saturday 21^st August 2010

Lolita @ RAZZMATAZZ

Pamplona, 88,

08018 Barcleona

Entry Price: €15.00 / €12.00

www.myspace.com/dominiqueyoungunique

DOMINIQUE YOUNG UNIQUE

Freak-rap, hip-hop, booty-bass, electro, dub-punk, sometimes an artist comes along who ticks all the boxes, but fits in none of them. From Tampa, Florida DOMINIQUE YOUNG UNIQUE is from this fresh crop of new rappers, she’s been recording at Yo Majesty’s studio, since the age of twelve – and now at eighteen she’s ready to unleash the results on the world. This year she’s already blitzed SXSW in Texas, and has European festivals Pukkelpop, Lowlands and Transmusicals lined up for the summer.

The relentless energy of Dominique’s new single “Show My Ass”, has been kicking up a storm on MTV… leading to comparisons with Santigold and MIA. Razzmatazz is her debut in Spain, so don’t sleep on this show… because this time next year she’s going to be massive.

Roger C (Barcelona Miniguide, August 2010)

ERYKAH BADU @ Poble Espanyol 18/07/10

Sunday 18th July
El Poble Espanyol
Av. Marquès de Comillas,
08038 – Barcelona
Entry Price: €45.00

www.erykahbadu.com

ERYKAH BADU

In the world of hip-hop and nu-soul, Erykah Badu exists as a truly original talent, circling way out in an eccentric orbit, that owes little to her contemporaries. Collaborating with maverick producers such as Madlib, Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra Creative Partners) and the late J.Dilla – her recordings have always pushed at the boundaries, in her own inimitable style.

It’s now thirteen years since her debut “Baduizm” took the hip-hop scene by storm, selling three million copies and winning her two Grammys in the process. Now 2010 sees the release of her sixth album, the second part of her “New Amerykah” magnum opus “Return Of The Ankh”… and yet again it marks another change of direction. Whereas “Part One”, recorded during the Bush presidency was funky, aggressive and very political, the new album is much more introspective and personal with ‘love’ as it’s central theme.

As a live performer, Erykah Badu has few rivals… along with her unique vocal style, she possesses a magnetic and commanding charisma, which keeps the observer glued to every single gesture and look she makes on the stage. She never loses her ability to completely dumbfound an audience, at her last Barcelona show in the Movistar Arena, she suddenly crossed to the front of the stage and dived into the crowd, allowing them to pass her above their heads for a full ten minutes whilst she continued singing.

This will be Erykah Badu’s second appearance at Poble Espanyol, and is a perfect combination of a brilliant performer in a beautiful outdoor setting, definitely not a show to be missed.


Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, July 2010)

QUANTIC AND HIS COMBO BARBARO @ Esperanzah Festival 26/06/10

Saturday 26th June
ESPERANZAH! WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL
El Prat de Llobregat
Barcelona
Entry Price: €45.00 (3 days)

www.tru-thoughts.co.uk/artists/quantic-and-his-combo-barbaro

QUANTIC AND HIS COMBO BARBARO

Will Holland aka Quantic, is one of the UK’s finest, and most unique, musical talents, capable of working in a wide range of different genres… deep funk with the Quantic Soul Orchestra, reggae and tropical-dub with the Flowering Inferno, and now probably his most critically acclaimed outfit so far Quantic And His Combo Barbaro (literally a ‘group of barbarians’).

Since relocating from his native Brighton to Cali, Colombia in 2007, Quantic has released three magnificent albums – last years’ “Tradition In Transition” (Tru Thoughts Records) recorded in collaboration with many local artists, as Combo Barbaro has received excellent reviews and reached the top five of the World Music Charts. Likewise the live shows, have been enthralling audiences around Europe for the last year, featuring musicians from the UK, Peru, Argentina and Colmbia, including the mesmerising singer Nidia Góngora. They manage to weave a delicate path through all elements of Latin-American styles, fused with Caribbean and African rhythms – resulting in a sound that is simultaneously classic and completely contemporary and unique.

Now at last we have the opportunity to see this incredible live band in Barcelona, at the Esperanzah! World Music Festival, where they’ll be appearing on the same day as local legends Ojos de Brujo… making this an unmissable event.

Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, June 2010)

GIL SCOTT-HERON @ Bikini 04/05/10

Tuesday 4th May
BIKINI
C/Diagonal 547
Barcelona
21:30
Entry Price: €32.00 / €35.00

http://www.myspace.com/gilscottheron

GIL SCOTT-HERON

Gil Scott-Heron has always been a man at war, with both authority and his own inner demons. Whether it be the U.S. Government – ‘Washington D.C.’, ‘Whitey On The Moon’; apartheid and racism - ‘Johannesburg’; or his own battle with alcoholism ‘The Bottle’. Now he’s back, stronger and more relevant than ever, with his first studio album in seventeen years ‘I’m New Here’ on XL Recordings – a masterpiece of real depth and soul. Produced by XL’s Richard Russell, the album fuses the finest of contemporary beats with Scott-Heron’s unique world-view, and includes his version of Robert Johnson’s blues classic ‘Me and the Devil’ upated for the 21st century. Guest musicians on the record include Blur’s Damon Albarn and film-maker Chris Cunningham.

Gil Scott-Heron was supposed to have played in Barcelona last year, unfortunately the US authorities refused to allow him to leave the country, as he had not long been released from jail, due to his ongoing drug problems. Now at last we’ll have the opportunity to witness his unique talent, live at Bikini, as part of this extensive European tour. Considered by many to be the ‘Godfather of Rap’, and a consistent critic of the US administration since his first recordings in the early 70’s, Gil Scott-Heron is a true maverick and always remember… ‘The Revolution Will Not Be Televised’.

Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, May 2010)

MACEO PARKER @ Palau de la Musica 08/04/10

Thursday 8^th April

Mil-leni Festival

Palau de la Musica

Barcelona

21:00

Entry Price: €30.00

http://www.maceo.com

MACEO PARKER

There are few musicians in the world these days, who can truly deserve the title “living legend”, fortunately for us MACEO PARKER is one. He has been making us dance for almost fifty years, and shows no sign of quitting any time soon. Last year his album ‘Roots & Grooves’ won a Jammie, for Best Jazz Album of 2009.

Maceo joined James Brown’s band back in 1964, playing alto, tenor and baritone saxophone and would play with the ‘Godfather of Soul’, on and off, for the next twenty-five years. Together they forged a whole new genre of music we now know as ‘funk’… so many of J.B.s greatest recordings are punctuated with the cry “Maceo! We want you to blow!” prior to a mindblowing sax solo from the master. Maceo has also headed up his own bands: The King’s Men and The Macks. In 1975 (along with another James Brown sideman Fred Wesley), he joined the most spectacular funk band of all time, George Clinton’s Parliament / Funkadelic, who took the music to whole other level, with outrageous costumes and enormous stage props of flying saucers.

Maceo’s solo career really took off in the 90’s, with his band averaging between 100 / 150 shows a year ever since. He has been a member of Prince’s New Power Generation, and plays on many of his greatest hits, he has also guested on albums with artists as diverse as De La Soul and Jane’s Addiction. In 2007, he supported Prince during his record breaking, 21 night residency at London’s O2 Arena.

On this tour, Maceo Parker will be playing with his “greatest little funk orchestra on earth”, re-visiting his own back catalogue and paying tribute to the great Ray Charles, whose songs made up his last award-winning ‘Roots & Grooves’ album. So be prepared to dance up a storm, even within the hallowed halls of the Palau de la Musica, you won’t be able to resist. As he says it’s “2% jazz and 98% funky stuff.”

Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, April 2010)

BIG BOSS MAN @ Marula Cafe 03/03/10

Wednesday 3rd March
Marula Café
c/Esculliders 49, Gotic
Barcelona
20:30
Entry Price: TBA

http://www.myspace.com/bigbossmanmyspace

BIG BOSS MAN

There must be something in the water in the UK, that enables so many fine and funky, Hammond-organ led, beat-combos to flourish. The James Taylor Quartet and The New Mastersounds, are probably the best known – but BIG BOSS MAN have also been producing excellent records for the last twelve years. Nasser Bouzida, Trevor Harding and Scott Milsom played at London’s legendary Blow Up club early in 1999, and made such an impression that they were immediately signed to the label. Since then they have released three albums and countless singles, some of which have made a very big impression; “Party 7” was featured in FIFA’s 2006 World Cup Campaign. They have remixed Paul Weller’s Top 20 hit “The Bottle”, and provided the soundtrack for (and starred in), the short film “Sweet”, a comedy by The Mighty Boosh duo Julian Barrett and Noel Fielding. Their latest album “Full English Beat Breakfast”, was released in September on Blow Up, to great acclaim.

BIG BOSS MAN have brought their own inimitable brew, of 60s / 70s influenced funk, rhythm’n’blues, latin soul, boogaloo and organ-driven grooves to Spain many times, and earned themselves a loyal and devoted following in the process – so this should be a night for some serious “getting-down”.

Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, March 2010)

THE DUSTAPHONICS @ L'Ovella Negra 06/02/10

Saturday 6th February 2010
L'Ovella Negra del Poble Nou

Barcelona

THE DUSTAPHONICS

French DJ, Healer Selecta is one of the London scene’s best loved characters, responsible for the Raison d’Etre club, sponsored by legends like Bo Diddley and Spanky Wilson. But every now and again, he’ll swap his box of 45’s for a guitar, form a band and cut a few records of his own.

The Dustaphonics is his collaboration with the dynamic female singer Aina, they’ve been described as ‘the new Ike & Tina Turner’… they blend rock’n’roll, soul, r’n’b, surf and boogaloo together, in a supercharged hi-octane mix. Their self-titled debut album (out soon on King-A-Ling) features such renowned musicians as Bruce Brand (Milkshakes / Headcoats), John Gibbs (The Masonics) and Snowboy on percussion, and was recorded at Hackneys’ old-school analogue studio – Toe Rag. The lyrics to one of their new single “Burlesque Queen”, were written by cult-movie icon Tura Satana, karate-chopping star of Russ Meyer’s “Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill” (1965).

With these excellent credentials, The Dustaphonics look certain to deliver a set of top-quality rock’n’soul.

Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, February 2010)

NAOMI SHELTON & THE GOSPEL QUEENS @ Razzmatazz 2. 12/12/09

Saturday 12th December
Razzmatazz 2

Barcelona
Time: TBA
Admission: TBA

NAOMI SHELTON & THE GOSPEL QUEENS

If you’re searching for the spiritual home of real soul music in the twenty-first century, then look no further than the Daptone Records’ House Of Soul recording studio in Brooklyn, NYC. For the last eight years, they have been producing authentic rhythm’n’blues music with that original 60s/70s feeling, but still managing to sound contemporary at the same time. The label has brought us Sharon Jones, Sugarman 3, Budos Band and a host of others, and the house band The Dap-Kings, are also well known for providing the funk for more mainstream pop-artists, such as Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson.

Now Barcelona is in for a real treat, a visit from Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens to promote their debut album on Daptone… “What Have You Done, My Brother”, a timeless blend of soul & gospel which brings to mind Ray Charles, The Staples Singers, Sam Cooke and Wilson Pickett.

Naomi and musical director / keyboardist Cliff Driver, having been making music together, off and on, for over forty-five years, since first meeting at the Night Cap club in Brooklyn in 1963. Naomi hails from an Alabama / gospel background and despite many years performing on the r’n’b circuit, she still finds time to sing every Sunday at her local Baptist church. Between 1947 and 1980, Cliff crossed the United States time and time again, with various rhythm’n’blues bands, before becoming a church organist for nearly twenty years. Then in the late 90’s he came back to the clubs… and cut some 45s with Naomi for the Desco label, which were championed by ‘deep funk’ DJs Keb Darge and Snowboy. Sixty years as a professional musician, would be an incredible achievement for most people, maybe even more so for Cliff Driver, as he has been blind since childhood.

The full band line-up and backing singers The Gospel Queens, finally all came together in 2007 and the album was made, mainly live and direct to eight-track tape, giving it that incredible life and vitality, that you only get from analogue recording. With great songs like “Wind Your Clock”, “What Have You Done” and the direct attack on the US healthcare system and Iraq war “Am I Asking Too Much”, the record is definitely one of the best rhythm’n’blues albums of recent years.

So if you want to discover how great soul music should sound, with rich gospel vocals and a band of musicians, whose experience stretches back to the late 1940’s… then this a show that you shouldn’t miss.

Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, December 2009)

THE PHENOMENAL HANDCLAP BAND @ Olimpic Badalona 5/12/09

(Supporting Franz Ferdinand)
Pavello Olimpic de Badalona, Badalona
Saturday 5th December 2009
20.15
Tickets: €35.00

THE PHENOMENAL HANDCLAP BAND

From New York City, The Phenomenal Handclap Band are something very special, blending elements from a whole range of different musical styles – they create a sound that is at the same time familiar and completely fresh. Psychedelia, disco, electro, Brazilian and glam-rock, are all mixed up in their debut self-titled album on Tim ‘Love’ Lee’s Tummy Touch label. Imagine ESG, Tom Tom Club, Sly & The Family Stone and Os Mutantes all jamming together, and then being produced by LCD Soundsystem and you’d be half-way there.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band are a loose collective of musicians, based around New York DJs Daniel Collas and Sean Marquand – for this live incarnation, there are eight musicians onstage, six guys and two female singers. Their show has been compared to some something more like a spiritual church ‘revival meeting’ than a conventional ‘rock gig’, fuelled by a huge rhythmic powerhouse of drums and percussion.

So, if you’re on the way to Badalona to see Franz Ferdinand, make sure you get there nice and early to catch The Phenomenal Handclap Band, and check out the excellent new single “15 to 20”, which includes some fine remixes by the likes of Horse Meat Disco.

http://www.myspace.com/phenomenalhandclap

Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, December 2009)

MAYER HAWTHORNE & THE COUNTY @ Sala Apolo 22/11/09

Sala Apolo
Sunday 22nd November
20.30
Advance €20.00 / Door €24.00

http://www.stonesthrow.com/mayerhawthorne

MAYER HAWTHORNE & THE COUNTY

When Stones Throw label boss, Peanut Butter Wolf, first heard Mayer Hawthorne’s music, he thought he was listening to something from the mid-60s… maybe some lost Tamla Motown recordings. It is amazing to think, that such rich soul music, can still be being made in the cynical 21st Century – especially by a white boy from Ann Arbor, Michigan, who not only sings in a beautiful, Smokey Robinson style voice, but also plays all the instruments on his recordings. Wolf signed him up after hearing just two songs, and his faith has been fully justified with Hawthorne’s excellent debut album “A Strange Arrangement”.

He has picked up a lot of acclaim from BBC Radio 1’s Gilles Peterson and dj/producer Mark Ronson, and even sang live onstage with The Roots in New York. Two excellent pop / soul singles – “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” and “Maybe So, Maybe No”, have earned Mayer a substantial fanbase across Europe, which has enabled him to embark on this, his debut tour.

Heavily influenced by such legends as Curtis Mayfield, Issac Hayes, the songwriting team of Holland, Dozier & Holland, plus of course the aforementioned Smokey, Mayer Hawthorne will be sure to convince you that it is still possible, to create living and breathing soul music, with genuine emotions - even in our age of disposable pop and X-Factor banality.


Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, November 2009)

'SOUL POWER' @ In-Edit Film Festival 11/09

“SOUL POWER”
Director Jeffrey Levy Hinte 2009

September 1974, in Kinhasa, Zaire one of the most important events in African / American musical history took place. A three day festival featuring the cream of the USA’s soul, funk and latin music scene, alongside some of Africa’s finest artists. It was timed to coincide with the epic boxing match between Muhammed Ali and George Foreman. The fight was the main focus of the award winning documentary “When We Were Kings”, but now “Soul Power” puts together the “outtakes” of the concert which have been locked in the vaults for 34 years.

James Brown at the absolute peak of his career, South African singer Miriam Makeba, The Fania Allstars featuring Celia Cruz, Bill Withers, The Crusaders and BB.King, plus the people of Kinhasa themselves make this a festival movie to rate alongside ‘Wattstax’ and ‘Woodstock’.

Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, November 2009)

ALEXANDER BARCK (Jazzanova) @ Marula Cafe 15/10/09

Thursday 15th October
Marula Café, c/Escudellers 49, Gotic
Doors 24:00, Free before 01.30, €10 after 01.30

LASAL at MARULA - ALEXANDER BARCK (JAZZANOVA / Berlin)

Lasal at Arenys de Mar, is one of the finest Chiringuitos on the Catalan coast, with easily the best music policy. With a history stretching back to 1993 they have featured some of the best DJs on the funk, jazz, soul & hip-hop scene: Quantic, Vadim, Jimi Tenor, Seiji, Coldcut & The Herbaliser to name just a few.

Now the Lasal crew bring their expertise to the brand new Marula Café in the heart of Barcelona, a beautiful new venue with a fine sound system, run by and catering for genuine music lovers.

First off, Lasal present Alexander Barck, producer and DJ from Germany’s finest Nu-Jazz collective Jazzanova. Although they’ve been producing and remixing other artists since 1995, they only just released their second ‘official’ album last year, but it has been well worth the wait. “Of All The Things” (Verve / Sonar Kollektiv) is a beautifully deep and soulful record, with some excellent guest vocalists such as Jose James & Ben Westbeech.

In 2005, the legendary Blue Note jazz label invited Jazzanova to remix their favourites from their extensive back catalogue, which resulted in the much loved “Blue Note Trip” album.

So expect from Alexander Barck a DJ set brimming with soul and jazz, guaranteed to move your body & mind. Now if only some enterprising local promoter, would make a move to bring the full Jazzanova Live Band to Barcelona… then that would be another great day.

Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, October 2009)

MULATU ASTATKE @ Razzmatazz 2 10/10/09

Saturday 10th October
Razzmatazz 2 - €23.00

MULATU ASTATKE & THE HELIOCENTRICS

Mulatu Astatke is one of Ethiopia’s most respected musicians. Back in the 60’s he pioneered the genre of Ethio-Jazz, which blossomed during the “Swinging Addis” period - effortlessly combining western funk and jazz with traditional Ethiopian folk and African styles. He worked on the definitive series of “Ethiopique” albums & even composed the movie soundtrack for Jim Jarmusch’s “Broken Flowers”.

The Heliocentrics are a UK collective of incredibly talented musicians, influenced equally by Sun Ra and James Brown. They manage to fuse psychedelic jazz with Eastern sounds & contemporary hip-hop beats. Last year the Red Bull Music Academy brought them all together for a highly acclaimed show at Cargo in London, which was achieved with only one advance rehearsal. This was followed by a Gilles Peterson session at the BBC, and then the release of an album “Inspiration Information” (Strut Records) in March 09.

Their performance at this years’ Sonar Festival, was definitely the highlight of the weekend for funk, jazz and African music fans. Mulatu Astake’s radiant personality and skilful vibes playing
coupled with The Heliocentrics deft musicianship and spontaneity, won the crowd’s warm appreciation, despite some serious problems with the venue’s PA system – which kept cutting out at inopportune moments. No such problems are likely at Razzmatazz – so if you like your music with a deep and soulful groove , coupled with some brilliant musicianship, then this is definitely the concert for you.

Roger C (Miniguide Barcelona, October 2009)

MERCE / BAM Festival Barcelona 25&26/09/09

(Terry Lynn)

MERCE / BAM FESTIVAL GUIDE 2009

Friday 25th September: BAM Festival : Placa de la Catedral 24:00

TONY ALLEN

To fans of African music, drummer Tony Allen is a living legend. Together with the late Fela Kuti and their band Africa 70, he originated the genre of music known as Afrobeat by fusing jazz, funk and soul together with traditional African drumming to create one of the most powerful musical styles ever known. After fifty years Tony Allen’s talents are still heavily in demand, he was recently in Damon Albarn’s band The Good, The Bad & The Queen and has played for Grace Jones, Groove Armada and Air to name just a few. His new album ‘Secret Agent’ is out now on World Circuit.

http://www.myspace.com/tonyallenafrobeat

Friday 25th September: BAM FESTIVAL : Placa de la Catedral 22:30

ANTHONY JOSEPH & THE SPASM BAND

Since the release of his highly praised, second album ‘Bird Head Son’ at the beginning of the year, things have really taken off for the Trinidad-born Anthony Joseph. A true renaissance man he is a musician, poet, novelist and a lecturer in creative writing at the University of London. His music with The Spasm Band is an incredible fusion of jazz, funk, afrobeat, soca and psychedelic soul, bringing to mind Gil Scott-Heron and Jimi Hendrix.

http://www.myspace.com/adjoseph


Friday 25th September: BAM FESTIVAL : Placa Catalunya 24:00

JOE BATAAN & LOS FULANOS

Another living legend graces the Merce stage this year – 67 year old, Joe Bataan has been at the forefront of so many musical movements it’s amazing. Boogaloo and Latin Soul with his first recording ‘Gypsy Woman’ in 1967, one of the first ever Rap hits “Rap-O Clap-0” in 1979, Disco for the Salsoul label. Last year he put in an amazing performance at the Apolo, backed up by Barcelona’s masters of boogaloo: Los Fulanos, they have also recorded an album together of Joe’s classic hits entitled “The King Of Latin Soul” on Vampisoul Records.

http://www.joebataan.net

Saturday 26th September: BAM FESTIVAL : Forum Escenario Electrobam 02:00

TERRY LYNN

‘Kingston Logic’, Terry Lynn’s single from last year was a monster of a track… fusing her terrifying stories of life in the Waterhouse ghetto of Kingston, Jamaica… with hardest and most abrasive of electro-dancehall beats, which at the same time made you want to dance like crazed dervish. This is reggae with both feet planted firmly in the 21st century… unmissable.

http://www.kingstonlogic.com

Roger C (Miniguide BCN September 2009)

COOKIN' ON 3 BURNERS @ Marula Cafe 24/09/09

MARULA CAFÉ,

c/Esculliders 49, Gotic

Thursday 24^th September,

Doors 9.00pm. €12.00

COOKIN’ ON 3 BURNERS featuring KYLIE AULDIST

Unfortunately here in Barcelona we are a little ill-served with visiting international funk and soul bands, many tour the country without ever setting foot in our fair city, as most of the major league promoters here aren’t willing to take any risks, and prefer to stick with their tried & tested, commercial rock / pop artists. Respect then to local independents Risky Business, who have been bringing us some of the best acts from the contemporary funk scene for the last couple of years, and now present Australia’s hardest hitting Hammond Organ trio Cookin’ On 3 Burners.

Guitarist Lance Ferguson and his Melbourne compatriots are a veritable deep funk factory – The Bamboos, Kylie Auldist, Lanu and CO3B have, between them, produced eight albums for UK labels Freestyle and Tru’ Thoughts. CO3B are an organ-led trio, inspired by the likes of Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff and Rueben Wilson, steeped in the traditions of funk and jazz. For this tour they are joined by Bamboos vocalist, the wonderful Kylie Auldist who sings on their highly acclaimed new 45 “This Girl”, which looks set to be the soul single of the year.

So look forward to a night of groovin’ with this incredibly tight and talented band and be prepared for a few surprises. CO3B’s new album ‘Soul Messin’ (Freestyle Records) even contains a cover version of “Cars” with Jake Mason’s Hammond organ effortlessly transforming Gary Numan’s 80s synth pop hit into a mod-club floorfiller.

Roger C (Miniguide BCN September 2009)