11th October 2012
9pm
Floridita
100 Wardour Street
London W1F 0TN
020 7314 4000
“if you enjoyed FELA! you’ll love this……………….”
Afrobeat , dub , Ethio Funk and more heavy horn laden grooves
A firing 10 peice band playing uplifting original music in the spirit of great African big bands………………
The Fontanelles, from 9:30pm – 12am,The Fontanelles, a new band made up of established musicians from the world of Jazz, African and Reggae music. Collectively the band have played with the likes of Johnny Clarke, Keziah Jones, Chartwell Dutiro, Aswad, Courtney Pine, Plan B and Dele Sosimi to name a few. The band’s sound can be described as big band afrobeat infused with elements of funk , reggae and jazz
‘a terrific 12 piece band who intensify the music’s seductively repetitive rhythms’
The Independent
The Independent
‘the on stage band works up a storm as they pound through Fela Kuti’s hits to electrifying effect’
The Metro
The Metro
Good news, good news – Emanative’s ‘Love In Outer Space’ feat. Ahmed Abdullah was played on Gilles Peterson’s BBC Radio 6 Music show on 1st Sept (ok, I know I’m late blogging this but I was away at the time):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mgmdz
Yippee!!
I’m very excited to be taking part in the Africa Express UK tour starting tomorrow (part of the London 2012 Festival) – a meeting of established and up-and-coming African and western artists to create something new and unexpected. Every gig will be a little bit different……..
Here’s a description from the website:
“Africa Express began with a trip to Mali in 2006 and has since bought together some of the best musicians from around the world. Over the course of three more trips to Africa and a series of acclaimed concerts in Britain, France, Spain and Nigeria, Africa Express has evolved into what one national newspaper has called “the most revolutionary force in popular music in two decades”.
At our last major show in August 2010, an audience of more than 50,000 people enjoyed a five-hour show featuring more than 120 artists from Africa, Spain, Britain and the US.
Africa Express Sound System also headlined Standon Calling this summer.
2012…
In September 2012 Africa Express will travel through the UK, bringing together African and Western musicians for an inspirational week for artists and audiences alike. Unexpected gigs in unexpected places.
Visits to schools, factories, homes and local clubs. Each day, each town, each show will be different.
After a week of magic and mayhem, the tour arrives in London. A united army of musicians armed with new music will be ready for a finale show – a collaborative musical epic that defies musical and geographical boundaries.
All aboard the Africa Express…”
Some of the artists taking part are:
Tony Allen, Carl Barât, Toumani Diabate, Nicolas Jaar, Krar Collective, Kyla La Grange, M1 (Dead Prez), M.anifest, Spoek Mathambo, John McClure (Reverend and the Makers), Nneka, The Temper Trap, Marques Toliver, Gilles Peterson, Rae Morris, Rye Rye, The Very Best (Soundsystem), Rizzle Kicks, Amadou & Mariam, Damon Albarn, Baloji, Charli XCX, Fatoumata Diawara, Jupiter & Okwess International, Kano, Bassekou Kouyate, Baaba Maal, The Noisettes, Jack Steadman (Bombay Bicycle Club), Rokia Traoré, Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), Thandiswa, Bashy, Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals), Maxïmo Park, EL, Eliza Doolittle, Lucy Rose, The Bots, Rachel Unthank, Reeps One, Romeo Stodart (The Magic Numbers), and Rae Morris…..
(For a full list of artists, dates and tickets click HERE)
It’s going to be great – I hope you can join us somewhere along the way!
Olympic flame N London 25-7-12
Just spent a hugely enjoyable, productive day recording a version of Sun Ra’s ‘Love in Outer Space’ with the Emanative project and featuring a guest appearance from Ahmed Abdullah!! It features a host of fantastic musicians, so keep your eyes and ears open and spaceships at the ready for the cosmic journey……..more to come……
Here are a few lovely photos I’ve just discovered from our trip to perform at the MAD Festival 2012 in Ooty, India, earlier this year:
For more GREAT photos from ‘What’s the Scene?’ click HERE . Photo Credits :: Om Prakash, Trinadh Rakesh and Uday Shanker – A big ‘Thankyou’ to them!
Tamar Osborn 