BLOGNOR09: Caister on Sea

Caister Soul Weekenders celebrate thirty years this year! Caister was, and still is one of the many places to go and hear great Northern soul tracks. Northern has never lost its following of dedicated fans and continues to attract a new audience. Norwich still celebrates Northern and Motown with regular nights at the football ground, and you can hear some of the classics played on Future Radio 96.9fm by the great Kev Laws in his Cellar of Soul Show on Tuesday nights. Although my musical interests are far and wide, Northern can still get me on the dance floor. Here's some classics on You Tube to get you spinning!

Africa Delay in Frankfurt

Can't wait, off to Frankfurt for another night of fantastic sounds when Samy Pedo and I play the Africa Delay night at oldest bierkeller in town Friday Feb 28th! Every time I've played there the place has been packed with lovers of good music, Frankfurt really knows how to have a good time. Watch this space for the latest pics when I get back.

Analog Africas Vodoun Effect launch party

Well withall the other buisness going on , forgot to rave about that killer night in Frankfurt back in early November.
It was the launch of Samy Ben Redjebs excellant new cd Vodoun Effect on Analog Africa,its a compilation of Poly Rythmo Orchestres more obscure sides released in small nos round the Cotonou area in the 70s. I've played many of the 45s on my radio show, as usual it's excellantly researched and compiled by Samy who some of you may have met on his visit to Norwich or listened to on my radio show.Go to the Analog Africa link to hear and read more.
The night was a packer at the Frankfurt Jazzkeller (the oldest jazz club in Europe) with Gunter Gretz of Popular African Music putting in the speaker and light system he originally used back in the 70's.
The club was packed to the gills reminding me of the old Jolly Butcher nights and I always have a great time doing sets inbetween Pedo ( Frankfurts finest ) and Samy with his Colombian and Peruvian psyched out cumbia beats,a night to remember, thanks Pedo , Samy and Mark and big hugs to Poli for running us around.

Boiling Point club nite

Well for those who regulary visit my blog, may have noticed I haven't been posting much recently, partly my fault as I have been real busy with my day job.

Firstly I'd like to end any speculation concerning the Boiling Point club night which any of you who were regulars will know has finished for a while.

The April and May nites were poor as far as numbers. were concerned , the blame I place with myself for changing the Saturdays as I have a radio show to do the next morning, and I'm not any younger!

After the summer break we stuck a lot of time and effort into promotion to make the October nite a real cracker but alas it was'nt to be as the crowd was still thin on the ground. I spoke to Take 5 and told them that I wanted to rest for a while and if I did start it again it would probably be every 3 months. We all agreed that it was for the best and so watch out for a few odd dates there in 2009!

I love doing the radio show as it gives me far more scope and of course I still do spots for the Africa Delay boys Samy , Pedo and Mark in Frankfurt, that night for me is killer, where it 's magic turning up in Germany with just a record box and playing!!

So my first love the radio show carries on and check this blog regularly for club nites and info etc.

New Year with Sofrito!

This year I had a night off from DJing at New Year for the first time in a long time, so I thought I'd get on the other side of the decks and catch the excellent Hugo Mendez at his Sofrito club night in Dalston. What a great night! Fabulous music, especially from Hugo and Jono, and a really friendly crowd. You can catch up to date info on his nights on his site: www.sofrito.co.uk

Boiling Point @ Take 5

Cheers to all who came down on the 25th, despite Halloween parties, Bonfire parties ect. No more Take 5 gigs planned for the present, but watch this space for other up-coming gigs. To get your regular fix of the best in African, Latin and Calypso, don't forget to keep listening to Boiling Point on Future Radio alternate Sundays 11-13.00 GMT: www.futureradio.co.uk

Mmm Lost Friday..actually Lost Thursday!

LCR next Thursday, Oct 23...a welcome for the freshers and part of Black History Month.

Black History Month

We were down at Norwich Arts Centre last night to catch one of the Black History Month events, good to see some old friends there. To round off the month, I'll be playing at the African Dinner Ball along with Anna Mudeka on Novemeber 1st, I think there are tickets still available for this. For booking details and the full range of events from music to film, see the programme at: www.norfolkblackhistorymonth.org.uk. As well as the the next Boiling Point @ Take 5 on the 25th, I'm playing the UEA Lost Friday gig on October 18th. So, for lovers of Black Music, (and isn't that all of you?) there's lots to do this month in Norwich

Summer's Over!

Well after the boiling hot summer we've had you'll all be needing some boiling hot music!
We'll be back at Take 5 on Saturday October 25th, and really looking foward to sharing some the great new tunes I've found over the last three months. Welcome to all the UEA and Art School freshers who like the tropical vibe.

Last Night at Shellac Sheakedown

Thanks to DJ78 for organising a great night at Norwich Arts Centre, I got to spin my favourite old Blues and RnB 78s and the joint was jumping! Good to see all the girls and boys getting into their jive, let's do it again sometime soon!

Shellac Collective August 30th

On a slightly different tip, I'll be dusting off my 78s for a night with the incomparable DJ 78 and friends at Norwich Arts Centre, from 8 till late. Great to be able to play some of the all time greats of Jump, RnB and Blues. As Dave says, the joint will be truly rockin.... Watch his Myspace site: http://www.myspace.com/dj78rpm

Summer Break

Thanks to all for coming down to Boiling Point at Take 5 last Saturday. That's it for the summer..... we'll see you all again in the Autumn, but keep watching the site in case I have news of one off events, groovy record purchases and other stuff! In the meantime you can still get a hit of the best in African music by tuning into Boiling Point on Future Radio, alternate Sundays, 11-13.00 GMT.

Next Date @ Take 5

Next date at Take 5, Saturday June 28th...sorry if some of have 29th in your diaries. Let's go out for the summer break with a blast!

May Monsoon

Fully intended to catch Les Amazones de Guinea at Trafalgar Square, but any of you who were in London last Monday know the rain was torrential and Les Amazones cancelled! However every black cloud has a silver lining and we battled the Bank Holiday hoards at Tate Modern to see the Street and Studio photography exhibition. Amongst the gems, a selection from the amazing Malian photographer, Malick Sidibe, who has been working since the 70s. Wonderful stuff! The show is on until August 31, so plenty of time to catch it. Equally stunning was the Street Art on the outside of the Tate. We particularly liked the work by Nunca from Brasil, the cup of tea a nod to the English audience apparently!

Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May 2008

All of you who want a day out in London, how about this? As you know I have been far and wide to see Bassekou Kouyate, and have been plugging the Amazones on my radio show, all we want is some Malian weather and it will be a fantastic day... see you there!

Press release

Les Amazones de Guinea, the all women group and Guinean Army members, have their first European performance in over ten years, when they take to the stage at this year's Africa Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square on Bank Holiday Monday, 26 May 1pm to 8pm
FREE ADMISSION. They will be performing on a line-up that also includes Zaire musician Kanda Bongo Man and Mali ngoni player Bassekou Kouyate.

The free event, organised by the Mayor of London, celebrates the contribution of London's African communities to the capital. The programme features music and live performance from across the African continent, plus African food and drink and stalls selling African arts and crafts. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson says: "The African continent is home to an enormous number of cultures, languages and traditions. The Africa Day celebrations in Trafalgar Square are an excellent opportunity to get a taste of Africa and its many cultures. I encourage all Londoners to play a part this year. Trafalgar Square celebrations are free to all - Londoners and tourists alike. Let's make this event one to remember".

There will be a wide range of music from across Africa. The formidable Les Amazones de Guinea are sure to get audiences dancing to their old-style Guinean big band music. The all women group enjoyed incredible success in the sixties and seventies and are now making a comeback after the launch of their successful album Wamato.

Bassekou Kouyate, winner of the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music Album of the Year (for his sensational album Segu Blue) and Best African Act categories, has been acclaimed as Mali's latest superstar. He is a talented player of the ngoni, an ancient lute found in West Africa and although it is based on the traditional, his music has a fresh and uplifting style.

Other performers include Kanda Bongo Man from Zaire with his lilting Soukous melodies; the Kaago Drummers with their traditional djembe playing from the Ivory Coast; Busi Ncube from Zimbabwe who sings in a unique style using six African languages and her mbira; and the Black Eagle Drummers. Rita Ray will be deejaying on the day, along with DJ Kirenga Eric Soul from Afrogroov. Emmanuel Jal and the Inemo Afrobeat Experience will also be performing.

The second African Day has been organised by the Mayor of London and is sponsored by the British Transport Police and Kato Enterprises. The official media partners are BBC London, African Voice newspaper and Voice of Africa radio.

Thanks to all who came down to Take 5 on May 3rd, there was a real buzz in the air, it felt like summer was finally here and of course the Norfolk and Norwich Festival always creates a buzz. It was great to play at the Festival's After Party last night, although I did miss Global Sunset at St Andrews, which I heard was a really interesting fusion of sounds from around the world. Glad we could carry on the theme at Cinema City with some of the best African and Latin American masters, thanks to the N&N Festival for asking me, can't wait until next week!
Next date for Boiling Point @ Take 5 is not until June 29th, as I'm off to Frankfurt again for the regular Africa Delay night, and I've got to have a holiday! Sorry to keep you waiting, but in the meantime keep listening to my Future Radio spot, alternate Sundays, 11-13.00 GMT

May 3rd @ Take 5

May...it's almost summer folks! Get your dancing shoes on and come on down for a blast of fantastic music from your favourite DJs. You know it makes sense.

Next Boiling Point moved to first Saturday in May

Well folks not a load to report,but thanks to those who made the effort at the last boiling point nite , unfortunatly it fell on the extra early easter break and along with other things going on we had a slow nite,compared to the usual steamer. I guess you win some and lose some, but its great getting loads of good feedback that its still the best nite in the city for quality music so get your selves down and support us !!!
Thanks as always to Markie C and my guest Mr McClean

So to the next one wev'e decided to move it over a week to the 3rd of May as there's a party on the last weekend of April and along with every one having nites then ,so let every one know, more details on my next entry

March 29, Next Gig @ Take 5

Just a reminder for the next gig on the 29th March when we'll be joined by the incomparable "Rockin RnB" Mr MacLean, along with my usual partner in crime, The Anthropologist aka Mark C. Take 5 cellar has had a makeover, so now it's not only the music that has a tropical theme, great for banishing those never ending winter blues.
Great to see my mate Samy Ben Redjeb in Norwich! After my trip to Frankfurt to guest at the Africa Delay night to promote the release of his new Cd compilation"African Scream Contest" last week-end he was guesting at a wedding party with me at Take 5. As you see there was much dancing behind the decks also!Look forward to seeing you all on Saturday.Sorry to all who listened into the last Boiling Point radio show,i prerecorded it before going to Frankfurt and unfortunatly someone at the station thought it was a old show and unloaded it Anyway my thanks to Malcolm and Mike for standing in after their show, luckily Simone managed to reload and you got half the show!!

African Scream Contest

At long last the wait is over Analog Africa's third release "African Scream Contest" is out next week 17th March. I'm off to Frankfurt to join in with Samy and crew at the launch party . Anyone who has been listening in on the Boiling Point radio show over the last 2 months will know what a killer compilation this is. I've personally got quite a few of the tracks on a original 7"s and they never leave my DJ box.
This has been hailed as the African compilation of the year by the world music programe on the BBC world service and has been getting top feedback from well known DJs.
This is the review from the Sunday Observer:
In a daring act of musical archaeology label boss Samy Ben Redjeb went to the small West African states of Benin and Togoland and unearthed thousands of ancient hits and unheard seventies rarities.
The result is a madcap mix of highlife, funk and salsa. James Brown's influence is everywhere, from chicken scratch guitars to blazing JB horns and the screeches that inspired the album title.There are steamy club grooves from the trailblazing Orchestre Poly Rythmo, psychedelic guitar breaks worthy of Jerry Garcia, and a 44-page booklet. A thrilling discovery. NEIL SPENCER.

So there you go. Get down to your favourite record store and buy one ( or two) and if they haven't got it in, order it and tell them to get 10 more in !!