Forthcoming Gigs
World Unlimited: 2009 - from the roots up 20 years of musical adventures and still on a voyage of discovery
World Unlimited 20th Anniversary Patron - Seth Lakeman
September - October 2009:
World Unlimited-Celebrating the worlds finest music since 1989
“I support World Unlimited for the work they have done developing new artists in a number of genres over the last 20 years.” Seth Lakeman
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September 3rd
Peter Conway, Max Gilkes, Jayne Powell
Hare & Hounds 7.30pm
Peter Conway
London based musician Peter Conway is upsetting all the right apple carts and is as bright, heretic and unusual as any artist these shores have produced this century. Less of the reference points and more of the passion, less of the 'I know where this is going' and more of the unexpected. His voice has a dark, brooding, intensity and when he sings it feels like you are holding something close to your heart. You will not want to let go. He has a song about dressing up for sex and getting off your face (Honey) and another spiritual, almost gospel song about our hunger for love and friendship (Let It Rain) and I can’t think of many artists (apart from, perhaps, Leonard Cohen and the freedom encapsulated in an artist like Dylan) lyrically who encompass such divergent emotions and thought processes. He’s funny too – something you will discover when you meet him – and that should be celebrated. These are strange days indeed but Peter Conway is the sound of someone hitting the ground running.“A unique talent.. Conway pens music that treads a line between Springsteen and Waits.” (Music Week)
Max Gilkes
While studying for a classical music degree (1st class!) Max co-founded MAP – an acoustic guitar duo with Pete Harris. He went on to work with artists and producers ranging from John Leckie to Lily Allen (for whom he received a platinum disc for his work on the album ‘Alright Still’), and from DJ Format to Prince Fatty. He’s also been a teacher, an examiner, a lecturer, a mastering engineer, arranger, musical director, producer and session musician working with artists ranging from Mattafix, Natty, Manu Chao, Bushwalla (US), Manu Larrouy (France etc. Mostly he works as a writer and performer - his compact blues infused rock sound blends a smoother James Morrison or Steve Winwood with touches of early Bowie and the odd hint of Marvin. His writing collaborations include Craig Pruess, Liz Lenten (Auburn), Marlon Roudette (Mattafix), Lou Mullen (De Souza), Prince Fatty, and he also is one of the writing team for Private and Confidential Music. His work has been broadcast around the world with syncs from Greys Anatomy to Gardeners World(!). He also recently contributed to the BBC drama Moses Jones Max’s debut Album is scheduled for release on Scarlet Records this summer.
Jayne Powell
Beautiful vocals weaving into rich harmonies, intricate guitar melodies, and skillfully thoughtful percussion - it can only be Jayne Powell and her band of talented musicians. Jayne has established herself as one of Birmingham's leading songwriting talents, bringing a breath of summery fresh air to venues across the region. Their music is the sort of tranquil stuff that stuns you into a quietness not even the most hectic day could disturb. It's hard to categorize the distinctive songwriting style of Jayne Powell, as you can hear an array of eclectic influences from old time waltzy laments and locked in mellow grooves to quirky country soul. Jayne and her band have supported a variety of signed artists, such as; Sam Brown & Dave Rotheray's Homespun, Nizlopi, Kathryn Williams, Jim White, Lucky Jim and Jason Mraz, along with TV appearances, live radio sessions and independently releasing their own recordings, Dandelion Clock, The Chapel Session, and Could Be Anything.
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September 10th
The Blow Monkeys + support The Kate Rogers Band
Hare & Hounds 7.30pm
18 years after going their separate ways, the original four members of The Blow Monkeys; Dr Robert, Mick Anker, Tony Kiley and Neville Henry are reunited. Formed in 1981. 'Animal Magic' was the band’s second album, released in May 1986 achieved the much sought after breakthrough. It contained the massive worldwide hit “Digging Your Scene” Amongst the album’s many gems was a duet with Jamaican toaster Eek-A-Mouse, entitled “Sweet Murder”. Such duets were a portent of things to come. By January 1987, the band considerably consolidated their status with the irresistible single, “It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way”,. March of that year saw the release of the band’s third album, 'She Was Only A Grocer’s Daughter', and achieved silver sales status on release. it featured “Celebrate (The Day After You)”, a glorious duet with Chicago soul/funk legend Curtis Mayfield. If the album title was a thinly veiled reference to the then British Leader, Margaret Thatcher, the duet made explicit what much of the UK would have felt had she been ousted from power in the 1987 election. The band’s next album, 'Whoops! There Goes The Neighbourhood', contained collaboration, this time with soul diva Kym Mazelle, entitled “Wait”. This earmarked the band’s status as pop innovators, not only by embracing political themes but also by seeing the potential in the dance/pop experimentation crossover at a time when the whole dance scene had yet to go “overground”. This experimentation would achieve its full fruition on the band’s last album, 'Springtime For The World' an eclectic and unusual album which, despite confusing both record company and music critics, has retrospectively become revered as an innovative record – perhaps some way ahead of its time. It contained the Balearic classic “La Passionara”, and “Be Not Afraid”, a duet with Algeria’s primo Rai exponent Cheb Khaled. The track gave the band a profile in such rarely-charted pop places as Pakistan and North Africa. The band split in late 1990 after nearly ten years together. “Devil’s Tavern” – the new album which was part funded by their fanbase was released in September 2008 to huge critical acclaim. "The warmth and ease...suggest Dr Robert might do a Richard Hawley yet"UNCUT "If the Devil's Tavern had a lock-in, you'd stumble out at dawn, blinking, your head heavy but your heart won forever" RECORD COLLECTOR "Musicians with fire in their bellies....flashes of brilliance" MOJO_________________________
September 30th
The Churchfitters
Kitchen Garden Cafe 7.30pm
This Brittany based group of musicians from England, Ireland and France is taking UK audiences by storm with their unique and energetic performances. Four dynamic personalities present a fast-paced infectious show full of fresh, original songwriting as well as rearranged songs and tunes from the British Isles, uniting the rhythms of rock, pop and jazz with the universal appeal of traditional music. Outstanding vocals and an astonishing array of acoustic instruments including fiddle, double bass, bouzouki, flute, saxophone, guitar, banjo, dulcimer, whistle and mandolin allow them to create their unmistakable sound. A large dose of humour, a measure of eccentricity and an abiding sense of fun complete the band’s recipe for truly entertaining performances. As a result of one their 2008 festival appearances, they have been invited to play at Fairport Convention’s Cropredy Folk Festival this year - an accolade indeed!_________________________
October 14th
Slaid Cleaves + support Dan Raza
Kitchen Garden Cafe 7.30pm
'Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away' Music Road Records 5***** 'Can’t argue with the title, though you might add that everything you hate or don’t give a shit about is on the “to go” list as well as love, family and home. But this record should hang around longer than most possessions Cleaves has a fantastic voice for carrying bittersweet philosophies couched in a vibrato’ed, bass-rich sonic soundscape of American folk forms with a few choice effects pedals and supporting players attached. Can’t argue, either, with writer Stephen King’s description of Cleaves’s “calm dusty/sweet voice” in the sleevenotes. There’s plenty of gold to be panned from these songs. And that can’t be taken away.' The Independent June 2009_________________________
October 21st
Asakusa Jinta
Hare & Hounds 7.30pm
http://www.myspace.com/asakusajinta Asakusa Jinta take their name and inspiration from the Tokyo historic district where jintas (roving Japanese street bands) once filled the streets. The band's mixture of punk, ska, swing, and march music (performed by the six-piece outfit including standup bass, horns, and rhythm section) began driving audiences wild in 1999. Asakusa Jinta's dynamic display earned a reputation throughout their hometown of Tokyo for vibrant (bordering on frantic) live performances, featuring outlandish swing-era-gone-mad costumes and typically standing-room-only halls. With a horn section prone to marching through the packed audiences and a frontman/bass player whose vocals conjure images of a carnival barker, Asakusa Jinta bring the spirit of chindon'ya (traditional Japanese street performance) to life. Their debut record, Asakusa Rock, was released in 2005 to a great reception. Their follow-up effort, Rakugo Geijutsu Kyokai Album, was met with a similar reception as the band's national fan base continued to swell. Asakusa Jinta broke new ground at the 2007 South by Southwest festival in Austin, performing as part of the festival's Japan Nite showcase, and have appeared at international festivals such as Lowlands, Stockholm’s “Kulturfestival” and Finland’s “Helsinki Festival”. These festival appearances have increased recognition of Asakusa Jinta, introducing an entirely new market to the band's unique performance experience. The band also performed this year on the final day of Japan's famous "Fuji Rock" festival, leaving their audience wowed. Through their constant activity in Japan and abroad, they continue to promote East Tokyo's cultural scene both locally and globally.http://www.myspace.com/asakusajintaAbsolutely brilliant! Tickets available from http://www.wegottickets.com (via link below) http://www.seetickets.com http://www.purespiritdrinks.co.uk & to personal callers at Polar Bear (Kings Heath) Swordfish (City Centre)|
Tickets now available for WU presents Asakusa Jinta from www.WeGotTickets.com |
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October 22nd
Thomas Dybdahl, Red Shoes, James Summerfield, Sebastian Waldejer
Hare & Hounds 7.30pm
Thomas Dybdahl
Multi award winning Thomas Dybdahl is one of the most talented singer-songwriters to emerge from the Norwegian music scene in recent years and is now preparing to unleash his irresistibly serene and intimate sound on the UK. Norwegian press have said of Dybdahl, “His delicate but lush music recalls that of Tim Buckley, Nick Drake and other forward-thinking songwriters.” with The New York Times adding “Thomas Dybdahl writes songs that move in for extreme close-ups: his acoustic guitar, his breathy voice, his vows of love…the tempos are glacial and the instruments few and pristine, so that every gesture is exposed. Anything less than total grace would turn precious and cloying, but Mr. Dybdahl maintains his poise; each song has the delicate suspense of a drawn breath.”
Red Shoes
"Ring Around the Land is a crisply executed and beautifully realised collection of well crafted songs" Steve Caseman, R2 - Rock'n'Reel Magazine"A masterful piece of work" Paul Flower, Sunday Mercury “That it's my folk album of the year is a foregone conclusion. It could well be yours, too, with the title track Ring Around The Land, the new folk anthem for the 21st century”Mike Davies, NetRhythms
James Summerfield
James Summerfield has seen much in his 27 years; still in his teens when his first band, Buick 6, came to the attention of the late John Peel’s audience through the wonderful “Drunk on my Porch” single and 2 sessions for the show, and not even 20 before the band split after major label dithering and management company disasters. Only 21 when he self-recorded his debut album, ‘Hailah, Hailah’, and to follow, ‘Paint The Road’, hit the streets in 2005 to great reviews from Mojo and Uncut. Since then, the acrimony of divorce and all the chaos this brings has dogged him. He endured a period of self doubt and reflection that saw him briefly retreat from music, his genuine true calling, dealing with troubles that could and have broken a weaker artist. On ‘Count To 10 and Start Again’, his 3rd solo album, Summerfield returns with a lightness of touch, dark and strange humor and his finely-honed, fantastic ear for melody to tell sweet tales of the biggest blows. It is his best work yet. The album, co-produced with fellow Peel veteran Simon Fox (Grover), is undeniably frank and deals with his dark period yet contains the beautiful melodies and musical arrangements that followers of James’ work will fondly remember. His 12 new songs and the 43 minutes of your life that this record asks for are more than a hint of what the future holds for this fantastic artist.
Sebastian Waldejer
Very talented young songwriter from Stavanger with an ear for catchy melodies and interesting arrangements. One to watch.
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October 24th
Dreadzone + DJs
Hare & Hounds 8.30pm
“In the tradition of Lee Perry and Holgar Czukay” The Times “Witty, inspired soundscapes” The Guardian “British dub-tech pioneers“The Age Dreadzone have released a free download of their new single ‘For A Reason’ via www.dreadzonedownloads.com. It’s the first material to be released from the band’s forthcoming studio album, slated for release in 2009. Already a firm live favourite, For A Reason’s vocal-led pop sensibilities, orchestral refrain and overwhelmingly upbeat vibe has led it being favourably compared to their biggest hit, Little Britain. Now in their 16th year Dreadzone have released five artist albums, one of which was cited by John Peel as one of his top ten of all time, toured their inimitable live show the world over and even found time to squeeze in a top 20 hit in the form of ‘Little Britain’. Fusing technology with human rhythms, dub bass collides with dance beats, live guitar and bubbling electronics, all united by energetic MCing and sweet reggae vocals. The future may hold many challenges but Dreadzone once again rise up and confound expectations. With new tunes on the boil, this year will hold quite a few suprises as the band move forward and continue to shatter preconceptions. Tickets available from http://www.wegottickets.com (via link below) http://www.seetickets.com http://www.purespiritdrinks.co.uk & to personal callers at Polar Bear (Kings Heath) Swordfish (City Centre)|
Tickets now available for Dreadzone from www.WeGotTickets.com |
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October 28th
Oysterband -The Oxford Girl & Other Stories Tour
Hare & Hounds 7.30pm
An acoustic journey through classic and rare gems from the Oysterband songbook presented in the inimitable , upfront Oyster style. Just for this tour the band have re-imagined and re-vitalised song arrangements using different instruments such as kantele and harmonium, whilst keeping their energy and harmonies to the fore. Since the superb Meet You Tere was released the band seems to have found a new confidence in itself and its songs, stepping out from behind the wall of sound and reducing the barrier between band and audience to an imaginary line. They are at ease and at the height of their powers. Catch them on this one-off tour. Tickets available from http://www.wegottickets.com (via link below) http://www.seetickets.com http://www.purespiritdrinks.co.uk & to personal callers at Polar Bear (Kings Heath) Swordfish (City Centre)|
Tickets now available for WU presents Oysterband from www.WeGotTickets.com |
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