sign in sign up
<<
Home , Baaba Maal, Floating Points, Fusion Festival, Lovebox Festival

African Fusion / Electronica (UK)

Afriquoi are the 5-piece outfit that take the influence of UK house, funky, garage, dubstep and glitch and fuse it with traditional African melodies, harmonies and rhythms plus a dose of dancehall vocals.

The band came to life in 2011 after percussionist and promoter www.wormfood.co.uk André Marmot arranged a session with Jally, Nico, Fiston and Kudaushe, and the team never looked back. Their infectious vibe www.wormfood.co.uk/afriquoi-2 and sound is totally unique. www.afriquoi.com Featuring a diverse array of hyper-talented musicians from Congo, Discography: Gambia, Bostswana and the UK, Afriquoi combine live instruments, electronics and vocal effects to create live African . Kolaba 2015, Wormfood As well as their spectacular 5-piece live show, Afriquoi are also available for DJ sets and semi-live DJ sets featuring live percussion ”The band’s energy onstage is infectious” - and MCs. Songlines Magazine

Afriquoi is releasing a new single in March 2016 on Wormfood records, and a new EP in May. Remixes of Terakaft, Pierre STREAMING: Kwenders and Amadou Diagne are scheduled to be released next • wormfoodrecords.bandcamp.com/album/afriquoi-kolaba year. DJ MIXES: Group Size: 5 artists • soundcloud.com/dimensionsfestival/afriquoi-dimensions-2015-mix-10 DJ Set: 1-3 artists (Optional: live percussions and Kora) • www.mixcloud.com/afriquoi/because-of-the-beauty/ • www.mixcloud.com/afriquoi/afriquoi-new-year-20142015-mix/ Booking Scandinavia: d to the on le c f Marisa Segala VIDEO: e t S +45 / 25 61 82 82

• Live at Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre as part of Africa Utopia:

[email protected] www.secondtotheleft.com vimeo.com/141264895 Skype: marisa.segala.bennett .: MORE LINKS / LIVE VIDEOS ON PAGE 3 :.

VIDEO

Glastonbury 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gY5iSaCuPc Mokako @ Terminal Studios: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95IX0GiCFcY Kudaushe: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yD99b7PK8mo West Country Tour: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjoJqyzeCSI Live at Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre as part of Africa Utopia: PLAYED AT vimeo.com/141264895 Panemadzimai @ Richmix: 2015 http://youtu.be/XR3zWstmfgs WOMAD, Fuerteventura Queen Elizabeth Hall, London South Bank Centre MEDIA (album launch as part of Africa Utopia festival) 3000Grad, Remix of Vieux Farka Touré: Landjuweel Festial, Ruigoord, Netherlands (headline) http://www.okayafrica.com/2013/10/17/vieux-farka-toure-maiga-afriquoi-remix/ Dimensions Festival, Croatia KribisKrabisfestival, Italy STREAMING Secret Garden Party, UK TESTIMONIALS Soundcloud: Beat Herder, UK www.Soundcloud.com/afriquoi Kelburn Garden Festival, Scotland “Yo this tune is not exactly up my street… it’s like, in my flat, in my Hifi Club, Leeds kitchen and in my living room, just groovin n doin its thing bruv!!!!” Lovebox Festival, London DJ Zhao, Ngoma Sound DJ MIX

King’s Place (Songlines Encounters Festival) www.mixcloud.com/afriquoi/because-of-the-beauty/ Eden Festival, Scotland “This shit is amazing” soundcloud.com/dimensionsfestival/afriquoi-dimensions-2015-mix-10 Kazimier, Liverpool DJ Umb, Generation Bass www.mixcloud.com/afriquoi/afriquoi-new-year-20142015-mix/

Earlier Concerts: “Super tight mix of Afro and house” - August 2014: Shambala Festival Nikhil Shah, Mixcloud founder FACEBOOK Boomtown Festival June 2014: (Hell Stage, Shangrila) ”The band’s energy onstage is infectious” - www.Facebook.com/afriquoi June 2014: Fusion Festival, Germany Songlines Magazine September 2013: , Isle of Wight DOWNLOAD ASSETS July 2012: London Olympics ”Afriquoi knows how to keep the adrenalin flowing and they more than lived up to their reputation as crowd-pleasers” Photos - Bio - Press - Riders Rooms Magazine https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9wVM2fwxoC_MENuUFFKaXRLNEk&usp=sharing

INTRODUCING...

Search

News & Blogs Archive

Select Month

Subscribe & Share Live Review | News & Blogs RSS feed Songlines Encounters Festival, Kings Place, June 5

Posted on June 8th, 2015 in Live, Recent posts, Reviews by Jo Frost.

www.songlines.co.uk/world-music-news/?p=18929

Photography by Haydn Wheeler

Read our review of Thursday (June 4) with Gisela João and Monsieur Doumani Read our review of Saturday (June 6) with Shikor Bangladesh All Stars, Lokkhi Terra and She’Koyokh

Jo Frost revels in some extra special encounters

The second night of Songlines Encounters Festival started with a screening of the excellent documentary film, Sisters, by Andrew Smith, about Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat from Iran. It shows them at home in Tehran, talking about the ancient Persian poems they sing and the censorship they face. It’s a beautiful, reflective insight into their lives. So they started by inviting both Jally beats. It’s club music for those with london (UK) Following this in Hall One was the Scottish fiddler Duncan Chisholm (featured in #106) who really conjured up the atmosphere and Kebba and Lusambo to the initial more discerning tastes, and it has beauty of his home in the Highlands. Superbly accompanied by fellow Scot Matheu Watson on guitar and Jarlath Henderson on AFRIQUOI recording sessions. been winning them fans at every uilleann pipes and flute, Chisholm’s playing has a real grace and delicacy. His trio of albums, The Strathglass Trilogy are named Alexandra Petropoulos speaks to It’s clear that both Jally Kebba and show. “When we’re onstage it’s like an after the glens of Affric, Farrar and Cannich where the Chisholm clan have lived for 700 years. the London-based group mixing up Lusambo prefer to experiment with unstoppable energy force and you know Following the trio in the second half, were the aforementioned sisters, Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat (featured in #107). They are normally accompanied by musicians, but on this occasion Mahsa played the setar (Iranian lute) and Marjan, the daf (hand-held the traditions from which they’ve that everyone is going to like it,” Espeut African grooves with electro sounds drum). But most of the time, it was just the voices – strong, deeply intense and when they sing together, the harmonies are exquisite sprung. Jally Kebba, who comes from says. “And it’s a really nice feeling to and enthralling in the way that only two siblings who have been singing together all their lives can be. “To sing a capella, you feel he Brixton café is buzzing and a family in the Gambia, tells me know before you go onstage that you’re completely naked,” said Mahsa at one point, and it’s true, the sheer power and sentiment conveyed is remarkable. I’m surrounded by the members that he had two choices when he first going to get that kind of response.” One of the aims of Songlines Encounters Festival has been to try and encourage the artists – regardless of their origin and musical of Afriquoi – the atmosphere moved to the UK: to go the traditional This inclusive, 21st-century musical traditions – to perform together, to create a real musical encounter. Of course, these sorts of collaborations cannot be forced T and have to happen naturally, albeit with a little help and suggestion from Songlines. So it was incredibly gratifying to see Chisholm, is alight with laughter. It’s obvious route, or to branch off into something ethos is reflected in their name, as Henderson and Watson joining the sisters onstage for two songs, including ‘The Moon of our Beloved’s Face’ by Iran’s national that percussionist Andre Marmot, new. “I feel like I need to open different Marmot explains. “I’ve been lucky poet, Hafez. “It was hard not to be mesmerised by their voices,” said Watson afterwards. But the subtle addition of the trio’s Gaelic Gambian kora player Jally Kebba Susso, doors. [The traditional] door was enough to make loads of trips to Africa melodies brought another beautiful and intricate layer to the songs and the soaring flute and violin a gorgeous lightness, perfectly appropriate for their final song, ‘Twinklings of Hope’. Congolese guitarist Fiston Lusambo, already open; I could use it any time and one thing I noticed is in the French singer Andre Espeut, and production I wanted to.” Similarly Lusambo, who West African countries people would After such an intense and emotive set, it came as a bit of shock to wander into Hall Two and find Afriquoi (featured in #108) were bringing the house down with their full-on, African party music. The band’s energy onstage is infectious and the fast and furious pro Nico Bentley love working together. was a famous rumba guitarist back often say ‘quoi’ after a sentence, a bit rhythms on an array of instruments, including the Congolese guitarist Fiston Lusambo and kora played by Gambian Jally Kebba Each of them have their own projects home, refuses to be pigeon-holed. like the way English people might say Susso, brought the evening to a rousing and glowing end. and bands, but it’s obvious that their “If you say ‘please play ,’ I will ‘innit.’ So that’s a very African thing, Afro-dance project is a labour of love. not listen to you because I like to play and for years I started thinking of Africa The project started four years ago as music that hasn’t got a name. That’s as Afriquoi. That was my pet name for the brainchild of Marmot and Bentley. why I like Afriquoi. At the moment we the whole continent. But then when this “We really wanted to put together a are playing music people enjoy, but it’s project came to be it made sense to call fusion of African music and UK dance not one thing.” Jally Kebba continues, it that. It’s also basically saying it’s Afro, music,” Marmot explains. “Nico and “this project is a journey between two but so what? It’s African-esque but not I had worked together on a different things. Africa is there, Europe is there, defined to any one country or style. So project, which we used to call Afro- so it’s the meeting in the middle, trying it’s Afro what?” reggae garage. That was a fun festival to open completely new areas.” thing, but we wanted to make music This new area of exploration draws + DATE Afriquoi will perform as part that was more serious, more African, on the traditional music of Africa of Songlines Encounters Festival at but also had more of a UK edge on it.” and mixes it with UK electronic London’s Kings Place on June 5

24 SONGLINES › ISSUE 108 Monday 06.29.15 Posted by Bunmi Akpata-Ohohe

www.roomsmagazine.com/artpeople/22/6/2015/an-interview-with-afriquoi

percussion. Oli Cole - UK - live electronics. We've all been playing together since How do you or the group stay motivated? the act started in 2012, except for Oli Cole - "the kid" - who has just joined us on live electronics replacing Nico. (Nico has just been on tour with Seal and is currently Chin-ups, pull-ups plus Fiston's beef brochettes and Andre's roast chicken. No, Musical Director for so needed some cover....) Nico will stay involved as seriously, we just love playing the music we play and it's always a huge pleasure Musical Director and main producer. playing for new audiences and seeing them dancing and smiling and enjoying our music. That's the main motivating factor. It has to be or we might as well be doing Why call your group and sound - African-electro dance band? And your something else. Catch us at show at one of the festivals we are playing this group comprises of Africa, the Caribbean and the UK. Do you have a summer and see for yourself. Gig schedule is attached. Monday 06.29.15 point here? Posted by Bunmi An Interview with Afriquoi Facebook.com/afriquoi Ha-ha we don't call it African-electro dance band - you'd have to ask Song lines Akpata-Ohohe about that. We just call it music - or 'live African dance music' as we don't like to Based in London, Afriquoi is a UK afro cracking group, with every performer a band Soundcloud.com/afriquoi pigeonhole ourselves... not to one aspect of African music or one aspect of dance Share leader in their own right. The team stretches in age across three decades, devising tags: JUNE, INTERVIEW, LONDON 0 Likes Share from Africa, the Caribbean and the UK. How about that for ? They are music. We just want to make exciting, positive music to make people dance. Yes, we categories: MUSIC an underground commotion, bringing an enriching fusion of live African music and For anyone that does not already know about Afriquoi, tell us more have a point as a group - to draw on the best of African music plus electronica. Their masterful five-piece live shows always combine Gambian about the band? plus make a new sound that represents the 21st century sound of London. kora (the KORA is an ancient, and complex instrument from West Africa, shaped like Afriquoi is a cross cultural collaboration based on fusing African music with Afriquoi are a great African-electro dance band with live vocals: Gambian kora, a lute, with a 21 string bridge-harp and played like a harp), Congolese guitar plus electronic music. We started by doing some recording sessions in 2011 with Fiston Congolese guitar, percussion and electronics drawing on dubstep, house and hip Mandinka percussion styles (Mandinka is a drum-like instrument and has a body (guitar), Jally (kora) and the marimba player Kudaushe Matimba, who no longer hop with musicians from Africa, the Caribbean and the UK. However, there must be carved from hardwood and a drumhead made of untreated rawhide and comes plays with us. These collaborations came about through Wormfood, the promotions some challenges, back-biting and the root of collaboration can be a tad tricky? Who from Mali, West Africa), with electronic music drawing on house, hip-hop, soul plus company, booking agency +label run by Andre (Afriquoi percussionist - who put the is the trouble maker in the group and who is the peace maker? Tell us more about jungle, to produce incredible lock, stock and barrel exceptional vibration. band together). Running regular world music nights every Sunday at Hootenanny in the in-fighting stories? Newer / Older The music is furious, sometimes deafening and distorted, although it can safely be Brixton, Andre got to know virtually all of the UK's African musicians, and so invited Ha-ha, we are all a bunch of rascals and ruffians - especially Jally. But we always described as hypnotic, funky and high-spirited, but overwhelming too. One a few favourites for a collaboration, bringing in producer Nico Bentley on the get on well together and that's one of the things that makes playing together so wonder’s how an audience could endure such an onslaught and still be howling for controls. We didn't have a set idea of what would happen, we just came to special. Fiston at 56 has nearly 40 years of professional experience as a musician more. On the other hand, it’s a great choice that the Songlines Encounters Festival experiment - and Afriquoi was born! Since then we've collaborated with lots of so we look on him and respect him as a kind of father figure - Papa Fiston. And management included Afriquoi as the closing performance of the festival. From the different artists including Jamaican dancehall MCs Serocee + Warrior Queen, but the that's one of the best things about the group - we are different ages, different moment the lights dimmed and the five men appeared on stage there was no let band has cohered to a regular 5 piece line-up, playing shows across the UK + ethnic and social backgrounds, but we come together and collaborate as equals. up for the next 80 minutes as they belted out dazzling hit after hit with ageless but Europe including Glastonbury, Fusion Festival, Bestival, Secret Garden Party, London ecstatic excitement. And boy-o-boy did the crowd, in the moment believe these Olympics + a ton of others. Are you guys still able to make your kind of music sculpted by your guys? They were all jumping, swinging their arms in the air and crying for more. original beliefs and not that of your manager or record company or Tell us where you guys hail from originally and what instrument or Afriquoi knows how to keep the adrenalin flowing and they more than lived up to better still for solely what brings in the cash? instrumentsinstruments youyou playplay andand howhow longlong youyou havehave beenbeen playingplaying together?together? their reputation as crowd-pleasers. It was impossible not to admire the energy fueling this festival, especially from an ecstatic close quarter. Here is a question and Absolutely. We are completely independent and make exactly the music we want to. Jally Kebba Susso, kora, Gambia. Andre Espeut, UK/Martinique, vox. , Fiston answer stint with Afriquoi the group. We all believe that it is only through making music that comes from an authentic Lusambo – Congo. Nico Bentley - UK - production/ MD. Andre Marmot - UK – place that you have any chance of success. Monday 06.22.15 Posted by Bunmi Akpata-Ohohe

www.roomsmagazine.com/artpeople/22/6/2015/united-in-music-songlines-encounters-festival

The only reproach I have of Songlines Encounters is why give such a dynamic standing ovation. Amazing indeed. Monday 06.22.15 It was faithfully a celebration of the richness of our blended heritage and culture fiddler-performer thirty-five minutes on stage? Too brief of course. The ladies Posted by Bunmi United in music: Songlines Now wait for this, for the first time Songlines Encounter did what they have never with enchanting line-up of unique global acts designed to appeal to music sitting beside me felt short change. Nevertheless, Songlines made-up for it and Akpata-Ohohe done - there was a night of very danceable live Afro-electronica from Afriquoi, one Encounters Festival audiences of all ages, enthusiasts and Johnny-come-latelies. It was a must hear Duncan returned later in the evening for a special Songlines Encounters of UK’s electro-African dance bands with live vocals, kora, guitar and percussion. and a must see for anyone interested in great live performance such as act number collaboration with Iranian vocalists Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat (sisters). Hallelujah! Share They were a bundle of energy. Although the show stated 25 minutes late, one, Scottish fiddler Duncan Chisholm in collaboration with Iranian vocalists Mahsa Next on the bill was Gisela João, new fado singer now making huge impressions in 1 Like Share I can think of no place that welcomes the music of other countries with more and Majan. Fado singer put side by side with Cypriot musicians. Anglo-Bangladeshi nonetheless, when it finally kicked off for real, it was not a disappointment. They enthusiasm than the UK. We have long had an unquenchable appetite for the music Portugal and currently touring the UK. She sings traditional fado music at its very Latin beats playing with Bangladeshi virtuosi. Songlines blast proves an gave an extraordinary powerful performance, singing funk, rock, ballads and of other countries. A visit to any of the several UK summer music festivals will offer best. You can hear the “saudade” in her voice - a feeling of longing, melancholy, or overwhelming and emotional experience for lovers of world music. It could only Afrobeat, you name it they had it all. The audience – young and old and racially everything from timeless King Sunny Ade music (Nigeria) to Toots and the Maytals, nostalgia that is supposedly characteristic of the Portuguese nature. Saudade is the happen at the Songlines Encounters Festival. mixed – showed their appreciation by non-stop, clapping and dancing and crying Jamaica’s own godfather of soul and the Southern soul sister number one Candi Portuguese word for a feeling, a longing for something or some event that just for more and more. Staton (USA) to acts from Romania and Ukraine. Keeping with this tradition and might not happen. Gisela’s songs are based on love poems that evoke a Where politicians delve around for more sticky tapes and plasters to hold us celebrating its fifth year, Songlines Encounters Festival brought an explosion of melancholy “saudade” that draws in the audience to feel her world and make it all together, to all intense and purposes, the creative industries is doing a better job From one show to the next I find myself saying, this is the best I have seen. Then I international talent across the globe to perform live to a packed audience at seem real. Gisela’s acclaimed debut recording was an album of the year in uniting us through music. Arts should be a lot higher up the programme of any attend another and I find myself repeating myself, this is the best Songlines London’s stylish Kings Place spot. Portugal. She is one to watch! political party in this country. On the contrary what we have now is backed funding Encounters has put on. Speaking to some of the attendees they were impressed and that is thanks largely, to the lotto – participation in the arts has levelled a bit. too. One said: “all acts was the best”. Another said: “absolutely brilliant. Songlines Another showstoppers of the festival Well, back to the fiesta: it opened with fiddler Duncan Chisholm, one of the Festival nailed it”. Songlines Encounters Festival is co-curated by Songlines were world legendary Iranian singers – demanding people on Scotland’s active folk scene with six solo critically celebrated Magazine and Ikon Arts Management. Watch out for 2016 festival programme, due Mahsa and Marjan Vahdat - sisters. albums behind him. Duncan’s performance was flawless. He performed traditional out end of June, 2015. Their sultry voices intertwine so and contemporary music from the Highlands glens inspired by the Highland glens beautifully in a biological yarn of sound All images by © Haydn Wheeler which are his family home. which had the audience transfixed from start to finish. Also their social Songlines Encounters Festival conscious lyrics is a celebration of Songlines Magazine Persian poetry of love, unkindness, revolution and freedom, and of lives Gisela Joao lived on the fringes. Readers take note -

the sisters are forbidden to perform Monsieur Doumani publicly back home in Tehran, however. Mahsa and Marjan and Duncan Chisholm Collaboration How about that? What is more the Mahsa & Marjan Vahdat Gisela João sisters’ special Songlines Encounters

collaboration with fiddler Duncan Chisholm really packs a deceive punch. Alright, musical collaboration between the tags: JUNE, REVIEW, SONGLINES ENCOUNTERS FESTIVAL East and the West have been explored before, though never with such experimental categories: MUSIC zest, or by three people like Mahsa and Marjan and Duncan so lauded with Duncan Chisholm charisma and talent. The instrumental arrangement that followed was like no other I have seen. At the conclusion the sparks between all three led to a five minutes Business News Sport Politics Technology Travel Weather

Jazz FM Listen Live Catchup

The Club

Email FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER 2015 | , UK www.jazzfm.com/news/music-news/africa-utopia-lights-up--southbank/

Password Log In ADVERTISING mancunion.com/2015/10/13/festival-dimensions/ABOUT WRITE FOR US CONTACT COMPLAINTS Sign Up Search

News Opinion Features Music Film Lifestyle Fashion & Beauty Theatre Books Food & Drink Games Arts Sport Africa Utopia lights up London's Southbank

5 Tweet POPULAR Shares News Home Festival: Dimensions Recommend 5 Labour students plan to split into More from Music News 2 0 A perfect 10 at The Mancunion is hard to come by, but Lowell twotwo societiessocieties Clarke has found one in Croatia The night we lost our Ann Summers Monday, September 14th, 2015 2:57pm Virginity By Lowell Clarke Debunking the myths of veganism amazing musicians. Of course, Max Graef and Romare got their 30th October 2013 Interview:Interview: 2015: Our Sporting Highlights 14th Posted 13 October,, 2015 in University network under sustained ship rocking to some serious grooves. Barely anyone in the Portico Quartet Jamie December 2015 Features, Music, Reviews by cyber attack audience had heard of afrobeat dance band Afriquoi, but that Bulman speaks to Portico Naughty and Nice: A letter to Santa Lowell Clarke didn’t stop them from getting Safe and the entiresenseless: beach Why stage university dancing and Quartet saxophonist Jack Wyllie about 14th December 2015 singing in wonderful safenew tongues.space policies And finally—of trigger me course—George sub-frequencies, Roman amphitheatres NME’s enemy is my friend 14th Clinton stood between the main stage crowd and his living history and being ‘that hang band’… December 2015 The Future of Mario Kart 8 DLC Related posts funk band, singing with his coarse voice and waving his arms about like a maniac. Defying his Why age, I hishate decade-spanning texting career taught a 16th June 2015 Festival: STUDENT MEDIA PARTNERS 4th May 2015 Dimensions modern crowd how to get down in true 1970s style. Pangaea – Disco Festival announces full Goldsmiths Islamic Society Apocalypse An excited Monday, September 14th, 2015 2:57pm line-upline-up Âme,There Boddika, can be no denyingprotesters that the intimidate weekend had ex-Muslim a few rocky atmosphere pervades every corner of Loefah, Floating Points moments.(DJ set), Despite producingcampaigner some of the UK’s wonkiest and the festival BADBADNOTGOOD amongstweirdest many beats in recent years, Flako managed to bore the crowd to Live: Marilyn Manson others added to the Croatiandeath festival.and then proceeded to put the ‘fun’ in funeral. The 1st October 2015 Live: primetime 2am set must’ve The gone Death to ofhis David head, Kammererforcing a bizarre Welcome to Warehouse A Photo: Screenshot Legendary names Legendaryin African music, names including in African Afro-beat music, drummerincluding Tony Afro-beat Allen, drummerbring the , bring the curtains down 2nd Decemberselection 2015 Live: of self-indulgent songs—including multiple mind- weak finish after a strong start numbing ambient tracks—taken almost entirely from his new to an exciting season of Manchester's curtains downon theon 3rdthe annual3rd annual Africa Africa Utopia Utopiafestival. festival. 26 – 30th August Hiatus Kaiyote Hiatus @THEMANCUNION Kaiyote are makingalbum. 'future Given the deadpan reaction, it felt entirely misjudged at his favourite, Warehouse Project. Get ready! end. Follow Fort Pentagon Cristo, Croatia soul' happen right here and right now Tweets The 3rd annual AfricaThe Utopia 3rd annual festival Africa came toUtopia a spectacular festival camefinale to last a spectacularnight at the finaSouthbankle last night at the Southbank centre in London But even the weekend’s biggestThe Mancunion disappointment, Moodymann’s21h as some of the all time greats of African music took to the stage for the closing concert. 10/10 @THEMANCUNION centre in London as some of the all time greats of African music took to the stage for the closing 29th Septembercancelled 2013 J Dilla tribute set, gave way to a set of replacement DJs Aala El-Khani, an @OfficialUoM student, graduates Review: Dimensions concert. There is only one rule that seems to be set in stone at The who gave a critical hip-hoptomorrow—her injection Ph.D. to focused the proceedings. on helping Syrian Whoever Last night's Tony Allen Review included not only the legendary afrobeat drummer himself but a host of star Mancunion: No 10/10s. We mark them down to 9s or 8s, because Festival Whilstthey only were, in its they showedrefugee their families: credentials the second they asked the second year, Dimensionscrowd establishes if they’d heard of Kendrick Lamar. Of course they had. collaborators, including the Malian kora greats Toumani and Sidiki Diabaté, 's and the Blur nothing will ever be perfect. Having experienced a few 1’s and a mancunion.com/2015/12/17/ph-… Last night’s Tony Allen Review included not only the legendary afrobeat drummer himself but Breaking on through into the TPAB anthem ‘Alright’, the crowd rare 9, I can confidently say that five days of Dimensions was itself as one of the finest festivals Show Summary frontman Damon Albarn. The father and son kora duo had the audience spellbound with beautifully delicate around. approved with a loud, emancipative roar. For one incredible a host of star collaborators, including the Malian kora greats Toumani and Sidiki Diabaté, Sen- amongst the best of the long musical experiences I’ve had. Here’s The Mancunion 17 Dec duetting on the magical, harp-like instrument, while Allen's driving afrobeat rhythms had them on their feet. moment, something was alive in the audience: Maybe just through the case for something different. @THEMANCUNION egal’s Baaba Maal and the Blur frontman Damon Albarn. The father and son kora duo had the 13th June 2015his Club:omniscient musicalLabour influence students between at Manchester his fans,plan to Dilla set up was new, not separate pro-Corbyn society: audience spellbound with beautifully delicate duetting on the magical, harp-like instrument, while Starting with the people, it would be easy to say that everybody is Selective Hearingdead that presents night. Friday night saw Cameroon's Blick Bassy [soon to feature on Jazz Travels] pay homage to American blues great DJ Deep / Rødhåd / DVS1 mancunion.com/2015/12/16/lab… Allen’s driving afrobeat rhythms had them on their feet. friendly and to leave it at that. That’s an understatement—there’s I couldn’t find out who replaced Moodymann that night. Strangely, I Skip James in an atmospheric and varied set as support for the much loved (and travelled) Orchestra Baobab, Show Summary no ‘roided-up bags of meat whose sole purpose in life seems to be Rødhåd takes things to neverthe next found level a moment to care. Regardless of who played, the who brought to mind Cuba's Buena Vista Social Club with their renditions of well seasoned old favourites. to getting ripped just to take up space and get all aggro at the front message was the same:Tweet Music to @THEMANCUNION can create larger-than-life human Friday night saw Cameroon’s Blick Bassy [soon to feature on Jazz Travels] pay homage to 22nd June 2015 Preview: of a Jamie Jones set. None of that. Just true music fans in connections. And now that my next flights are booked and playlists American blues great Skip James in an atmospheric and varied set as support for the much Dimensionsare Boat being Parties painstakingly assembled, I’m already on my way to visit Jazz FM staple, vocalist André Espeut and Afriquoi packed in over 800 people as they mixed electronic music, every corner, all sharing songs and set recommendations like kids RECENTLY PUBLISHED swapping Pokémon cards. It was refreshing to really feel that Dimensions thosefestival same new connections across Europe. After that’s all said loved (and travelled)traditional Orchestra AfricanBaobab, sounds who brought and club to mind beats Cuba’s in celebration Buena Vista of theSocial continent's Club influence on British musicians in a Ph.D. student committed to supporting everyone was here for the music first and foremost. announces a new waveand of boat done, parties... there’s still room to bend one more rule and give this with their renditions doubleof well seasonedbill with Africanold favourites. Head Charge at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. festival a well-deservedrefugees 10/10. graduates 17th December 2015 Such was the level of musical knowledge here that someone even 18th April 2014 Club: Lo-Fi Preview: Warehouse Project – Feel My

identified—for the first time in my life—my namesake as Lowell presents Cosmin TRG / Bicep 17th December 2015 Jazz FM staple, vocalistOff the André stage, Espeut the Southbank and Afriquoi centre packed was in overtaken 800 over people with asthe they colours mixed and flavours of an African marketplace as Labour students plan to split into two George, the guitarist (and tragic alcoholic) of Little Feat. Needless Floating PointsRegistration Lo-Fi pull for in Dimensions Festival 2016 is now open – electronic music, traditionalthe festival African sought sounds to exploreand club andbeats celebrate in celebration not only of the the continent’s music of influthe -African Diaspora but its food, fashion and to say, I was impressed. I’d nearly go as far as saying that it was the the big guns http://www.dimensionsfestival.com/societies 16th December 2015 theatre too. clientèle who really made the event what it was; but that would be Welsh universities call for tuition fee ence on British musicians in a double bill with African Head Charge at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

cheesy as fuck and a huge disservice to the setting and its 30th September 2015 Club: grants to be scrapped 15th December Lost In Space opening 2015 All in all, this was another well programmed and outward looking event from the forward thinking venue - we'll soundtrack. Tags: Croatia, Dance, dimensions, dimensions festival, Off the stage, the Southbank centre was taken over with the colours and flavours of an African party – Floatingfloating Points points all , george What clinton should, jjbe dilladilla done with the NME? look forward to next year's return. An old Croatian fortress made up the backdrop, with stages set night long Floating Points hits the sweet 15th December 2015 marketplace as the festival sought to explore and celebrate not only the music of the African into its moat and abandoned structures. Unsurprisingly, the Comment on this article below spot with a rich wax arsenal at his Secret Santa gifts for £5; solving the Diaspora but its food, fashion andTweet theatre too. soundtrack to the sunny days and cool nights there was incredible. disposal annual painstaking struggle 15th Recommend 5 Of course, Floating Points smashed it out of the amphitheatre even December 2015 Recommend Share 0 when he played completely new tracks live with an ensemble of All in all, this was another well programmed and outward looking event from the forward thinking 5 Live: Megadeth 14th December 2015 Shares 2 venue - we’ll look forward to next year’s return. More from Music News © 1969-2015 The Mancunion

ADVERTISING / ARCHIVES / COMPLAINTS / CONTACT / WRITE FOR US

MOST POPULAR RECENT POSTS RECENT COMMENTS Labour students plan to split into two Ph.D. student committed to supporting It’sIt’s Christmas!Christmas! AndAnd JeremyJeremy CorbynCorbyn CaresCares || societies refugees graduates Middle Vision on Labour students plan to

The night we lost our Ann Summers Preview: Warehouse Project – Feel My Bicep split into two societies Virginity Labour students plan to split into two MLS Alumni on Labour students plan to split intointo twotwo societiessocieties Debunking the myths of veganism societies

New heat from Bill Laurance

March 2016 sees the release of Bill Laurance’s third album ’Aftersun' with European tour featuring an all- star British band.

The Royal Albert Hall awaits the King of Smooth Jazz

The world's most successful saxophonist Kenny G is to play 4 UK dates next year including London's Menu Afriquoi are the 5-piece outfit that take the influence of UK house, funky, garage, dubstep and glitch and fuse it with traditional African melodies, harmonies and rhythms plus a dose of dancehall vocals. The band came to life in 2011 after percussionist and promoter André Marmot arranged a session with Jally, Nico, Fiston and Kudaushe, and the team never looked back. Their infectious vibe and sound is totally unique and as we await the release of their debut album, Kolaba dropping 11th September, we are excited to present the exclusive first play of Ningde Jubeh.

Live review: Dimensions Festival ! September 3, 2015 " Live review, Reviews # Al Dobson Jr , Ben UFO , Cosmic Slop , Dimensions Festival , Floating points , , George Clinton , Hessle Audio , Horse Meat Disco , Little Dragon , Mala , Metalheadz , Mo Kolours , Moodymann , Mount FULL REVIEW ON: www.bonafidemag.com/live-review-dimensions-festival

During the day those not camping could bask on the beach and enjoy the live music thumping from midday–8pm from Dub Smugglers Sound System. A highlight was the discovery of live futuristic African sounds from Afriquoi, whose charismatic frontman whirled the crowd to a bum-shaking boogie. However, tales spread of undercover police fining hapless campers up to £330 for possessing as little as a pinch of weed. To credit the festival, they had warned of the zealous authorities, but the roaming police vans and threat of arrest lent a slightly oppressive presence.

The first stage festival-goers came across as they wandered from beach to arena is The Clearing, an innovative transparent triangle construction. Several pillars of screens cleverly fan a hypnotic display about the glade. Mount Kimbie played one of the opening sets, setting the crowd alight with their popular melodic tricklers, which included Carbonated and Made to Stray. Four Tet then reappeared, displaying his versatility with a collection that seemed to span every continent – traversing seamlessly from Blawan’s thumper Getting Me Down, to some Latin samba, then over to hip-hop before an emotive remix of Caribou’s Your Love Will Set You Free. More high resolution press pictures on: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9wVM2fwxoC_TlRpdHkxWC1OT2c&usp=sharing&tid=0B9wVM2fwxoC_MENuUFFKaXRLNEk