January blues?
No need for such things if you’re lucky enough to live, work or visit London this month. There is a little something for everyone. Despite a bit of a slow start in the live scene, mid month things are starting to kick off with the likes of Ledisi, Lana Del Rey and Childish Gambino in town. Also Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide Awards 2012 holds a stellar line up this weekend. Can expect Thundercat, SBTRKT, Julio Bashmore, BADBADNOTGOOD et al.
Get into that and more after the jump.
Ninja Tune’s Fink covers the classic ‘In Bloom’ by Nirvana for Germany’s Musikexpress magazine. This was part of the 20th year anniversary of the seminal Nevermind release. I adore Fink’s trademark gravely vocal tone and he doesn’t play with the classic too much which will please fans of the original. It is not long now until Fink’s Perfect Darkness tour reaches the big smoke. Playing KOKO on the 17th Feb. Pick up tickets and a free acoustic track over on his site here.
This past week saw the second annual Buma Rotterdam Beats Festival, an event organised to celebrate and emphasise the importance of Hip Hop, R&B, Soul, Reggae & Electronic music. Through various workshops, seminars and live performances, the festival brought together a wealth of international delegates, including top European and American managers, bookers, industry pioneers, bloggers and several widely respected innovators.
PinBoard was invited to take part in one of the panel discussions, alongside respected co-commentators like Okayplayer (U.S), Juice Magazine (DE), Puma (NL) and Splash Magazine (DE). The discussion was about the emergence and subsequent dominance of the blogopshere and dissected what it is, as online moderators, we do to ensure our outlets represent the best of spheres. These seminars were a vital ingredient for what made the Beats Festival such a vibrant success. Bringing together creative minds from across the continent and the U.S not only allowed for stimulating debate, but also a chance to exchange insights.
Of course it was ultimately the music that brought everything together and with some incredible shows on offer, we were literally spoilt for choice. James Brown incarnate Charles Bradley was undoubtedly the most electrifying, awe-inspiring act on the bill – his performance at Rotown, supported by London homegirl and Plug Research signing Szjerdene, had the entire city doing the electric slide. An artist and performer birthed from an entirely different world – they really don’t make them like that any more. Most impressively however was Buma’s foresight to invite the UK’s cult rising Hip-Hop collective Piff Gang- a genuine salute to Buma for having ears to the ground and recognising the movement. Very proud to see the boys representing the LDN.
Having taken a significantly large step forward this year with festival programming and increasing their profile in doing so, we give a shout-out to Buma Rotterdam Beats for putting on such an incredibly positive and forward thinking event. The beauty of bringing together an international community and sharing ideas on this scale is how the music communities represented, will thrive in future.
Looking forward to next year…
Coco and Robin Hannibal are getting me through the winter months nicely. From their various individual projects, to their self titled album, I can’t get enough of the duo.
So of course I am most pleased that the Danish pair are coming back to London again. This time in the east of London at CAMP, tickets are on sale now and an advanced price of £8.50 can be bought here. Otherwise £12 on the door. Missed the last one, so there is no way I’m missing this show… see you there!
September. Here we are.
The ninth month of 2011 and summer has officially finished. As the final few festivals make use of the last ounce of confidence people have in the great and unpredictable British weather, so much so they choose to sleep outside and enjoy some live music. Bar the few left, it’s all about getting to know those cosy venues throughout the autumn season. And I have plenty of those waiting for you over the jump.
The big hitter of this month definitely has to be Adele. And if you’re lucky enough to have a spare ticket, maybe you want to bring your favourite live reviewer with you… Just maybe.
Massive props to the good peoples over at PMOI for this one. The new monthly night down in the C.A.M.P basement is going to go off with a bang. Featuring a stellar line up with the legendary Dego performing his new album with full live band!!! Lets not forget about PinBoard favourites Tanya Auclair and Eric Lau in the mix too and we have ourselves one hell of a night! Just to take the biscuit, like the music wasn’t enough, we will also be treated to Mrs Mck and her Pudding Club from Relay Boutique providing amazing cake! Sri McKinnon is launching her new art show “Mindscapes” upstairs on the same night and United 80 will be selling vinyl and other treats in their pop up shop. Oh Lord. I have already copped my tickets and I suggest you do the same for the (utterly bonkers) price of £5….right here. Tickets are selling fast so don’t sleep on this one!
No one can ever say this guy doesn’t put in the work. After the internet blow up of his mixtape releases, a debut album on the way and the generous Sunday giveaway these past few weeks, we now are treated to a world tour.
I don’t use the word ‘treat’ lightly either. After seeing him at his first solo UK show in the UK back in January, the charasmatic rapper convinced us all then why Cole World is about to take over. 3 months solid touring from August 23rd to December 12th, I’m sure Cole will surely be able to spread his gospel to the masses.
Peep the dates over the jump, make sure you see him in a city near you soon.
Major supporters of the masked wonder, SBTRKT and after seeing him and side kick Sampha support Friendly Fires a couple weeks back at the Roundhouse, I highly recommend you check out one of the live dates that have been announced. Get your tickets for one of the following.
4TH OCT – XOYO – LONDON
5TH OCT – AUDIO – BRIGHTON
6TH OCT – THEKLA – BRISTOL
7TH OCT- HIFI CLUB – LEEDS
SBTRKT LIVE SUPPORT FOR FRIENDLY FIRES DATES
10 NOV – 02 ACADEMY - BRISTOL
11 NOV – 02 ACADEMY - BIRMINGHAM
12 NOV – GUILDHALL - SOUTHAMPTON
12 NOV – THE BLOCK PARTY (DJ) – BOURNEMOUTH
14 NOV – ROCK CITY - NOTTINGHAM
15 NOV – 02 ACADEMY - NEWCASTLE
17 NOV – 02 APOLLO - MANCHESTER
18 NOV – BARROWLANDS - GLASGOW
19 NOV – 02 ACADEMY – LEEDS
21 NOV – CORN EXCHANGE – CAMBRIDGE
22 NOV – ENGINE SHED – LINCOLN
25 NOV – BRIXTON ACADEMY - LONDON
You will definitely catch the PinBoard crew at a couple of those dates at least.
Officially the last month of our beloved British summer, so best make the most of it. There’s loads of free gigs to save the pennies in your pocket, including PinBoard co-signed song bird Szjerdene and electronic R’n'B infused duo Creep.
After hitting the town last month for a couple of DJ sets, Q Tip is back. Full band and a whole show to himself. Legendary. Lastly, us PinBoard lot will be down at a couple of our favourite festivals this month including the big one for me, Big Chill. Any Kanye fans/stans out there? Holler!
Check out the rest of the festivals and what else is happening in the capital after the jump.
Good to see Ghostpoet getting consistent but progressive love from the scene and even better that he has a headline show at Scala to look forward to this Autumn.
After working with us, in addition to a strong album behind him, hotly tipped for a Mercury nomination later this year and tour memories from all round the country and Europe, it will be good to see what is sure to be a great deliverance in London Town come Thursday 13th October.
Tickets are cheap, so honestly don’t be late on this one. Can grab them from here.
I’m a few days late into June, but you haven’t missed that much. Festival season is upon us and Queen Bey is making her debut at Glastonbury this month, the leftfield Spanish gathering, Sonar is set to be another great festival and theres loads else where throughout the country. Back to the capital, London is visited by Big Boi, Alicia Keys and tUnE-YarDs this month. Hit the jump and get into this months offerings.
An impromptu visit to Manchester over the bank holiday ended with me leaving a gig by one of the best male vocalist to come out of the UK this year.
Jamie Woon (or Wooney as he is known by the locals) was as beautifully dark, subtly intimate as a show can come.
Void of a extravagant light show or alternatively a gang of dancers, the night started with the welcomed surprise in supporting act Jono McCleery. Unaware of the young crooner, I was taken by his mixture of acoustic guitar, layered bass line and jazzy fractured drum patterns that just about kept in enough time for McCleery to sweep through the gaps with his haunting tone. McCleery’s soft melodic structures are far from the frequently cliched folk tunes often churned out, ‘Tomorrow’ (single out on Ninja Tunes) being the standout track. A passionate dreamy prelude that provided a great transition into Woon’s set.
The same authenticity embedded in Woon’s debut LP oozed out in the live show without any comprise. He built each song with a enthralling amount of human beatboxing, looping and finger clicking in front of the audience, as if he was doing it for the first time in the studio. ‘ Shoulda’ and swinging gospel soaked ‘Spirits’ were layered meticulously using his trusty loop machine, plethora of guitars and the threeman band. A crowd familiar with Woon’s transferability allowed him to ease through a rockier version of ‘TMRW’ to fluently perform ‘Middle’ that is laden with Michael Jackson echoes and then flip to an electronic commercial gem such as ‘Lady Luck’. All with the same dose of substance carved in each track. In a time where every artist has at least 10 dancers on each side of them or a hypeman, it was a pleasure to witness an artist possess equal measures of soul, complexity and originality in their live show, as their debut album boasts.
The ultra cool electric soul New Zealanders, Electric Wire Hustle are coming to London on Wednesday 22nd June. To perform for all their eclectic blend of music we so love, live and direct at Electrowerkz in Angel
This should be a good night and tickets are priced only at £8.50 in advance. Bargain! To whet your appetite even further watch this and book here.
Officially we have entered the British summer season. Summer means sunshine (we hope), long evenings and the festival season is upon us.
Hip Hoppers come hard this month. London plays host to everyones favourite bad kids on the block, Tyler, The Creator and the man dem at Camden Crawl on the first day of the month. Heavyweights Mos Def, Talib Kweli, De La Soul and Rakim merge together on the 10th May. Also Wiz Khalifia makes his UK debut and ol’ G Snoop touches down to show some UK love.
To balance out all the testerone, we have the British queen of soul, Sade undertaking her first tour in the UK in 17 years. Ms Sade will be holding it down at the O2. Scandinavian duo Quadron make their first UK appearance and label mate Szjerdene will be doing an intimate debut show this month too. Obviously there is plenty more to get involved in.
Get used to the longer listings over the next forthcoming months… the summer is officially here.
Plug Research’s brand new British signee and PinBoard favourite, Szjerdene is performing an intimate show at the legendary 100 club on Saturday 14th May.
Her first gig since making the huge announcement a few weeks back will see Szjerdene coupled with nothing but keys and her alluring voice. If you have never been lucky enough to catch Szjerdene live in action before, now is the perfect time to see this songbird’s ‘debut’, while she’s on the rise.
Tickets are £10 in advance, you grab yours here. You’ll definitely find the PinBoard family supporting amidst of the crowd as per.
