“Australia’s First Annual Neo Soul, Jazz & Hip Hop Festival” needs some jazz, right? The inaugural Soulfest 2014 delivered a line-up of spectacular soul and hip hop artists to Australian and New Zealand shores. Best of all it included D’Angelo & The Vanguard afresh, not long before the release of Black Messiah and they got busy playing… Continue reading Kamasi Washington: The Jazz 2015 In Soulfest 2015
Hiatus Kaiyote Dropping You Into It
Just like I thought as few words as possible should be said about the new Hiatus Kaiyote album Choose Your Weapon in order to do the music and its makers justice, I think the less words said about Hiatus Kaiyote’s live show at Brisbane’s Woolly Mammoth, the better. To experience is the goal. Early in their set during ‘Shaolin Monk… Continue reading Hiatus Kaiyote Dropping You Into It
Native Sun: Hip Hop+Afrobeat+Sunshine+Love On Foot
So much music being created by artists in this world. So many barriers to getting it heard, properly valued, sold and any money into their pockets. We all know it’s a travesty of epic proportions. To all the artists who share their music with me digitally: thank you, and, I’m truly sorry. Lots of it I… Continue reading Native Sun: Hip Hop+Afrobeat+Sunshine+Love On Foot
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic Live: Outta The Funk With The Funk
The word funk has different usages today. Last Friday I was in a deep funk – having had one of the longest, most horrible days of my life. I didn’t think anything could shift me out of that funk. But when George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic came on stage and started playing at London’s Electric… Continue reading George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic Live: Outta The Funk With The Funk
Roots Manuva, Leon Bridges & Human Snails at Citadel Festival 2015
On a sunny, blue-sky London day I found my way to the inaugural Citadel Festival 2015 for two reasons: to experience an uncommon live performance by veteran Londonite rapper Roots Manuva – and to hear the music of the young, up-and-coming Texan soul artist Leon Bridges. Roots Manuva Roots Manuva came first – the casually,… Continue reading Roots Manuva, Leon Bridges & Human Snails at Citadel Festival 2015
Beauty by Wallace
When female soul, blues and jazz artist Wallace recently released her debut single Vinyl Skip, I wanted to hear more of the music and vocals this young artist had in store for us. Wallace Gollan’s EP is not here yet, but her second single is: Beauty. Beauty features Sydney’s female rapper Sampa The Great, and has a… Continue reading Beauty by Wallace
Nneka Live & With Love In The Eutropia Sanctuary
I’ve discovered that when in Rome in the Summertime, the good-vibes, open-air, artistic sanctuary of Eutropia Festival with its killer line-up of music artists seems like the only place in the city to be. Also that when in any part of the world at any time there’s a live Nneka concert to be found, that… Continue reading Nneka Live & With Love In The Eutropia Sanctuary
Protoje & The InDiggNation Live In Amsterdam – Ancient Future Tour 2015
About this time two years ago I was in Jamaica on the hunt to find Protoje’s then-new album The 8 Year Affair. Finding a Summer show on his island home wasn’t an option because Protoje and The InDiggNation were touring Europe. I’ve watched their busy tour schedules since, waiting patiently for a chance to catch a… Continue reading Protoje & The InDiggNation Live In Amsterdam – Ancient Future Tour 2015
A Blessed Musical Day With Eric Harland & Co.
It’s a blessed musical day when a Beaver finds herself arrive in Amsterdam to hear about an Eric Harland, Dave Holland, Chris Potter and Lionel Loueke show starting in two hours; buy a randomly-seated ticket and turn up to the gig to discover she’s seated a few metres behind Eric Harland on drum kit –… Continue reading A Blessed Musical Day With Eric Harland & Co.
D’Angelo & The Vanguard: Then & Now – Night & Day
The difference between D’Angelo & The Vanguard’s concert at London’s Roundhouse on Monday night and the last concert of theirs I heard is like Night and Day. The last was nine months ago when they performed at Soulfest 2014– “Australia’s first annual neo-soul, hip hop and jazz festival”. At that time and for the previous… Continue reading D’Angelo & The Vanguard: Then & Now – Night & Day