Tuesday, April 29, 2008

1 Giant Leap- Bombardmet info

From the 1 Giant Leap website here is the blurb about Bombardment, the first chapter of their new DVD What About Me screening on BBC 4.

Very apt for our first topic. 4 years in the making What About Me? has been a total bombardment of the senses. We took on such an ambitious concept with little idea of what would happen. Only a faith that if we stayed with it, it’d work out.

The backing track for this chapter was written one windy night in my van in Cadaques Spain. I had copied the riff from a sample of some Thai instrument. Sounded very different on my guitar, and as I played it to other musicians around the world it took on a whole new sound. Later on, Nigel (my constant support and musical genius) told me he thought I’d ripped it from knight Rider! I probably did without realising. Certainly doesn’t sound like that in the end.

The original lyrical concept for this track was to look at the issues of communication. As we started investigating and composing lyrics the idea of questioning the quality of our communication both with others but more importantly with ourselves, became our primary interest.

Featured countries

Egypt/Cairo Anwar Binale (Oud)
India, Shantinitkan Dev das & sons (Baul musicians)
Brazil, Sao Paulo Barbatuques & Comade Fulozhino
Turkey, Istanbul Whirling Dervis
South Africa, Cape Town Amapondo
USA, New York Bon cycle, Gabrielle Roth workshop

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Powerspot Playlist 16 April 08

On the show tomorrow night musical treats and delights from the following:-

Daniel Lanois- CD Here Is What Is
Anoushka Shankar & Karsh Kale ao- CD Breathing Underwater
Lunasa- CD Other World
Meehan & Valley- CD Buille
Marcel Khalife- CD Taqasim

I interviewed Marcel Khalife last week at his home in Paris via a translator. As I only had a very brief time frame to speak with him the questions were of a general nature. if you would like to listen to or download the interview, please go here. Marcel will be performing at the Sydney Opera House 24 April 2008. I think it will be a memorable musical moment, so if in Sydney town, please go along to see this wonderful musician.

I'm also now doing a second show called The Spice of Life on Tuesday afternoons 1.30pm till 3pm, which will carry on from Powerspot but will incorporate other musical styles. Material is gratefully accepted.


GIG NEWS

Anouska Shankar Project- June 14 2008 Sydney Opera House

March's Uber System Charged! party at the Abercrombie was the biggest yet!

The next Uber at the Abercrombie event is nearing, this time a themed event!

The SYDNEY GYPSY & BALKAN BASH @ ABERCROMBIE
an Eastern European beats fest... across three rooms
SATURDAY 19th of April 2008 : 8 till late
check out http://www.uberlingua.com/gypsy

Featuring DJs VIT (Czech Republic), DJ Sveta (Russia), FSB (Bulgaria),
Aindrias de Staic (Galway, Ireland), bP (UL Melb), Mashy P, Ollo DJs & Dub
Chaman & LIVE ACTS Gypsy Dub Sound System & The Gyp-Rocks...
plus performers and dancers galore...

DJ Sveta is known for her work with Star F**kers and the Gay party scene,
yet her Russian genetic heritage calls from time to time and she'll be
dropping a set of all Ruski dancefloor tracks... V.I.T. is a Czech DJ who
promotes a monthly Czech and Slovak night in Sydney and Uber made contact
and offered him to join in the fun and the chance to fling out tracks
unheard in Australia from his language group. FSB is a first generation Uber
DJ who moved from the weekly club in Melbourne to live in Perth and work as
a Sound Engineer. His residencies in clubs on the dead sea cost of Bulgaria
are still talked about back home.

Aindrias de Staic is Irish Gaelic speaking Musician, Broadcaster and Theatre
actor from Galway. When he comes to Australia (this is his 3rd visit), Uber
Lingua forces him to DJ his vast selection of trans-gypsy music. Usually he
cant help but get out the fiddle. Representing the locals and pulling out
all the fave Gyp, Balkan, East and Northern European tracks are Mashy P, bP,
Ollo DJs and DubChaman...

Working the LIVE STAGE are renowned Electronic Gypsy minstrels The Gypsy Dub
Sound System. This four piece have been central to the growth of the Uber
Lingua movement in Sydney and feature members from Macedonia (Sam Golding -
Tuba, Trumpet) and Bulgaria (Veren Grigorov - Violin, Dancing) alongside a
skankin reggae guitarist (Dirk Krithoff) and band leader Trevor Brown on
Saxophone, clarinet & laptop programming...

Also playing their debut set are The Gyp-Rocks... featuring Mr Mantek from
seminal electro-balkan band Mama Voltash, working with the illustrious Raven
on dastardly string situations... a collision of hard edge beats and exotic
acoustics... should be fun as!... Also, Uber's rounding up a bunch of
performers & dancers for spontaneous moments so punters should stay alarmed
but not alert. This event will be technically configured differently to the
past 3 Uber-Abercrombie events...

The SYDNEY GYPSY & BALKAN BASH AT THE ABERCROMBIE HOTEL
100 Broadway, Ultimo (corner of Broadway and Abercrombie)
100 Broadway, Ultimo : SATURDAY 19th APRIL 8pm till late : $10 entry
more info: http://www.uberlingua.com/gypsy or see flier below
facebook http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=12409562482&ref=nf

Zimbabwe’s Thomas Mapfumo on tour!
Sat 19 April 8:00pm til late. A rare opportunity to hear in concert Zimbabwe’s Thomas Mapfumo and his full 10 piece band. Mapfumo is a cultural and political icon in Zimbabwe the country from which he is exiled due to his outspokenness against Prime Minister Robert Mugabe and his betrayal of the fight for independence. on at The Gaelic club, 64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills. Supporting act: Chris Gudu & DJ Scrim. Bookings: The Gaelic www.thegaelic.com or call (02) 9211 1687. Also see www.zambezipromo.com.au

Soweto Gospel Choir
Sydney, Castle Hill, Revesby, Sutherland, Newcastle, Wollongong, North Coast, Albury, Canberra shows
MAY & JUNE The Soweto Gospel Choir was formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African Gospel music. The 26-strong choir, under the direction of David Mulovhedzi and Beverly Bryer, draws on the best talent from the many churches in and around Soweto. The choir is dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences around the world. Tour details at http://www.sowetogospelchoir.com/PERFORMANCES.html On Sun 4 May Coffs Harbour Ex-Services 02 6652 3888 www.cex.com.au ; On Tues 6 May Toowoomba Empire Theatre 1300 655 299 www.empiretheatre.com.au ; Wed 14 May Albury Performing Arts Centre 02 6051 3051; Mon 19 May Newcastle Civic Theatre 02 4929 1977 www.ticketek.com.au ; 21 – 24 May Sydney Theatre Royal 132 849 www.ticketek.com.au ; Thurs 5 June Revesby Workers Club 02 9772 2100 www.revesbyworkersclub.com.au ; Fri 6 June Wollongong Regent Theatre 136 100 www.ticketmaster.com.au ; Sat 7 June Castle Hill, The Hills Centre 02 9899 3433 or 132 849 www.hillscentre.com.au ; Sun 8 June Sutherland Entertainment Centre 02 9521 8888 www.suthentcent.com.au ; Tues 10 June Canberra Canberra Theatre 02 6275 2700.