Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival & Leftfoot present Gilles Peterson 3rd June 2012

10 May 2012

 

Bank Holiday Sunday 3rd June

 

Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival & Leftfoot Present

 

Gilles Peterson


Sam Redmore & Adam Regan.

 

£10 Advance / MOTD


9pm-3am

As we enter the final month of preparations for this year’s Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival, friday night’s compere will be joining us for a Bank Holiday DJ session at the Hare & Hounds.   Music lover, record collector, DJ, and broadcaster, Gilles Peterson is perhaps most famous for his much loved genre-exploding radio shows.  His recent move from to BBC6Music has been well-received by his fanbase as he continues to join the dots between a wide variety of leftfield, soulful sounds.

This year’s festival promises to be the strongest yet with headline appearances from George Clinton’s Parliament/Funkadelic, Roots Manuva & Family Stone. We will be offering the first 50 Festival ticket holders a chance to buy 2 tickets for this event for £15.  Email john@mostlyjazz.co.uk for details.
www.mostlyjazz.co.uk

 

BUY TICKETS HERE 

info@hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

Posted in News, Uncategorized, Unframed

A Trad Jazz Concert In The Park

29 March 2012

We are delighted to be bringing two of the biggest names from the traditional jazz world for a special concert in the park on 27th June 2012.

 

The Big Chris Barber Band

 

Trombonist Chris Barber celebrated his 50th year as a bandleader in 1999. Inspired by the King Oliver Creole Jazz Band, Chris formed his first Barber New Orleans Band in 1949 at the age of 19. In 1953, along with Monty Sunshine and Lonnie Donegan, he joined forces with Ken Colyer. Then, with the replacement of Colyer by Pat Halcox, Ken Colyer’s Jazzmen became Chris Barber’s Jazz Band in 1954 and has been one of Europe’s most successful traditional jazz bands ever since.

 

Over the years, Chris Barber’s Jazz Band evolved into the Chris Barber Jazz and Blues Band, a rich eight-piece group, blending brass, reeds, and electric guitar into a unique and unmistakable mix of blues and jazz. And despite being ‘on the slide’ since 1949, having performed over 10,000 concerts and made thousands of recordings, the Chris Barber Jazz and Blues Band keeps marching on. At the end of 2001 Chris extended his band with three more musicians into The BIG Chris Barber Band.

 

 Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band

 

Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band are one of the most successful British jazz groups ever. In 2001 Acker was honoured with an MBE for his services to the music industry.

 

Acker Bilk gained worldwide fame with his hit single Stranger on the Shore in 1962. It stayed in the charts for 55 weeks and was the first record to hit the number one spot in the UK and USA simultaneously. Acker has integrated the top young jazz talent in the UK into the band with the introduction of Enrico Tomasso (Trumpet), Ian Bateman (Trombone) and Malcolm Crease (Bass) to the line-up, which also includes Ritchie Bryant (Drums) and Colin Wood (Piano). The band has a new vitality which is guaranteed to make your event go with a swing!

 

Tickets are priced at £20 and are available now from here

Times: 7pm – 10pm

Venue Address:

Moseley Park

Alcester Road

Moseley

Birmingham

B13 8DD

Posted in News

Mostly Jazz Funk & Soul Festival 2012

13 March 2012

 

We are delighted to announce that this year’s Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival will be brought to a rapturous close by the godfathers of Funk – George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic.

 

The Mostly Jazz Festival is set to return on 29th, 30th June & 1st July 2012 as The Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival.

 

Doing exactly what it says on the tin, The Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival offers a blistering weekend of Jazz, Funk & Soul with a host of household names bringing the party atmosphere back to Moseley Park!

 

The Friday – 29th June 2012 – which has been curated by Birmingham’s Leftfoot will see the return of Gilles Peterson who will be compering on the day as well as jumping behind the decks of one of his legendary DJ sets.

 

London Hip-Hop virtuoso Roots Manuva will be headlining the Friday and will be joined by the genre defying Ghostpoet, cover Maestro’s Introducing who will be taking on DJ Shadow’s ‘Entroducing’ in full, with Leftfoot’s new favourites Bad Bad Not Good completing the main stage line up.

 

Headlining the second stage will be local tropical dub pioneers Troumaca, electro heroes Free School, the groove driven Maylight as well as a DJ set from Leftfoot’s very own Sam Redmore.

 

The Friday doesn’t end there… Mr. Scruff will be heading to the park to play on his very own stage – Mr Scruff’s Tennis Hut. He will also be headlining the After Show Party which will be completely exclusive to Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul ticket holders!

 

On Saturday – 30th June 2012 – we will see the return of Craig Charles’ Funk & Soul Club with the man himself curating the line up as well playing a headline DJ Set on the second stage!

 

He will be joined by the legendary Native New Yorkers Odyssey, Speedometer, The Atlantic Players, The Bongolian, Lack of Afro (DJ Set) & Federation Of The Disco Pimp as well as Introducing coming back to play their second show of the weekend with their take on the music of Mr. Scruff.

 

On Sunday – 1st July 2012 – We will be joined by the Godfathers of Funk – George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic. They will be bringing the party to a rapturous close with one of the most anticipated performances of the summer!

 

Also performing on the Sunday will be James Brown’s Trombone player and master in his own right Fred Wesley who will be joined by his long time band The New JB’s. Completing the Sunday line up will be Soweto Kinch, Andy Hamilton & The Bluenotes, Husk, Miles Levin, Steve Ajao & Birmingham Jazz Youth Ensemble.

 

In 2012…. There will be, once again, two stages side by side at the festival, the second of which will feature up and coming talent. As in 2011, Tony Dudley-Evans’ development agency Jazzlines and Birmingham’s premier jazz & funk parlour The Yardbird will be curating the second stage, whilst Gilles Peterson’s favourite Birmingham promoters Leftfoot will curate both stages on the Friday. Each will showcase some of their top acts so expect to see a wealth of emerging sounds.

 

Tickets for Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul 2012 are now on sale via www.mostlyjazz.co.uk. To avoid booking fees there will also be the option to send in a postal form which is now available from the website. Alternatively, you can visit one of our outlets listed on our site to pick up the tickets in person.

Posted in News

First Acts for 2012 Announced!

23 January 2012

 

With the success of the festival growing each year, we are delighted to announce that BBC Radio 1’s purveyor of eclectic sounds Gilles Peterson and BBC Radio 6’s Funk & Soul maestro Craig Charles will be returning to curate the line up with some of their favourite acts. They’ll also be jumping behind the decks for sets at the official after show parties as well as DJing in the park!

 

Joining Gilles Peterson on the friday will be the genre defying Ghostpoet (pictured), cover maestro’s Introducing who will be taking on DJ Shadow’s ‘Entroducing’ in full as well Local Tropical Dub Pioneers Troumaca and Electro Heroes Free School.

 

On saturday we’ll be joined by the legendary Native New Yorkers Odyssey, Speedometer, The Atlantic Players as well Introducing coming back to play their second show of the weekend with their take on the music of Mr Scruff.

 

Sunday we will be joined by James Brown’s and Trombone master in his own right Fred Wesley who will be joined by his long time band The JB’s. Fred Wesley & The JB’s will be joined by Soweto Kinch, Andy Hamilton & The Bluenotes, Husk and Steve Ajao.


The line ups for both stages will be announced gradually over the coming months but as you can see we already have some amazing artists for 2012! We’ll also be keeping you updated with further events happening in the build up to the festival!Tickets for Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul 2012 are now on sale here. To avoid booking fees there will also be the option to send in a postal form which is now available from the website. Alternatively, you can visit one of our outlets listed on our site to pick up the tickets in person.

 

 

Posted in News

Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival 2012

20 January 2012

 

The Mostly Jazz Festival is set to return on 29th, 30th June & 1st July 2012 as The Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival.

 

Doing exactly what it says on the tin, The Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival offers a blistering weekend of Jazz, Funk & Soul with a host of household names bringing the party atmosphere back to Moseley Park!

 

Tickets are now on sale for the event from here. You can also purchase in person from the festival office and certain outlets in Birmingham and around the country. Check here for further details.

 

The first acts will be announced on 21st January 2012 and will continue to be announced over the coming months! Keep checking in with us to see who is the latest name to be announced for Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul 2012!

 

Here’s a little further information….

 

With the success of the festival growing each year, we are delighted to announce that BBC Radio 1’s purveyor of eclectic sounds Gilles Peterson and BBC Radio 6’s Funk & Soul maestro Craig Charles will be returning to compere with the latter curating the line up with some of his favourite acts. They’ll also be jumping behind the decks for sets at the official after show parties as well as DJing in the park!

 

In 2011, Over 5,000 Jazz, Funk & Soul enthusiasts filled the park to witness the Hammond Legend, Booker T (pictured) close the event in style following epic headline performances from The Cinematic Orchestra & Matthew Herbert Big Band. Further performances came from  the likes of Pigbag, Hidden Orchestra, Brandt Brauer Frick, Alice Russell, Smoove & Turrell & Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra.

 

In 2012…. There will be, once again, two stages side by side at the festival, the second of which will feature up and coming talent. As in 2011, Tony Dudley-Evans’ development agency Birmingham Jazz and Birmingham’s premier jazz & funk parlour The Yardbird will be curating the second stage, whilst Gilles Peterson’s favourite Birmingham promoters Leftfoot will be taking the reins on friday. Each will showcase some of their top acts so expect to see a wealth of emerging sounds.

The line ups for both stages will be announced gradually over the coming months but we can already guarantee some amazing artists for 2012! We’ll also be keeping you updated with further events happening in the build up to the festival!

Posted in News, Uncategorized

Genius Collective & Soul Food Project DJ SET added to Smoove & Turrell

17 January 2012

The official Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Launch Party is now completely sold out so our attention moves onto making this a night to remember!

Not only will we have Smoove & Turrell on the night but we will be joined by Birmingham’s own Genius Collective

Genius Collective – Stronger Than Me

We will also be joined by the already legendary Soul Food Project boys who will be DJ’ing throughout the night!

See you all saturday night!

Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul x

Posted in News

The Mostly Jazz Festival is back….. well almost!

12 December 2011

The Mostly Jazz Festival is set to return on 29th, 30th June & 1st July 2012 as The Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival.

 

Doing exactly what it says on the tin, The Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul Festival offers a blistering weekend of Jazz, Funk & Soul with a host of household names bringing the party atmosphere back to Moseley Park!

 

With the success of the festival growing each year, we are delighted to announce that BBC Radio 1’s purveyor of eclectic sounds Gilles Peterson and BBC Radio 6’s Funk & Soul maestro Craig Charles will be returning to compere with the latter curating the line up with some of his favourite acts. They’ll also be jumping behind the decks for sets at the official after show parties as well as DJing in the park!

 

In 2011, Over 5,000 Jazz, Funk & Soul enthusiasts filled the park to witness the Hammond Legend, Booker T (pictured) close the event in style following epic headline performances from The Cinematic Orchestra & Matthew Herbert Big Band. Further performances came from  the likes of Pigbag, Hidden Orchestra, Brandt Brauer Frick, Alice Russell, Smoove & Turrell & Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra.

 

In 2012…. There will be, once again, two stages side by side at the festival, the second of which will feature up and coming talent. As in 2011, Tony Dudley-Evans’ development agency Birmingham Jazz and Birmingham’s premier jazz & funk parlour The Yardbird will be curating the second stage, whilst Gilles Peterson’s favourite Birmingham promoters Leftfoot will be taking the reins on friday. Each will showcase some of their top acts so expect to see a wealth of emerging sounds.

The line ups for both stages will be announced gradually over the coming months but we can already guarantee some amazing artists for 2012! We’ll also be keeping you updated with further events happening in the build up to the festival!

 

Tickets for Mostly Jazz, Funk & Soul 2012 will be going on sale on 5th December 2011 via www.mostlyjazz.co.uk. To avoid booking fees there will also be the option to send in a postal form which is now available from the website. Alternatively, you can visit one of our outlets listed on our site to pick up the tickets in person.

 

We will be announcing the first set of artists on 21st January 2012 at our official launch party at Hare & Hounds featuring Smoove & Turrell with their six piece live band! Details for this show and how to buy tickets are available at www.mostlyjazz.co.uk

Posted in News

Official Launch Party with Smoove & Turrell – SOLD OUT!

25 October 2011
Having sold out The Hare & Hounds twice already, Smoove & Turrell are back for their third visit to Kings Heath, but this time, they are bringing the whole band with them!
As always, it’s going to be the funkiest thing that you’ll EVER do on a Saturday night in January…“It’s a badly kept secret that a lot of people believe John’s heading for future stardom – with a voice with the timbre of the greats of Soul music, who could deny that?  For Smoove and Turrell, their time is coming, and soon.” – Snowboy.Since the launch of their debut album Antique Soul in 2009, things have started accelerating very fast indeed for the Geordie duo Smoove & Turrell. From being a complete unknown to headlining stages to over 10,000 people at Glastonbury, singer John Turrell has seen his life change dramatically since their first single I Can’t Give You Up became one of the most sought after 7” releases of the year – discussed endlessly on mod and northern soul forums with the final copies of the 500 run selling for north of £150 on ebay.Producer Smoove, with a longer career behind him, exudes the confidence of someone who has seen it all before. Signed as a solo artist to the legendary Acid Jazz imprint in its heyday as well as various major label deals he has the confidence of a world class producer who has finally found a world class lyricist and singer to write with.A quick re-cap on the story so far.  Having completed recording of their debut album Antique Soul, their live agent sent the finished copy to Jalapeno Records who took one listen and offered them a deal within an hour of the demo arriving.Singles, I Can’t Give You Up, You Don’t Know and Beggarman scored two Records of the Week on Radio 2 and a playlist on 6 Music between them and set the boys up for a summer of touring culminating in a triumphant Big Chill show before the boys retired to their Newcastle studio to record the songs they had been writing all summer and plot the next move.During the year they were promoting their debut album Antique Soul, John’s incredible blues vocals had not gone unnoticed and he received offers to moonlight as the singer for Ashley Beedle’s MAVIS project and as singer for the Fantasy Funk Band – a live band put together by long time Smoove & Turrell supporter and all round top funker Craig Charles.  With the support of Smoove – John spread his prodigious talent as far and wide as possible in 2010 playing with James Taylor , Dr Rubberfunk and Kraak & Smaak as well as the collaborations above, in order to draw as much attention to the next Smoove & Turrell album as possible.

And so after a winter and spring hibernation in the studio – Smoove & Turrell are back with their second album Eccentric Audio. All questions about a difficult second album are brushed aside with the first listen which shows John Turrell at the top of his game lyrically and vocally while Smoove delivers a timeless production that references but never mimics the greats of soul, hip hop, jazz and rhythm and blues. More focused than their first album, tracks like Money are influenced by the politically aware black music of the 70’s, while the incredibly melancholy Wasted Man owes as much to songwriters like Nick Drake and trip hop like Massive Attack as it does to Funk & Soul.

First single Slowdown sees John deliver a powerful vocal that evokes the ratpack at their height (assuming Frank, Dean & the boys had lived through acid house and a youth growing up in the North East that is), Broke delivers a riff that De la Soul would have been proud of and Higher is a full tilt Northern Soul stomper. Never ones to forget about what their fans want – live favourites Let Yourself Go, Hard Work and It’s the Falling In Love make sure that this is an album you could put on repeat at a party.

An accomplished DJ who makes his living by making people dance, Smoove’s hand is all over the album sequence which builds and drops, ebbs and flows until as the final bar rings out the listener knows they have just been part of Something Special.

And that’s all you can ask for in an album really.

 

Support comes from Genius Collective & Soul Food Project DJ SET!

This event is now completely SOLD OUT
Posted in News

Felabration: Fela Kuti’s Birthday Tribute Concert

26 September 2011

 

Fela Kuti’s Birthday tribute concert is the annual event to celebrate the originator of Afrobeat. The concert comes to Birmingham on Friday 14th October 2011 at The Hare & Hounds. This event celebrates his music, his life, his fashion, and all the many truths that he shared in his music and his life. Join us in celebrating one of the most important Africans of the 20th century!

The concert will be led by Fela’s Egypt 80 keyboardist and musical director of award winning musical “FELA”, Dele Sosimi and his ensemble. Dele moved to London in 1995 from Nigeria and stands out as one of the most active musicians currently on the Afrobeat scene worldwide. His dedication to Afrobeat has contributed to the development of many musical influences and interests in multi-cultural London.

From his early discovery as a green 16 year old keyboardist by Fela Kuti, who brought him into his band Egypt 80, Dele rose to prominence as musical director of the 30 piece band during the 80’s and 90’s. Whilst at the helm he hatched a plan for a new more aggressive sound, with an old school mate, who just happened to be Fela’s son Femi Kuti. The result was the band Positive Force, with whom he toured globally for a decade, honing his craft and exploring all the richness of this amazing music.

Increasingly Jazz and other styles started to feature in his thinking and Dele opted to jump ship and pursue his own musical vision, packing his bags and heading to London to form his own group. Being his own man has really suited him, allowing the realization of his own vision – one that’s faithful to the Fela blueprint, but also clearly bears Dele’s own DNA, exploring the jazzier side of Afrobeat.

 

Fela was known for his showmanship, and his concerts were often quite outlandish and wild. In recent years there has been a revitalization of Fela’s influence on music and popular culture, culminating in another re-release of his catalogue controlled by Universal Music, off-and-on Broadway biopic shows, and new bands, such as , who carry the Afrobeat banner to a new generation of listeners.

Dele has performed extensively throughout the world including major jazz festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival. Dele frequently performs at some of London’s hippest venues such as the Jazz Café and the Shrine. Afrobeat Vibration, Deles Bimonthly sessions have also grown to be London’s top underground event. Sosimi also went down a storm at the Mostly Jazz Festival 2011 in Birmingham.

Dele has always shown his love for Fela’s music,from his day as a band member in Egypt 80 to him currently flying solo. Fela’s and Dele’s music will be performed on the night. Dele will be supported on the night by DJ Ade and Bobbalin’ Hot. Come and join us in the colourful celebration of Fela Kuti’s legacy!

Djs include Dj Ade and Bobblin hot

 

Check out the special Felabration mix by Bobblin Hot below!

http://www.mixcloud.com/bobbiejane/felabration-mix/

 

Advance tickets priced £10. Tickets available from:

http://www.theticketsellers.co.uk/ 0844 870 0000

 

Posted in News

A thank you from the Mostly Jazz team

5 July 2011

Thank you to everyone who came to this year’s festival. It was a great success.

We would love to get your feedback so we can make the festival even better. Please let us know your thoughts (positive or negative!) by email info@mostlyjazz.co.uk

If you took any photos and are on Flickr, please tag them Mostly Jazz 2011.

Pictures are still flooding in, but you can see a selection from Russ Escritt here and Fiona Cullinan (including the image above) here.
You can read a great review courtesy of The Hearing Aid here.

We hope to see you next year!

Mostly Jazz Team x

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Festival pictures

4 July 2011

What a weekend! We hope you all had an amazing time. We would like to that everyone that made this year’s festival happen! There will be more of a roundup soon, but in the mean time, here’s some pictures courtesy of Katchooo.

Spontaneous hula hooping broke out at the front for Dele Sosimi.

Tasty treats from the Boutique Baking Co. went down very well with a spot of tea.

Brassroots wow the crowd with covers such as Karma Police and Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).

 

 

 

 

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Mostly Jazz 2011 kicks off today!

1 July 2011

The second Mostly Jazz festival kicks off today! We hope you can join us for  what promises to be a sunny weekend of jazz, funk and soul from the likes of Booker T, Matthew Herbert Big Band, The Cinematic Orchestra, Dele Sosimi, Pigbag, Gilles Peterson and many many more!

We are stopping online and Ticketsellers sales at 10am this morning. From then on you can buy tickets on the door or through our outlets. Info on door prices and outlets here.

We hope to see you over the weekend!

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Weekend weather forecast

29 June 2011

The weather is looking great for the weekend!

Tickets are still available here but if you decide to come down to the park on the day there will also be tickets available on the door.

Doors open at 2pm on Friday and 11am on Saturday and Sunday and each day finishes at 10.30pm.

On the line-up page artists are listed in reverse order of appearance (headliners first and opening act last). The first acts are on soon after the gates open and Main Stage headliners are the last act of the day and will be onstage at around 9pm.

Full performance times will be on display at the festival information tent and the bar, they will also be in the festival programme.

 

We hope to see you at the weekend!

 

Posted in News

Tickets & After Parties

24 June 2011

Tickets are still on sale for the festival and you can buy them here. As it is so close to the festival we are now issuing e-tickets. Limited tickets will be available on the door.

If the festival itself is not enough and you need a good boogie, why not come to one of our after parties held on each night of the festival? Friday and Saturdays after parties will be held at the Hare & Hounds in Kings Heath. The Hare & Hounds is a short distance from Moseley Park and a nice walk  on a summer’s eve.  The Bull’s Head in Moseley will host Sunday’s after party.

Friday will see a DJ set from music lover and broadcaster Gilles Peterson.

Saturday night will see Matthew Herbert take the reigns after his headlining set in Moseley Park.

On Sunday Craig Charles will take his Funk and Soul Club over the road to the Bull’s Head where you can carry on partying till the small hours with Craig and Freestyle DJ Sam Redmore.

Tickets can be bought here.

 

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Festival extras

24 June 2011

There’s only a week to go until the second Mostly Jazz Festival! As well as music from Booker T, The Cinematic Orchestra, The Matthew Herbert Big Band, Dele Sosimi, Pigbag and Brandt Brauer Frick (and many many more!) there will be loads of other things to do while you are at the festival. There will be question & answer sessions with Matthew Herbert, Pigbag and Dele Sosimi, film screenings, spoken word performance and kids entertainment.

We’ve carefully selected our caterers to bring you the best selection of fine festival food. You’ll be able to choose from freshly smoked fish, organic roast pig, tasty falafels, poached rabbit and cajun fish. To accompany your meal and the music Purity Brewery are providing their range of fine ales, lagers and ciders. Yum :)

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Taxi!

14 June 2011


Why not book a taxi in advance to the Mostly Jazz Festival and back, from anywhere in the UK? Visit cogoTrip.com for a cheaper, easier deal.

Posted in News

The Mouse Outfit confirmed!

8 June 2011

We are excited that Manchester-based 9 piece The Mouse Outfit will open the festival on Friday afternoon.

The band are renowned for making crowds get up and get down with their funk fuelled live shows. Dubbed ‘The UKs Breakestra’, their live shows seamlessly blend original tunes with b-boy funk breaks and classic hip hop.

It’s now less than a month to the festival. We hope to see you there!

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Dele Sosimi preview

1 June 2011

Check out this short film about Dele Sosimi recently filmed in both Birmingham and London. It’s a nice preview of what to expect at the festival.

Thank you to Punch Records for highlighting the film. Their Bass Festival (British Arts and Street Sounds) the UK’s only month long celebration of Black Music and Art will be taking place from 9 – 25 June across the West Midlands.

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Craig Charles interviews Booker T

30 May 2011

Craig Charles interviewed the legendary Booker T on the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show on BBC6 Music on Saturday. It’s a wonderful, long interview with insights into  Booker T‘s music interspersed with classic tunes and unusual covers which I’m sure we will be hearing at the festival. Booker T will be closing Mostly Jazz on Sunday, the day guest curated by the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club. We are honoured that such a legend will be joining us.

You can listen to the show for the next five days here. Craig’s interview with Booker T is from 1:32:00.

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Festival preview with Tony Dudley-Evans

25 May 2011


 

Artistic Director for Birmingham Jazz and compere for the Saturday at this year’s festival; Tony Dudley-Evans has kindly created a short video discussing the partnership between Birmingham Jazz and The Mostly Jazz Festival.

Only 5 weeks to go! We can’t wait!

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Craig Charles sings the praises of The Mostly Jazz Festival

18 May 2011

Craig Charles made this lovely video for us. The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Club will be curating Sunday at the festival.

As Craig says we will be welcoming artists including Pigbag, Brassroots and Smoove & Turrell amongst others. Booker T will close the festival on Sunday belting out his Hammond rhythm and blues hits including, we’re sure the classic Green Onions, made famous with the backing of the MGs.

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Mostly Jazz presents: Duplicates / Atlantic Players / Swampmeat

16 May 2011

On Saturday 4th June Mostly Jazz presents The Duplicates, Atlantic Players and Swampmeat at the Hare & Hounds.

The Duplicates - A heavyweight trio specialising in rhythm and blues, soul, ska and film tunes. The last two visits to the Hare and Hounds were sold out, don’t miss these guys…

The Atlantic Players play old school Rhythm and Blues and Southern Soul classics. Hugely influenced by Stax, Willie Mitchell and generally most things from Memphis circa 1966. In Junior Blackwood they have a singer with real soul who harks back to times gone by, but who also places them firmly in the world of music today. Choppy guitars, driving rhythms, groovy organ and a solid brass section ensure this band deliver classics that you may or may not be familiar with.

Swampmeat -The mighty T Bird provides laid back but spot on brushwork on the drums while Danny sings like the bastard son of Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee on a set of tracks that already sound like Sun studio classics. Just brilliant, simple tunes played the way they should be…with heart, soul and a large glass of the hard stuff.

Tickets £8. Doors at 8pm.

We hope to see you there!

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Dele Sosimi to play Mostly Jazz Festival

10 May 2011

We are very excited to announce the addition of Afrobeat legend Dele Sosimi to this year’s Saturday line-up!

At the age of 16 while most teenagers are content with a paper round, Dele Sosimi joined Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s legendary Egypt 80 band as keyboard player. Within five years he was made musical director. After working with Femi Kuti in Positive Force, he moved to London in the mid-90s to pursue his own musical career.

His performance at last year’s WOMAD Festival was described in the Daily Telegraph as ‘the most satisfying act of the day…the glorious interplay of scorching horns, pulsing electric piano and endlessly shifting rhythm section had the audience packed round the Radio 3 stage leaping in delight.’

Dele Sosimi will play the main stage on the evening of Saturday 2nd July joining the likes of the inspirational Matthew Herbert Big Band, gypsy-swing ensemble Manouche and recent winners of the European Young Artists’ Jazz Award 2011, Beats and Pieces.

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Mostly Jazz Warm Up feat. The Shaolin Temple Defenders

5 May 2011

For the second installment of live, free festival warm ups in association with The Yardbird, the Shaolin Temple Defenders will play the city centre venue on Friday 20 May. The supreme deep funk and soul innovators from Bordeaux will appear with very special guest vocalist Corrina Greyson.

As honorable heirs of the 60’s & 70’s Soul Funk movement, the Shaolin Temple Defenders stay true to this tradition while extending their influences towards current music…

‘At a time when the Western world is developing technologies which shorten every moment of our lives as if to accelerate our deaths, our Shaolin monks have decided to slow down the pace.’ They wish to push things forward in time but they want to keep a more organic rhythm in order to stay close to Nature’s cycle. This desire has found expression in a musical world which combines classic Soul & Funk with modern urban grooves.

According to this quest for a musical balance, they now present their 3rd and new album Take It Slow set for release on Soulbeats Records.

The Shaolin Temple Defenders keep on preserving the temple of Soul, now armed with greater inspirations.

The band has been touring for 5 years: Montreal International Jazz Festival, Francofolies of La Rochelle, Bobital Festival,  Olympia Bruno Coquatrix opening for Sly & The Family Stone…Without the Shaolin Temple Defenders, there would not be any Soul Funk revival in France!!!!

With support from Rock The Jazbah DJs

8pm – 2am / Free Entry

Facebook event page here.

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Photos from festival launch

4 May 2011

Last month we held a festival launch at the Hare & Hounds, a free taster of what’s to come in Moseley park at the beginning of July. The gig was packed to the rafters and Matthew Halsall’s set was mesmerising.

You can see more images from the evening here courtesy of Russ Escritt.

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Mostly Jazz Festival Launch with Matthew Halsall

6 April 2011

Come and join us on Thursday 14 April at the Hare & Hounds to celebrate the launch of Mostly Jazz Festival 2011. A FREE taster of the treats in store at the festival this year!

Playing will be Matthew Halsall – 26 year old trumpeter, composer, arranger, DJ, producer and band leader who will also play the main stage on the festival Saturday.

Halsall picked up the trumpet at just 6 years old after being taken to a jazz gig by his parents. From the age of 14 he has toured the world.

His debut album Sending My Love was released in October 2008 on the newly formed independent jazz label Gondwana Records. The album received rave reviews and heavy airplay from the likes of Gilles Peterson (BBC Radio 1), Stuart Maconie (BBC 6 Music), Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music) and Mike Chadwick (Jazz FM). He is currently recording his new album.

‘Rain-streaked spiritual jazz from Manchester.’ The Independent on Sunday

Halsall will be joined by a set by DJ Sam Redmore (DJing on the festival Friday), driving force behind celebrated Birmingham club night Freestyle. The night starts at 8.30pm and will go on to 11.30pm.

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Full line up announced

5 April 2011

The full line up for 2011′s Mostly Jazz Festival is now up! We are also very excited that this year the festival will take place over three days from 1-3 July.

This year’s headline acts include Booker T, Matthew Herbert Big Band and The Cinematic Orchestra with DJ sets and after-parties from Gilles Peterson and Craig Charles’ Funk & Soul Club. This year we have also teamed up again with Birmingham’s finest promoters Leftfoot, Birmingham Jazz & Yardbird to bring you this stellar line up. Check out the full festival line up here.

Please keep an eye on the blog for updates. You can also follow us @mostly_jazz and  on Facebook.

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The newest addition to the line-up!

2 March 2011

We’re looking forward to seeing these guys on Friday 1st July, as a part of the Leftfoot Presents day.

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Everyone should watch this video…

24 February 2011

Our Friday line-up is reaching to the very boundaries of jazz and German minimalist electronic jazz trio Brandt Brauer Frick reach even further, we’ve come to think of them as Kraftwerk in a power cut. See what you think:

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Hot off the presses…

21 February 2011

It's all go-go-go here at Mostly Jazz HQ as the line-up hits the streets in the next few days.

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Clarks love Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra (& so do we)

11 February 2011

You may remember Shawn Lee as the man behind the song ‘Happiness’ which was heavily played and circulated around the year 2000. Well we’ve fallen for his current instrumental project (Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra) in a big way and can’t wait for his performance on Friday of the festival. Perhaps you’re familiar with one of the Ping Pong Orchestra’s tracks without even realising it…

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Craig Charles: ‘AWOOGA-AWOOGA-AWOOGA!’

11 February 2011

Craig Charles introduces the legendary Sun Ra Arkestra in 2010. Photo Credit Dick Jones.

We’re pleased to have BBC Radio 6Music’s funk and soul pioneer joining us again. What’s more, Mostly Jazz’s Sunday will officially be the CRAIG CHARLES FUNK & SOUL CLUB with performances from some of Craig’s favourite acts. Craig will be master of ceremonies; introducing the acts and bringing the second stage to a close, opening his trunk of funk for a DJ set live in Moseley Park.

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Booker T is Booked for Mostly Jazz on Sunday 3rd July

31 January 2011

Booker T - the man behind 'Green Onions' and so many other hits. Photo Credit Gary Copelander

Topping off the whole weekend, we’ve got Booker T headlining on Sunday night. We can’t wait to hear the iconic sounds of household hits like ‘Green Onions’, ‘Melting Pot’ and the cricket theme tune ‘Soul Limbo’ filling Moseley Park. Over the course of his long and much esteemed career, Booker T has collaborated with Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Neil Young and Stevie Wonder, also the legendary leader o f Booker T. & The MG’s, he is one of the biggest musical forces to come out of America so it’s a real treat to have him joining us. We’ll definitely be down the front for a dance!

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