Date(s): 26th February 2010
Time: 19:30 - 01.00am
Venue: Braithwaite Hall, Croydon Clocktower, Katherine Street, Croydon, CR9 1ET
After 5 years as London’s premier globalbeat session, Chilli Fried is bringing its unique blend of great live music, top tunes & the warmest ambience to the Croydon Clocktower. CF host, founder & DJ supreme Jamie Renton welcomes mighty 12-piece Hi-life/Afro funk ensemble Yaaba funk to the stage.
Famed for their riotous, groove heavy live shows, Yaabafunk are a perfect embodiment of Chilli Fried’s free spirited party ethos, a multi-cultural London band who draw on Ghanaian roots and funky shoots to create something very special
Between Yaabafunk’s live sets, Jamie & special guest Duke Etienne (Heads High) will be firing up the decks with a globetrotting selection to warm your soul and move your hips
More information on Yaabafunk
"Heavy Afro grooves with crisp, tight drumming, intricate cross rhythms, wah wah guitar, punchy horns and very effective vocal chants were the order of the day.... This was a well honed performance from this Hi Life Afro beat funk band entrenched in the thick of it and implacable.... Brixton has another top flight band added to it’s rostrum..... Go see this band live! I guarantee you’ll find it hard to keep your feet still!" Emrys Baird. Blues and Soul magazine. From the streets of South London comes this eleven-piece band that have been honing their sound over the last two years, whilst rocking (notoriously hard to please..) audiences all over London. Yaaba Funk, a product of Brixton, play a mix of classic 70’s Ghanaian Hi-Life and hard-hitting funk, cut with a strong dose of ‘Afro-broken-beat’ and more than a hint of Dub. Band members have studied African, Brazilian and Cuban music, and it shows in their strongly rhythmic sound. Two infectiously energised vocalists, a horn section and the tightest rhythm section this side of Accra are underpinned by analogue bass and African guitar, creating a 21st century urban Afro sound, that is at home on festival stages and club venues. Their live shows are renowned for raw energy, great musicianship and a visually arresting style. Yaaba Funk is a truly exhilarating experience, which is guaranteed to leave exhausted audiences in their wake. Since forming the Yaaba Funk have appeared at the Barbican as part of African musician's tribute to James Brown, Russ Jones's Future World Funk, Afrogroov's Components in Brixton, Shambala Festival where they warmed up for Horace Andy. The band also appeared on the African Village stage at Rise festival alongside Bassekou kouyatte and Emmanuel Jal, Stokefest and I love Peckham festival where they performed alongside Mark de Clive-Lowe and Wunmi. The band have also performed live on African Essence radio show (hosted by Debbie Golt) and Radio London's 'A world in London' (hosted by Dj Ritu) 'Nyash! e go bite you' the band's debut ep, only available at their gigs has sold out and their much anticipated debut album 'Afrobeast' (working title) is soon to be released. Fat remixes from Olatunde and DJ D are also imminent. .. .. .... ....
More information on Chilli Fried
Since launching in November 2004 at Darbucka, Clerkenwell's beautiful Bedouin basement bar and followed by Brixton’s Ritzy Cinema Cafe, Chilli Fried has produced regular monthly events and has been proud to present international live guests including the UK debut of Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni ba (Mali) + artists from South Africa, India, Senegal, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, France, Begium & the USA as well as acclaimed UK-based performers such as Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara, Reem Kelani, Soothsayers and JJC & 419 Squad and DJs Charlie Gillett, Andy Kershaw, Natty Bo, Russ Jones, Lopa Kothari and Eric Soul have all graced the decks. Most recently, Chilli Fried has launched a new quarterly session at Dalston’s very hip Passing Clouds.
Jamie Renton is a London-based globalbeat DJ, promoter and journalist. As a DJ he has played at the Glastonbury Festival, Dingwalls, The Roundhouse, Cargo, Big Chill Bar, Guanabara, 93 Feet East, Notting Hill Arts Club, The Albany and the Musicport Festival, alongside the likes of Felix Buxton (Basement Jaxx), Bobby Friction, Jerry Dammers, Gaz Mayall, Charlie Gillett, Verity Sharp and Ross Allen, as well as regularly hosting stages at Celebrating Sanctuary and the Thames Festival.
He has written for a number of publications including The Guardian, The Independent, Songlines, The Beat and The Encyclopaedia of Popular Music and is a regular contributor to fRoots and Straight No Chaser. He has interviewed a wide range of artists including Damon Albarn, Gotan Project, Taj Mahal, Ozomatlu, Steve Earl and members of The Buena Vista Social Club and has written sleevenotes for albums by Los De Abajo and Fantazia.
More Information on Duke Etienne
Born in London to Swiss/St. Lucian parents, diversity is a consistent keyword in the Duke’s existence. Inspired by late 80’s pirate radio stations, a young Duke aka Etienne Joseph applied this diverse doctrine to his music, learning his trade cutting and pasting Hip-Hop, Hip-House, Hardcore and early Jungle onto fresh C90 cassette tapes.
Fast forward a decade or so and the evidence of the Duke’s affection for variation was clear to see. Having spent his teens digging for old school gems and new school freshness, London began to reap the rewards as he pushed out his musical message through Reggae/Hiphop/Dubstep jam Sky Juice and global music monthly Kalabash.
In that period, the foundations were laid for Heads High, which is in truth the brainchild of the Duke. Retaining the diversity of his musical upbringing, whilst adding the essential ingredient of innovation, Etienne is at the heart of a movement undoubtedly providing a fresh approach to musical performance. The Heads High Soundsystem, the vehicle for this new direction in sound, features the Duke where he is most comfortable – in a DJ/producer capacity. He dubs, constructs, mixes and blends alongside turntablist DJ Judge, singer Connie Bell, Saxophonist Wayne Francis and percussionist Steve Rahman; providing the musical backbone necessary for each member to shine.
The future will see Duke Etienne continue to do what he does best, bring his unique sound and musical approach to the people. Watch the ride….
You can buy a copy of their new 10" vinyl at Sterns.
How Much?: £6 / £5
