The first ever Little Chill will be taking place on Sat 7th and Sunday 8th August at a secret location in Birmingham city centre, to be announced three days before the event.

The `Little Chill` means just that – a place to come with family and friends, and enjoy the various music types on offer throughout the weekend with no moody vibes, moody people, or moody music. In fact moody is not invited!!!!
With the way everybody is in the SH1T money wise these days, we`re putting on our `little` event for the BARGAIN price of £8.00 for a full weekend ticket or £5.00 per day.
Now we`re sure that you will agree that this is serious value for money?
This event will be strictly ticket only and there will be NO paying on the door, so – NO TICKET, NO ENTRY!
We do understand that this may not be to everyones liking but it means that only people who really want to attend the event will go to the effort and buy tickets, thus helping to maintain the positive vibes and good times that we have in mind for everyone involved…

The event will commence on day one at 1pm and finish some time the following morning, and will re-open at 1pm the following day for more `Little Chill` fun. Featuring some of the finest DJ`s from what we consider to be some of the best home grown & independent club brands that Birmingham has to offer over three zones – one of which is a fantastic outdoor area, that can be covered if needs be. Let`s hope not though…

Entertainment wise, there will be different styles of music within the various zones which means something to please everybody. Once again – all will be revealed as we confirm brands.

Confirmed so far:

We Are One
Rhubarb Radio
Join The Dots formerly Scratch Club
Reverb Club
Breakfest
The Beat Suite
Custom Made
Organic
Funkbox
Discomendments
Bentley Rhythm Ace
Open Minded People
Faux Real
Friendly Fire
Loafers Lounge
Planet Breaks
Mama Feel Good
Bunka
Heducation
Soul Share Radio
Habit
Balkanic Eruption

Tickets available here.

Da Ill Out Hip Hop & Funk Session is launching this Sunday at the Adam & Eve pub on Bradford Street in Digbeth, Birmingham kicking off at 8.30pm till late.

This night is headed up by Jahmai ‘Jam Fu’ Jones from Smash Bro’z representing the new generation of DJs and dancers coming through this fair city. Breaker – slash – DJs always make a good combination, think; DJ Timber, Dek 1 and Ill Boogs from Breakin’ Bread. Dancers have the true authority of what makes up the ingredients of a good dance floor so this night is well worth a look and a listen and it is FREE! For more information peep here.

Every Sunday starting on the 27th June.

FREE ENTRY

DJ’s on the night:

Sister 45 (Mama Feel Good)
Rumblefish
Jam Fu
Jordan
James

Spread the word YO!

The legendary hip hop MC, Guru (Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal) died last month aged 43, following a battle with cancer. His work with Gangstarr, Jazzmatazz and later as a solo artist was revered around the world by fans and musicians from all backgrounds.

Here in Birmingham, Hip Hop collective Heducation are proactively pulling together a tribute to Guru with all proceeds going to cancer charities; Cancer Reseach UK, Macmillian, Myeloma UK, African Caribbean Leukemia Trust (ACLT) and Teenage Cancer Trust. I will be playing some records along with the extended family of Guru fans.

Friday 28th May at The Hare and Hounds all the info is here.

Here is a ‘sample’ of what is in store with a clip of Caesar Frazier…

Lead by award winning saxophonist and rapper Soweto Kinch and featuring a stellar rostra, The Flyover Show returns to Birmingham with dynamic and challenging performances on the 29th May. Now in its third year the unconventional inner city festival transforms the grey space beneath the Hockley Flyover into an oasis of cultural expression, celebrating generations of black British music and art. For the first time this show explores the specific theme of black female identity.

Not long now until this year’s Flyover Show, well worth a look if you are in Birmingham. Especially like this year’s theme! For more info check here. For the revolution see the video below…

We are playing some records for Laura and Harun from Fierce at their festival party this Thursday – all are welcome…

Joint Artistic Directors of Fierce Festival, Laura McDermott and Harun Morrison invite you to Fierce Start Party!!! |||| What’s a Start Party? It’s the beginning of an exciting journey. What will be there? Fierce Festival artists sharing tasters of their work. When’s the next festival? We’ll tell you the shape of Fierce’s next year |||| A.E Harris Building,128 Northwood Street, Birmingham, Jewellery Quarter, B3 1SZ |||| Save the Date!!! |||| Thursday 15^th April |||| visit our new blog atwww.wearefierce.org for additional details about the Start Party|||| Doors open from 3pm. Words at 7pm. Party from 9pm.||||

Check here for all the details plus a useful map. I’ve heard rumours of vodka soup – lord a mercy.

Friday 19th March

Leftfoot Presents

Marlena Shaw (Live)

DJ’s Sister 45 & Griffy

Hare & Hounds
106 High St
Kings Heath
Birmingham
B14 7JZ

Another legendary artist stops off at the Hare & Hounds for an unforgettable evening of real soul, funk & jazz music. Marlena Shaw has recorded music for labels like Blue Note, Cadet, Verve, Columbia & Concord Jazz. With classic tracks such as “California Soul” & “Woman Of The Ghetto” being sampled by DJ Shadow, St Germain, Gang Starr and, most famously on Blue Boy’s “Remember Me”, her influence on modern music is undeniable. DJ support comes from two of Birmingham’s most soulful ladies, Sister 45 & Griffy.

NB: Due to the small capacity of the room, there will be two shows (details below).
Please be aware which show you are buying tickets for (early bird tickets only available for Show 1) Both shows will have the same playlist and length.

Show 1: Doors open @ 8pm (Live show starts @ 8.30pm)
Show 2: Doors open @ 10.30pm (Live show starts @ 11pm)

£15 Advance / M.O.T.D
(Very limited £12 early bird tickets available for Show 1)

Advance tickets available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk /
0844 870 0000

Info: 0121 444 2081 / info@hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk
www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

So us Mamas are back in our old stomping ground The Bulls Head in Moseley tomorrow night for Freestyle. Sam Redmore is the main man behind Freestyle which has a regular slot every Friday hosting many top local heroes and folks big in the DJ game such as Adam Regan and Bootsy plus many many more .

A musical feast of funk, soul, hip hop, house, disco, rock, latin and reggae, as well as everything in between.

We are looking forward to our slot on Friday and will be providing our discerning listeners with a whole manner of Afrocentric rhythms and soulful waxy bits. With only a nibble on the door at £3 after 10pm and a whole bunch of drinks promos we think it is well worth a frequent.

Friday 19th February 2010

Sister 45 & Bobbalin Hot (Mama Feel Good!)
Sam Redmore (Leftfoot)

Bull’s Head, Moseley
9-2am, free entry before 10pm, £3 thereafter

All the details can be found here. We look forward to seeing you then!

Marlena Shaw started performing at the age of 10 but was discovered by Chess Records in 1966. She released her first two albums on their subsidiary Cadet Records. She moved to Blue Note Records in 1972, and was that label’s first female artist. She also recorded one of the Disco Era’s biggest hits – a remake of “Touch Me in the Morning” on Columbia Records. Marlena Shaw’s version of “California Soul” is arguably the best version of the record which was written by Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson and made famous as the soundtrack to the advert for processed reconstituted, reshaped chicken served in a bucket.

Other  artists who have versions of “California Soul” are The Messengers, Marvin and Tammi, Brenda the Tabulations, The Gimmicks, Gerald Wilson, Fifth Dimension, Nick Ashford and The Undisputed Truth to name but a few.

Friday 19^th March

Leftfoot Presents

Marlena Shaw (Live)

DJ’s Sister 45 & Griffy

Hare & Hounds, 106 High St, Kings Heath Birmingham B14 7JZ

Another legendary artist stops off at the Hare & Hounds for an unforgettable evening of real soul, funk & jazz music.  Marlena Shaw has recorded music for labels like Blue Note, Cadet, Verve, Columbia & Concord Jazz.   With classic tracks such as “California Soul” & “Woman Of The Ghetto” being sampled by DJ Shadow, St Germain and Gang Starr, her influence on modern music is undeniable. DJ support comes from two of Birmingham’s most soulful ladies; Sister 45 & Griffy.

NB: Due to the small capacity of the room, there will be two shows (details below).

Please be aware which show you are buying tickets for (early bird tickets only available for Show 1) Both shows will have the same playlist and length.

Show 1: Doors open @ 8pm (Live show starts @ 8.30pm)

Show 2: Doors open @ 10.30pm (Live show starts @ 11pm)

£15 Advance / M.O.T.D

(Very limited £12 early bird tickets available for Show 1)

Advance tickets available from www.theticketsellers.co.uk /

0844 870 0000

Info: 0121 444 2081 / info@hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

www.hareandhoundskingsheath.co.uk

Simphiwe Dana, described as ‘the best thing to happen to Afro-Soul music since Miriam Makeba’, was brought up on the Eastern Cape of South Africa.  Following the end of the Apartheid era and a move to Johannesburg, it was her appearances at open-mike sessions that immediately caught the attention of established musicians and producers. Zandisile, Simphiwe Dana’s debut album, received platinum status and a number one position on the Billboard Music Charts.  This was followed up in 2006 with her album The One Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street which secured four South Africa Music Awards including Best Female Artist and Album of the Year.

Notable performances include Nelson Mandela’s 83^rd birthday, the North Sea Jazz Festival and the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz. Simphiwe represented South Africa as a cultural ambassador in an extensive tour of China ahead of the 2008 Olympic Games and was nominated in BBC Radio 3’s 2008 Awards for Best Artist in the category World Music – Africa.

Punch Records are putting on Simphiwe Dana at The Drum on Saturday 31st October, this is one not to be missed…Check here for all the details.