BY ZOE JEWELL
We might have to wait another year for the return of Splash and Lambeth Country Show, but local festivalgoers shouldn’t get too down about the end of the Brixton summer.
Organisers are preparing for the Brixton Come Together event this weekend, on September 21-22. The annual event, now in its second year, will be held at St Matthew’s Peace Garden and the Brixton Electric on Brixton Hill. Last year, 5000 people attended with Manu Chao headlining.
Community arts and projects will be celebrated at the two-day festival, with events in film, photography, literature, music and – of course – food. The theme this year is “Think Local Act Global”, focusing on creating awareness about the usage of water across the planet.
Brixton Come Together also boasts a special link with the Brixton Latino community, with many local Latinos on its committee and Latin American music on offer across the weekend.
This year, the line up will include Family Atlantica, a blend of Venuzuelan folk and samba; and Che Sedaka, an Argentinian and Colombian band. Jerry Dammers of The Specials and Brazilian DJ Marcelino de Lua will hit the decks. There will also be a kids area dedicated to entertainment for younger Brixtonites.
Last year Brixton Blog was blown away by the event. Read what we had to say at the time here.
If you would like to volunteer, or for more information, visit www.brixtoncometogether.org.
CONFIRMED ACTS
PRINCE FATTY : His distinctive sound is an analog haze of vintage spring reverbs, tape echoes and a custom hi-grade mixing console. Over the past 10 years he has worked on reggae tinged recordings from the likes of Lilly Allen and Tribe Called Quest, not to mention his own three album releases. MC Horseman will be dropping lyrics.
OMAR : British soul singer, songwriter and musician has just re released Sing [If You Want It], the British soul supremo’s sixth and perhaps funkiest album so far. Featuring guest appearances from Stevie Wonder, Angie Stone, Common, Estelle, Rodney P, JC Bentley, Canitbe and Ashman. Omar is also described by some as the father of British neo soul. His most well-known song was his debut single “There’s Nothing Like This”.
HOLLIE COOK: Was born and bred in West London in a household dominated by music. She gravitated to the sounds of Marc Bolan, David Bowie and The Cure. With Sex Pistol Paul Cook as her dad, music was a major part of her upbringing. Hollie’s album released on Mr Bongo’s has been a massive hit, pushing her self coined ‘tropical pop’ sound beyond the reggae world and into the mainstream.
FAMILY ATLANTICA: Burn the passports, rip up the map and immerse yourself into the borderless, limit-free world of Family Atlantica. Anchored to London but home to many different nationalities, this collective’s musical voyage zigzags back and forth across the Atlantic, soaking up influences and styles from Venezuela to Ghana, finding common ancestry and reshaping it into an irresistible tornado of psychedelicised tropical grooves.
GENERAL ROOTS: A six-piece reggae band created in 2008. Growing up in the same area of North London with a shared love of dub, dancehall and roots reggae, they were eager to reignite the power and flavor of the reggae movement through the latter part of the 20th century. The Generals are on a mission to bring a new sound to people’s ears whilst capturing the classic sound and feel that was coming out of Jamaica during the 1970′s and 80′s. General Roots live shows come with high energy vibes and feel good sound, Guaranteed!
MANGOSEED: Known for their highly energetic live shows and their eclectic sound, drawing from genres that range from reggae to funk.
SHANTY: Up and coming Ska supremos.
