Co Arts Editor Barney Evison rounds up the latest music news from our corner of South London.
Drama at the NME Awards ceremony in Brixton Academy
The Brixton Academy hosted the NME Awards ceremony on 17 February. Alt-rock band Wolf Alice took home ‘Best Live Band’ and ‘Best Track’ and the Maccabees won ‘Best British Band’. Things got a bit interesting when rock band Bring Me the Horizon trashed Coldplay’s table during a live set – apparently not in dirty protest though. Read more about it here.
Lee Scratch Perry celebrates 80th with film and Brixton gig
Often dubbed ‘the godfather of reggae’, Jamaican dub legend Lee Scratch Perry is celebrating his 80th birthday this year with several live concerts, including a gig in Brixton, and an arthouse biopic by director Volker Schaner, screening at the Ritzy on Sunday 20 March. Don’t miss Perry at Electric Brixton on Saturday 12 March, which will include a performance of his classic Super Ape album with Mad Professor joining him at the controls.
Brixton punk is alive and kicking
Young Brixton punk band Shame are getting some attention locally, with gigs at the Windmill, the Bussey Building and Off the Cuff. Having spent time in the studio working on their sound, they’re now ready to put it out and about, and we expect to be hearing a lot more from them this year. Check out our interview with them.
Afriquoi remixed by Anchorsong
The first song of Brixton band Afriquoi’s album Kolaba – out September last year – has been remixed by Japanese producer Anchorsong, bringing a mellow 70’s disco feel to ‘Kudaushe’. It’s well worth a listen – find it on SoundCloud and Spotify. If you don’t know about Afriquoi, you should – their website describes them as a ‘UK afro supergroup’, and that sounds about right; ‘Kudaushe’ is named after ex-Bundu Boys marimba player Kadaushe Matimba, who features on the track.
Debut single from Exhauster
The debut single ‘Too Dumb’ from Brixton indie electro band dropped into our inbox last month, and it’s rather enjoyable. Described on their Facebook page as ‘jerky dance music by effete boys’ it’s accompanied by a hypnotic and bizarre video, and has also been featured on Domino Records’ Best of Indie Spotify playlist. Give it a watch/listen below and let us know what you think in the comments at the bottom.
New EP from local BRIT school musician
Local singer-songwriter Josef Pitura-Riley has released a new EP ‘Regeneration’. The songs were all written while he was touring the country and were then recorded upon his return to London. An alumnus of the BRIT School in Croydon, he performed at the Ritzy as part of Oxjam Brixton last year. Head to www.josefpiturariley.com to discover his music.
Icons of Wu exhibition at Brixton East
Don’t miss this one day exhibition of Eddie Otchere’s iconic portraits of the Wu-Tang Clan at Brixton East on 5 March. Photographed over the course of 5 years and never before exhibited in their entirety, these images capture each member of the US rap group in their most prolific years. Admission is free.
