FELABRATION Update: with Mos Def / Hypnotic Brass / Hebru Brantley After Party

A lot more heat has been added to Felabration 2012 at The Shrine, Chicago! The party just got seriously turnt up with live performances by MOS DEF (aka Yasiin Bey) and HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE. And of course, MR. RICH MEDINA on the ones and twos. Cop your tickets now: BUY It is also the official after party for Hebru Brantley! (Check him out on the cover of this week's Reader!)

 FELABRATE GOOD TIMES!

GO SEE THE SHOW! (MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN INVITE!

FELABRATION 3.0 with RICH MEDINA (10.12.12)

FELABRATION returns to The Shrine for the third year to celebrate the life and music of Afrobeat creator Fela Anikulapo Kuti. Once again, Rich Medina (Jump n' Funk) blesses the ones and twos! We are huge fans of Rich and are thrilled to have him back once again. His set will be accompanied by the visuals of The Marksmen. Peoples DJ Collective/Sonic Diaspora DJs Itch 13 and Afroqbano open up the festivities. We will also have a 'world market', with artists and artisans selling all sorts of wares. Discounted pre-tickets are on sale now! BUY

                     

MELLOW MADNESS WITH DJ NEVILLE C

Here is a super groovy mix by DJ Neville C. (aka Neal Becton), the owner of one of D.C.'s finest record shops, Som Records. Mix was recorded for the Mellow Madness show on WRIR 97.3 in Richmond, VA.

THE MAN IN QUESTION: DJ NEVILLE C.

 

SOM RECORDS 

 

Luis Gomez Photos

Tracks range from Brazilian tunes and obscure Soul cuts, to hard-to-find Reggae, Latin & African jams, and whatever else Neal felt like dropping. All are seven inch record, all original vinyl. Neal is a beast and has a mind-blowing collection. Ever heard Ronnie Jones' cover of Rodriguez's 'Sugar Man' @ around the 41 minute (halfway) mark?! Me neither. Killer, like the whole mix.

We actually scored a few of the records in this set together on a little digging expedition in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Hey, Edson!) His store is bad ass, too! If you are in the DC area, drop in. Tell 'em Clark Quente sent you. Oh, almost forgot, check out his monthly Brazilian party (Brazilian Rhythms) at Cafe Saint-Ex.

LISTEN and LEARN and GROOVE!

THE SET LIST

GOOD THING GOING: REGGAE AT THE SHRINE

The Shrine continues to throw great Reggae events! Shows by Beres Hammmond and Yellowman were enormous successes. Barrington Levy has been re-scheduled for Oct. 18... Rocksteady! goes down every Sunday. Field Marshall, who hosts Rocksteady, brings a new monthly Old School Reggae Dance Party to The Shrine every 4th Friday. We Love Reggae, so drop in and LIVELY UP YOURSELF!

Beres Hammond brought the LOVE.

 All hail King Yellowman!

Rocksteady!

Barrington Levy... Here I Come

Field Marshall + Friends on deck!

ROOTS, ROCK, REGGAE: DOCUMENTARY (1977)

Cool 1977 documentary about the roots of Reggae. Parts one through five.
Enjoy!

ROCKSTEADY! YELLOWMAN + BARRINGTON LEVY

The Shrine continues to stir it up this summer with more live Reggae shows! Hot off the heals of a sold out show with Beres Hammond, two new shows have just been announced; Yellowman on Wednesday, July 11 and Barrington Levy on Wednesday, August 9.

KEEPIN' IT IRIE ALL SUMMER LONG. NO NEED TO SIMMER DOWN!
And don't forget - ROCKSTEADY! Live Reggae every Sunday in Coup d'état (@ The Shrine)

 

    

TIM MAIA DOES THE THREE IN ONE

One of all time favorite Brazilian artists. Tim is Brazilian Soul.
Last track on side one of 1983 album O Descobridor dos Setes Mares is a groovy instrumental.

Don't sleep on his 80s jams!

SONIC DIASPORA w. DJ ZHAO

Berlin-based DJ Zhao guests at this months edition of SONIC DIASPORA. He's got a new mix dropping.... check the spiel. Should be available at party! #YeahYeah!

Juju-Juke demonstrates the epic reconnection between African tradition and Afro-Diaspora: between Juju/Fuji and Juke/Footwork, between Iberian trad-modern street sounds and R'n'B/Pop, between Congolese Mbira workouts and Ghetto Tech, between Ghanaian and Senegalese percussion and Urban Bass Pressure.

LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY BOBBLEHEAD

Everybody needs a LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY bobblehead doll, right?! The doll was created by Chicago's very own Archer Prewitt in a limited edition of 1000. The Japanese import is available from Aggronautix, which is taking pre-orders now!

The doll has adjustable arms and head and is accompanied by a cloth hat, gold bracelet, and gold necklace. He holds a lighter and microphone.

Hopefully, there is no fluid in the lighter...

NEW CURUMIN ON WAX!

The new Curumin album (his third) entitled 'Arrocha' will be released by Vinyl Land on April 18th. A limited run of 500 copies are available for pre-order now: BUY IT NOW! In the meantime, check out a cut from the record.... LISTEN

MORE AFRICAN RECORDS YOU NEED....

The African re-issues just keep coming which is good news for your wallet, unless you are a purist AND have unlimited dough to drop on obscure gems....

Soundway release the second LP from Ghanian singer Rob. 'Make It Fast, Make It Slow' is a Afro/Psych/Funk diggers dream. The title track appeared on the Ghana Soundz compilation. Afrobeats, tripped out production, oddball percussion, yup!

Segun Okeji's 'I Like Woman' follows closely in Fela's footsteps. One long track on each side. Originally released in 1978. I have an earlier re-issue that is on Soul Patrol as well. This is supposed to be limited to 500 copies. Afro heat, indeed! "Everybody say feelings!"

Academy Records and Voodoo Frank are back with another insanely rare 45. Some folks out there may be familiar with The Apostles 'Black Is Beautiful' LP. Same funky feel, though the lyrics are sung in their native language, instead of English. Dopeness!

ROB

SEGUN OKEJI

THE APOSTLES

ALL AVAILABLE AT DUSTYGROOVE

CONTEMPORARY GROOVES ON SOUNDWAY: BATIDA!

The first-ever contemporary recording on Soundway – but a set that's still got firm roots in the 70s African scene that's usually represented by the label! Batida is the brainchild of Portuguese DJ Mpula – who brings together samples from older Angolan recordings with contemporary beats and rhythms – often in a blend that's got the quick-stepping sort of pace you'd hear in favela grooves from the Brazilian scene – yet which comes across completely differently, thanks to the rich array of acoustic elements in the original recordings! There's loads of sweet guitar lines that rifle through the music – and the set also features guest contributions from contemporary MCs and producers.

Cop it on LP at Dusty Groove!