Blunted Presents :: Music & Street Culture » Events

Belleruche ‘The Express’ Album Launch @ Vibe Bar

Gabs — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:33:39 +0000

I’ve been expecting a follow up album for some time, and here it is! After releasing their first album, Turntable Soul Music, Belleruche have managed to keep up the momentum with their new album The Express. I’ve known DJ Modest and Ricky Fabulous for a while, stretching back to my days at Uni in Brighton. It’s really good to see their hard work paying off and for them to start getting some of the wider recognition they deserve.

When I heard a few years back that they were coming to play a gig at The Cellar in my then home town Oxford, I had to make the short pilgrimage to see them. I wasn’t disappointed. The 3 of them blend so well, Kathrin deBoer on lead vocals, Modest providing the cuts and Ricky on guitar. It was at that gig I purchased their 7″, Reflection / Bird Mess, absolute freshness.

From humble beginnings, they have now been snapped up by Tru Thoughts and bring you their 2nd album which launches at The Vibe bar on Saturday 11th October. It’s a measly £4 to get in and tickets are only available on the door, so arrive early.

Here’s a video of the group playing in the Pussy Palure Tent at this years Glastonbury.

For more information on the launch night email: info@vibe-bar.co.uk or check out the event on Facebook. To hear more of Belleruche’s music check out the Belleruche Myspace

Positivity Presents Mex @ The Loft, Brighton

Gabs — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:15:23 +0000

Many of you will know old Blunted cohorts The Ill Technicians and Puma Strut Records founder DJ Beathoven. In the last year they have been running one of Brighton’s best nights, Positivity. They have been quietly hustling away and their nights have now built up quite a reputation. They now bring us an absolute belter this Friday at The Loft in Brighton.

They have a very special guest in the form of DJ Mex (Black Grass). He has just finished a successful tour of Australia as well as making various festival appearances including Beachdown Festival.

Here is more info from the Positivity camp:

POSITIVITY RETURNS WITH OUR 4TH NIGHT OF FUNK AND HIP HOP CLASSICS. ON THIS OUTING WE WELCOME THE LEGENDARY BRIGHTON DJ MEX AKA BLACK GRASS WHO WILL BE DOING A 2 HOUR HIP HOP & FUNK SET STRAIGHT FROM THE GOLDEN ERA OF THE BRIGHTON SCENE.

+ POSITIVITY residents SOUTHPAW, FOLY & BEATHOVEN.

The Loft, Ship Street, Brighton, 11pm - 3am, £3 B4 Midnight. £5 After. £3 NUS. selected shots & bottles £1.50.

MEX BIO
Mex, aka Black Grass, is happy around records. In the mid-nineties he fed his addiction by working in record shops, DJ’ing hip hop and funk breaks at seminal Brighton night Knowledge Of Self, warming up for the likes of OC, Jurassic 5 and Big L.

He soon began compiling breaks albums and battle weapons (including the essential “Ultimate Cakes And Sweets”) leading ultimately to his own Black Grass store (getting high off his own supply!) specialising in hip hop, funk and breaks.

After releasing singles on local label Catskills as the Mexican (achieving NME single of the week for the classic “Spunky Love Fun”), he took Black Grass from being a shop to being a production outfit, releasing the first album “Black Grass” on Catskills Records.

Working both with established vocalists (including Blak Twang & Maylay Sparks),and talented newcomers, Black Grass gained acclaim across the board from both DJs and music fans.

After spending time DJing and touring Australia, Mex recorded the second album “A Hundred Days In One”. Adding even more diversity to the mix than the eponymous album, it delivered enough hooks and beats to light up the dancefloor and get heads nodding in equal amounts, with guests like Jehst, Blu Rum 13, Micall Parknsun on mic duties alongside alt-country sensation Dominique Noiret, with a haunting rendition of Harold Melvin’s “Don’t Leave Me This Way”.

2007 saw Mex complete the third album, “Three”, with guests emcees J-Live, The Good People Rider Shafique and Brighton stalwart Koaste sitting alongside funk sensation Dionne Charles and reggae hotshots Jah Marnyah, Benjammin’ and Ruben Da Silva.

After twenty years behind the turntables in clubs and through his more recent series of mix CDs, Mex has developed a reputation as one of the world’s leading (yet still most under-rated) DJ’s. Influenced by the soundsystems of old (Wild Bunch, Good Times, Soul II Soul) and hip hop legends Jazzy Jeff and Cash Money, he’s admired as both a selector and a man of inimitable style by DJ’s as diverse as Andy Smith and Krafty Kuts.

Get involved with their Facebook event.

The Cans Festival, London

Ella — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 16:04:24 +0000

Another tasty artistic treat for you in the form of the Cans festival - although its not the poncey film one this time luckily, its the latest project from Banksy and friends, in an abandoned train tunnel. Members of the public are being invited to take part in the latest project, alongside other well known artists include Faile from Brooklyn, and Bandit from Netherlands, artists from South America are also representing their styles. If you love your political street art and stenciling this ones definatley worth checking out.

Location: The Tunnel, Leake Sreet, London, SE1 7NN
Nearest tube: Waterloo, Tax: £3.00
Runs until: September 30th

Check The Cans Festival website for more info.

Street Art Exhibition at Tate Modern, London

Ella — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:43:11 +0000

All art and design heads, and anyone interested in original ‘urban’ artwork make sure to get your fine selves down to the Tate Modern, London, to check out their street art exhibition on until the 25th August. The exhibition features artists from all over the world, who are using the street as their canvas, its going to be wicked.

In the first commission to use the building’s iconic river façade, and the first major public museum display of street art in London, Tate Modern presents the work of six internationally acclaimed artists whose work is intricately linked to the urban environment:

Blu from Bologna, Italy; the artist collective Faile from New York, USA; JR from Paris, France; Nunca and Os Gêmeos, both from São Paulo, Brazil and Sixeart from Barcelona, Spain.

For more details, check it out for yourself on the Tate Modern website.

Rising Styles News

Gabs — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:50:21 +0000

Blunted successfully had a collaboration with Rising Styles back in May for our Para & Baila gig and if you’re a Brighton head you’ll want to check out their upcoming events, of course you will! So we’re bringing you more news from our friends at the Festival.

The news includes details on the Graffiti Sculpture Exhibition, Rising Styles BattleJam and of course the eagerly anticipated Rising Styles Block Party!

It all kicks off on Friday 4th July and goes on ’til Sunday 13th July. The following text is lifted from the Rising Styles Festival.

3RD DIMENSION GRAFFITI SCULPTURE EXHIBITION with NYC’s MARE 139 and UK’s ZEUS

New York City’s Mare 139 is a Hip-Hop and Graffiti art legend who featured in the incredible 1982 documentary Style Wars – if you’ve never watched this film and are at all interested in true Hip Hop culture then its a must see!

You can witness Mare 139 creating a brand new piece of 3D Graffiti right in front of you. Alongside the new work from MARE 139, there will be many 3D Graffiti artefacts on display. Feel free to come in and watch something unique happen right in front of you.

WHEN: PRIVATE VIEW - Friday 4 July 6-8pm. OPEN TO ALL: Saturday 5 July - Wednesday 3 September 2008. Mon-Sat 10.00am - 5.00pm, closed on Sundays
WHERE: UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON, GALLERY, GRAND PARADE, BRIGHTON, BN2
Free Entry

ARTIST TALK

WHEN: Friday 11 July 6.30-8.30pm
WHERE: LIGHTHOUSE, KENSINGTON ST. BRIGHTON BN1

UNVEILING OF COMMISSIONED WORK

WHEN: Sunday 13 July 3-5pm
WHERE: UNIVERSITY OF BRIGHTON, GALLERY, GRAND PARADE, BRIGHTON, BN2
Free Entry

RISING STYLES BATTLEJAM – Brighton’s Annual B-Boy Event

BATTLEJAM in association with ALL ELEMENTS is jam packed with great music, amazing moves and high energy. With a slightly different program this year starting with a film screening of Inside The Circle (courtesy of Black Soil from Holland), you’ll then be heading into a full on Battle program. With Crews and individuals from across the UK.

WHEN: Sunday 6 July 2008 10.30am - 7.00pm
WHERE: Sallis Benney Theatre, University of Brighton, 58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2
DAMAGE: £8.50 pp / £27.00 family ticket (2 adults & 2 children under 10yrs) / £6.00 kids (under 16yrs) / NO OTHER CONCESSIONS
TICKETS: Online / On the door AGE: All Ages

FILM SCREENINGS

Films include: RAPPERS OF SENEGAL, WHOLE TRAIN, INSIDE THE CIRCLE and SHORTS (TBA)

WHEN: Monday 7 July 2008 12pm-10pm
WHERE: Sallis Benney Theatre, University of Brighton, 58-67 Grand Parade, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 DAMAGE: £5 All Day
TICKETS: Online

RISING STYLES BLOCK PARTY

This is the big one folks. The RISING STYLES crew have been working hard to bring a bigger & better event to you.

KIDZ IN THE HALL (USA), SWAY, EMMANUAL JAL (SUDAN), THE INFOMATICS, BLAK TWANG, SKINNYMAN, JEHST, SKILF & BAND, SEROCEE, PERCY FILTH, KOSYNE, SOWETO KINCH, FLORIGINAL, MILLION DAN, SPECIAL SCHOOL, DIZRAELI, LONGUSTO, WITHDOCTOR WISE, SOUTHERN SUSPECTS, KOASTE, ENLISH AND MUCH MUCH MORE TO COME… including AERIAL HIP HOP performances from BANDBAZI.

WHEN: Saturday 12 July 2008 12.00pm - 8.00pm
WHERE: Old Paddling Pool, Brighton Seafront (between the Piers), East Sussex
DAMAGE: £5.00 pp in advance / £8.00 pp on the door / £16.00 family ticket (2 adults & 2 kids under 16yrs) / £1 entry to kids under 5yrs
TICKETS: Online or available on the door
You can also get your FREE ticket if you spend over £25.00 @ Rarekind Records (104 Trafalgar Street, Brighton - above Rarekind Gallery)
AGE: All Ages

For further information and event listings hit www.risingstyles.com and www.wegottickets.com

FABRICLIVE, this Friday

Roscoe — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:02:31 +0000

Another Friday and another chance to catch the Bukem In Session at Fabric; LTJ Bukem, TC1, Zero Tolerance, Furney with MCs Conrad, Stamina MC and MC:SP will be rocking room two. The usual Playaz residence will be holding down room one until the early hours. A week Friday see’s ‘Get Familiar’ take over FABRICLIVE with Switch & Sinden, Pendulum and Mary Ann Hobbs, with her album release. Look out for from some free Fabric goodies coming in a competition on Blunted soon!

Blunted interviews Zapfest founder DJ Zappa

Gabs — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 22:19:14 +0000

Lance Cowan aka DJ Zappa is responsible for organising Zapfest, a one day music festival in Southparks, Oxford. On the day will be a plethora of different things to check out from local and regional music, stand-up comedy, to the craft & food stalls, read on to find out more on Zapfest and the man behind it.

So Lance tell us first about your background, how did you get into Events Promotion?

I’ve done quite a few things work-wise over the last 11 years but the one thing that I really enjoyed and stuck with, was bar work. I became Assistant Manager of a bar when I was about 19 and that gave me the first taste of organising events/club nights. I can remember having a constant urge to put on underground music nights (mainly hiphop) and wanting to put on things that mainstream clubs don’t do…

So I went ahead and did it. I’ve put on a lot of live gigs and club nights over the last 5 years, some being absolute failures but you learn from those experiences and build on from that. Essentially I think it just comes from having a bit of passion for music. I express my passion by DJ’ing and organising events.

How and why did you come up with the idea to have Zapfest?

As long as I remember I’ve always wanted organise a festival. I love going to festivals and discovering new music. I think it’s amazing that England has so much available. In Oxford I feel there is a lack of events of this nature and I’m just happy I’m in the position to put it on.

Have you had a good response?

I’ve had a great response from performers as well as the general public. There have been so many bands and DJ’s wanting to perform at the event and everyone is as excited about the event as I am.

You have 3 stages. Can you tell us a little bit about each one and what’s going on there?

Yeah, The Band Stage is a hosting a lot of local bands this year. It’s Indie, Rock, Acoustic and Folk based bands. We’ve got some seriously good bands from Oxford! We’ve also got some other choice bands from the UK who we love and who we think everyone will enjoy.

In the Dance Tent it’s a mixture of live bands, DJ’s and MC’s. It is mostly underground music (just the way I like it). We will be starting off the day with a bit of Hiphop, Reggae, Funk, Soul and ending off with Drum & Bass.

The third stage is a mixture of live bands, acoustic acts and stand up comedy from around the country.

Aside from the music are there other activities going on?

We’ve got a massive BBQ going on with some rather tasty delights as well a creperie, a bar, craft stalls, clothing stalls and a few other bits and bobs for sale. There will be a few other surprises on the day for the kids and adults alike.

For you what do you foresee will be the highlights of Zapfest?

The weather! Haha! On the main stage I am really looking forward to seeing Little Fish who have been going from strength to strength recently. A Silent Film, Alphabet Backwards and SixNationState are also some favourites of mine who really put on a great show. I am really happy to be having Richard Herring performing as well as he is a true comedy genius. You know he will be a highlight! In the dance tent I’m thinking Mama Said will be my highlight as well as DJ Fu & Jungle Drummer, Para & Baila and Robert Luis.

Do you have plans for another?

Definitely! I really want to keep it going on every year. We will just have to see how the local residents and services respond to it. I am doing everything in my power to keep everyone happy so this can happen again, bigger and better!

Lastly, is there anything else you’d like to say?

By your ticket now!!!! There are a few tickets left at Ryouki and SS20 that are available with no booking fee, otherwise get them online at www.wegottickets.com

Haha, all about the shameless promotion, happy festival season Blunted!!

To find out more on Zapfest, visit www.zapfest.co.uk

FABRICLIVE, Roni Size Reprazent (live)

Roscoe — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:47:32 +0000

This Friday sees Roni Size Reprazent coming to Fabric London. All advance tickets have sold out for this gig but you can try your luck on the door from 10pm. The night features the usual array of residents and guests, plus a High Contrast house set, which should be interesting. Check the flyer for the full line up.

Alaska Studios Knees Up!

Gabs — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:05:28 +0000

Alaska Studios are hosting “Knees Up!”. An invite only private party happening this Friday near Waterloo Station in London. The venue is off limited capacity and the night runs from 10pm until 6am with two rooms; a Funky, Reggae, Party room featuring JStar, The Magic fly, Count Skylarkin and Unia. The other room is Underground House with Matt Pond, Living City, Brown, Frandanski and Ross Warm.

For more information contact rosswarm (at) hotmail.com or call 0775 3370756. You can also check this event out on Facebook.

I’m down, should be a good laugh. Maybe see some of you there too! Remember to check out Alaska Studios for all your rehearsal and recording needs in London!

Terraforms, 12th June, Thirst Lodge, Oxford

Roscoe — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:58:04 +0000

Terraforms kick start their latest night in the new venue of Thirst Lodge, Oxford with Renegade Hardware’s DJ VERB on the decks for 90 minutes, joined by Stapleton MC. Supporting Verb will be Smokey & FreakTone from Rebel faction/Sound Artillery, DJ Addict from Bristols Upload and Terraforms own Dj’z Greencode & Bolo. Hosts for the night are MC Syntax from Bristol and London’s MC Killa B.

Date: Thursday 12th June 08
Times: 09:30pm - 3:00am
Tax: £3 before 11:00pm and with NUS. Otherwise £4
Where: Thirst Lodge (formerly G-Bar, behind Westgate Centre), Penny farthing Place, St. Ebbes, Oxford

Drinks: £2.95 cocktails/spirit and mixer, £2 Beer Bottles (Currently Becks), Sambuca/Tequila shots at £1.50

More information: Check out their Facebook event page

Rising Styles Launch Party @ Cargo

Gabs — Thu, 29 May 2008 18:37:55 +0000

The Rising Styles Festival (formerly Brighton Hiphop Festival) is kicking off tomorrow night at Cargo, London. Heading up the bill is Emmanual Jal, Enlish and Koaste with many more acts in support. Check the flyer below for details, show starts at 7pm. More details on the Rising Styles Festival proper soon come….

RISING STYLES & AFROLUTION HIP HOP SHOWCASE @ CARGO

Live performances from: Emmanuel Jal, Enlish, Koaste K, Scizzahz, Skilf & live band, Southern Suspects, Witchdoctor Wise.
DJs: DJ Catch, DJ Downlow, Excalibah, Tyni

Hosted by: DJ 279, Freecy D

Also on the night: Breakdancing, Fashion Lounge feat. Avit Clothing, Illegirl & Love Apparel (bring some extra dosh in case you see something you like)

When: Thursday 29th May 2008 7pm - 1am
Where: Cargo, 83 Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3AY.
Damage: £8/£7 concessions(on the door) - or - £5 in advance.
Ticket outlets: www.cargo-london.com/shop & www.ticketweb.co.uk

Links:
kalaphool.com
cargo-london.com
afrolution.com

FABRICLIVE, Fri 30th May

Roscoe — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:07:51 +0000

This Friday (30th of May) see’s the ‘Playaz’ and ‘Bukem In Session’ at Fabric London. The night consists of the usual array of ‘Playaz’ in Room One, but Room Two has the real treat in-store with ‘Bukem In Session’ where LTJ Bukem, EZ Rollers, Transit Mafia, Furney, MC Conrad, Fats & Moose will be sure to keep the crowd rocking until 6 in the morning. The doors open at 10pm, door tax is £13 (£10 NUS & fabricfirst members).

Full line up:

Room One:
PLAYAZ
DJ Hype (2hr Set)
Pascal
Andy C
Fabio
Hazard
G Dub
Potential Badboy
MCs:GQ, IC3, Det & AD

Room Two:
BUKEM IN SESSION
LTJ Bukem
EZ Rollers
Transit Mafia
Furney
MCs: Conrad, Fats & Moose

Room Three:
Toddla T
Starkey
Ghislain Poirier
Patchwork Pirates

Date: Fri 30th May 08
Times: 10:00pm - 6:00am (fabric operates a 24hr drinking license)
Tax: £13 (£10 nus & fabricfirst) £6 after 3am
Where: Fabric, 77a Charterhouse St, London, EC1M 3HN

Advance tickets available from Ticketweb

Oxford LMHR presents Dubstep, Breakbeat & DnB

Gabs — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:44:15 +0000

Here’s information on the next instalment from the Oxford Love Music Hate Racism Camp. This time they bring together some Oxford’s most established DJ’s for a night of Dubstep, Breakbeat & DnB at Baby Simple Bar, Oxford. On hosting duties they have legendary Asher Dust. He is a strong member of the Oxford LMHR campaign so rest assured he will give a passionate performance. Also hosting is the ubiquitous Mr Shaodow.

Oxford Love Music Hate Racism presents: A night of Dubstep, Breakbeat & DnB, plus Special Live PA

DJ’s:
JIBBA (Simple/Slide/Electric)
TYPO (Club:Dub/The Dugout)
DIAGRAMS (OX4/Club:Dub)
ROB DUNSTONE (Fresh out of the box)
SHYLOX (Hit & Run/OX4)

With hosts:
Asher Dust
Mr ShaoDow

FRIDAY 6TH JUNE
9PM TO 2 AM
@ BABYSIMPLE BAR, COWLEY ROAD, OXFORD
£3 OTD £2 UNWAGED/STUDENTS

To get involved, join their Facebook event.

Dublime @ Fabric this Sunday

Gabs — Tue, 20 May 2008 08:00:18 +0000

Stuck for something to do this bank holiday? You could do a lot worse than hit The Dublime night at Fabric on Sunday. Dublime features past, present and new Dub influenced genres ranging from Jamaican Roots, Techno, Jungle and Dubstep at the monster that is Fabric nightclub London. Advance tickets are £13, Fabric First and NUS members get in for £10 and if you go after 3 in the morning you get in for 6 quid!

And the line up is…

ROOM ONE:

ROOTS…
Lee Perry Soundsystem & Special Guest (LIVE), Dillinja (Valve Recordings), Congo Natty aka Rebel MC (LIVE), Caspa & Rusko (Dub Police), Loefah (DMZ/Deep Medi), Don Letts (Dub Cartel Sound System), Souljazz Soundsystem MCs Pokes, Warrior Queen & Rod Azlan

ROOM TWO:

TEC…
Pole (LIVE) (Scape/Mute), Sleeparchive (LIVE), Kode 9 (Hyperdub), Scuba (Hotflush), Pinch (Tectonic/Planet Mu), Appleblim vs Peverlist (Skull Disco/Punch Drunk) Downshifter (Skud/Hyponik) MCs Flow Dan & Rogue Star

ROOM THREE:

POOM…
Iration Steppas (Sub Dub), Moody Boyz (Studio Rockers), Antisocial (Deep Medi), Blackdown & Dusk, Earl Gateshead (Trojan Sound System), Jonny Trunk (Trunk Records)

Hit the Fabric website for more details. Word.

Rock The Bells in London?

Roscoe — Sat, 17 May 2008 22:55:41 +0000

What’s the UK line up? When is it confirmed for? Will the acts turn up? Will the event even actually happen? All questions that need to be answered. According to a Rock The Bells (unofficial?) Facebook group its going ahead Saturday September 20th at the O2 in London, although they have posted the US flyer and there are no details apart from the above…

UPDATE: 29.11.08

So after all the speculation, it looks like this is going ahead after all. Read the press release below for more info:

Guerilla Union, in association with Live Nation, TCO and 1Xtra BBC, has announced an additional London show on 9th November at London’s Indigo2 as part of the UK tour of NAS, Mos Def and more as part of the Rock The Bells 2008 UK Festival series powered by San Disk.   

The tour will hit the UK on 6th Nov at Birmingham Academy , the 9th Nov at London’s indigo2 and at Manchester’s Apollo on 12th November. The European tour will see Nas, Mos Def, Pharcyde, freestyle world champion Supernatural and Scratch return to the Rock The Bells stage after appearing on all of this summer’s U.S. dates.

The festival will feature Nas’ exclusive European festival performances where he will play his classic tracks and songs from his new mega-hit album Untitled. Mos Def will also be performing new tracks from his highly anticipated new album The Ecstatic.

Line up:

Rock The Bells 2008 UK Festival series powered by San Disk:

6th November at Birmingham Academy

Nas, Mos Def, Pharcyde (original line up), Supernatural, Scratch & local act

9th November at london Indigo2 (O2 Greenwich)

Nas, Mos Def, Supernatural, Scratch & local act

12th November at Manchester Apollo

Nas, Mos Def, Pharcyde (original line up), Supernatural, Scratch & local act

For UK Ticket Information go to livenation.co.uk