SPACIFIC NEWS #129: Contents
1. Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen :: Sola Rosa Soundsystem
2. o2 Forum Kentish Town :: Shapeshifter NZ
3. Bush Hall :: Modern Maori Quartet
4. Servant Jazz Quarters :: Blair Jollands
5. Keep in touch with New Zealand music via Spotify
6. Upcoming Highlights
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HOXTON SQUARE BAR & KITCHEN :: SOLA ROSA SOUNDSYSTEM :: 27/07/17
We’re very happy to announce the return of one of Kiwi music’s most evolutionary and enduring acts, Sola Rosa.
With seven full-length albums, four EPs, a handful of hits, countless collaborations and numerous world tours, it’s been a near 20-year labour of love for the man behind the music, Andrew Spraggon. And although it’s punctuated with twists and turns in the form of constant change and innovation, one thing has remained the same – Spraggon’s steadfast commitment to making great albums that seamlessly blend a myriad of genres, from hip-hop and jazz, to neo-soul, latin and funk.
Now, the Auckland-based music-maker is poised to unveil the next steps in the Sola Rosa journey. It has always been Spraggon’s modus operandi to delve further into new musical territories and that’s exactly what he’s still doing. Add to that, Spraggon’s simple desire to keep making music that he loves, and you’ve got a winning combo.
The fist single was the stonking beat-heavy track ‘So Fly’ featuring British singer Kevin Mark Trail, who rose to prominence in the early 2000s working with The Streets, and who is an intergral part of the Sola Rosa Soundsytem. The next was the soulful ‘Back to You‘ featuring Noah Slee on vocals and after that …. is yet to be announced!
Tickets are £8 + b/f from Music Glue
From: 8pm
At: 2-4 Hoxton Square, London N1 6NU
Nearest Tube: Old Street or Shoreditch High Street
Venue website: hoxtonsquarebar.com
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O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN :: SHAPESHIFTER NZ :: 04/08/17
Over the last 18 years Shapeshifter have created their very own brand of heavy soul – a stadium-sized sound which adds layers of drum & bass, jazz, funk, rock and electronica to solid bass culture foundations, capable of morphing from rolling drum & bass to pummeling guitar-driven jams to horizon-shifting electronic soundscapes. This genre-defying amalgamation of influences continues to draw from new source material and inspiration as Shapeshifter evolves, motivating dance floors worldwide and delivering audiences to the bleeding edge of musical possibility.
As at home in an amped club environment as they are playing to packed festival fields, Shapeshifter is a truly adaptable unit. The five-strong lineup of PDigsss, Sam Trevethick, Dan McGruer, Nick Robinson and Darren Mathiassen have individually called Auckland, Wellington, Melbourne, Kingscliff, Berlin, Queenstown and, first and foremost, their original Christchurch stomping ground home, yet a chemistry refined over 18 years of playing together means they lock back into formation whenever they regroup.
Tickets are £20 + b/f from Ticketweb, See Tickets, Gigantic or Stargreen.
From: 7pm
At: 9-17 Highgate Road, London NW5 1JY
Nearest Tube: Kentish Town
Venue website: academymusicgroup.com/o2forumkentishtown/
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BUSH HALL :: MODERN MAORI QUARTET :: 30/08/17
The Modern Maori Quartet are a good looking, suave contemporary Maori showband in the vein of forebears such as the Hi-Marks, Maori Volcanics Showband, Dalvanius and the Fascinations, Maori Troubadours, Maori Hi Five, Quin Tikis and The Howard Morrison Quartet.
Join them for a party like no other, where hearty voices in epic harmony share Maori traditions and tell New Zealand stories through waiata and cheeky Maori humour. A classy celebration of Kiwi music honouring the legends of Maori Showbands that will warm your heart and make you cry with laughter.
Tickets are £18 + b/f from Music Glue, Ticketweb or See Tickets.
From: 7.30pm
At: 310 Uxbridge Road, LondonW12 7LJ
Nearest Tube: Shepherds Bush Market
Venue website: bushhallmusic.co.uk/
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SERVANT JAZZ QUARTERS :: BLAIR JOLLANDS :: 30/08/17
A velvet throated crooner and a compelling songwriter, Blair Jollands‘s lush compositions are cinematic in scope and gritty in nature, calling to mind aspects of Nick Cave‘s songwriting and Beck at his heartbroken best. He’s previously collaborated with Boy George and producer Gordon Raphael (The Strokes) and has released albums under his alter ego El Hula as well as with the band The Thin Men.
To celebrate the launch of his new album, he’s playing this intimate show at the Servant Jazz Quarters and giving away three tracks to all ticket buyers.
Tickets are £10 + b/f from Music Glue – all ticket buyers will be emailed a download code for the three tracks
From: 7.30pm
At: 10A Bradbury Street, London N16 8JN
Nearest Tube: Dalston Kingsland or Dalston Junction
Venue website: servantjazzquarters.com/
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KEEP IN TOUCH WITH NEW ZEALAND MUSIC
If you’d like to keep in touch with what’s happening back in New Zealand music wise, Amplifier have relaunched as a playlist forcused program.
Amplifier Buzz is the place to find the brightest emerging local & international artists creating a stir in the industry. This unique playlist will be updated every two weeks and can be found at https://open.spotify.com/user/amplaylister/playlist/72qLRHQpf6O9VuLluqEQbd
The Audience Hot is the home of bubbling Kiwi talent, whether new to the scene or already established. Covering a wide range of genres, this playlist will be updated every week and can be found at https://open.spotify.com/user/amplaylister/playlist/3DnRLdN1etauocIOZLSE7t
NZ on Air also operate a similar playlist which can be found at http://open.spotify.com/user/nzonairmusic
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UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS
12/06 Lawrence Arabia // The Islington,N1 0XT //7.30-11 // £8
17/06 The Bats // The Dome, NW5 1HL // 7.30-11 // £16
22/06 Mark de Clive-Lowe // Red Gallery, EC2A 3DT // 8-11 // £10
24/08 Nadia Reid // Bush Hall, W12 7LJ // 7.30-11 // £11.50
03/10 The Naked and Famous // Electric Brixton, SW2 1RJ // 7-11 // £21
20/11 Aldous Harding // Islington Assembly, N1 2UD // 7-11 // £12
We track upcoming concerts by New Zealand artists in London using Songkick – if we have missed any, please email us at kiaora@spacific.net so that we can include the details in future mailouts.
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If you are getting this email for the first time, it is because you have bought tickets to a concert that we have promoted. We send out a maximum of one email a month with details of up and coming concerts by New Zealand musicians in London.
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Spacific :: PO Box 14988, London SW6 2WL, UK :: kiaora@spacific.net