SPACIFIC NEWS #160: Contents
1. Colours :: Pitch Black
2. O2 Forum Kentish Town :: L.A.B
3. Servant Jazz Quarters :: Arjuna Oakes
4. Islington Assembly Hall :: Avantdale Bowling Club
5. Upcoming Highlights
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COLOURS :: PITCH BLACK :: 13/07/23
Pitch Black make a very welcome return to London this July to play at Colours in Hoxton.
Pioneers in Aotearoa’s dub scene, they’ve spent the years since their inaugural performance at The Gathering festival in 1996 rousing dance floor punters, generating rave reviews, winning awards and gaining thousands of fans across the world for their dub drenched electronica.
Hard to box into a single audio ‘genre’, Pitch Black is a combination of musical journeys. Their sound is distinctive; ranging from organic ambient beginnings and layered soundscapes to skanking keyboards, cutting acid riffs and thumping rhythmic grooves, with dub being the glue that holds their sound together. One critic has described them as like “Orbital meets King Tubby, or Rhythm and Sound in Technicolor”.
It is their live show that really makes Pitch Black stand out from the rest of the crowd, both sonically and visually. Their tracks take on an added dynamism and their performances reveal the dialectic behind the band – Paddy wants to do it for the crowd, Michael wants to do it to the crowd. Visually they are in another dimension thanks to Michael’s cutting edge images.
Support on the night will be from London trio Polyop and Stella Z
General Admission tickets are £15 + b/f from Music Glue or SEE Tickets
From: 7pm
At: 2-4 Hoxton Square, N1 6NU
Nearest Tube: Old Street
Venue website: colourshoxton.com/
Facebook event: facebook.com/events/576732777667350/
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O2 FORUM KENTISH TOWN :: L.A.B :: 12/10/23
In celebration of their upcoming sixth album, October 2023 will see L.A.B embark on their first show in the UK, headlining the O2 Forum Kentish Town.
After winning Best Group, Best Song & Best Album two years in a row at the New Zealand Music Awards, taking out Best Record at the 2022 Rolling Stone Awards and being voted New Zealand’s Best Live Act by Radio New Zealand, L.A.B are on fire!
L.A.B”s groove blends an eclectic mix of reggae, blues, funk, rock and electronic – all combining to create a sound entirely their own. Formed by Brad Kora, L.A.B comprises his brother Stu Kora, Ara Adams-Tamatea, Miharo Gregory & frontman Joel Shadbolt. Featuring former members of two of New Zealand”s premier acts Kora & Katchafire, L.A.B have staked their claim as the best live act on the stages of New Zealand & Australia.
After releasing five albums in five years, the band have cemented themselves on the NZ charts, with “In The Air” and “Why Oh Why” both reaching Number One.
General Admission tickets are £31.95 + b/f from Ticketmaster.co.uk
From: 7pm
At: 9-17 Highgate Road, NW5 1JY
Nearest Tube: Kentish Town
Venue website: academymusicgroup.com/o2forumkentishtown/
Facebook event: facebook.com/events/727020961995858/
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SERVANT JAZZ QUARTERS :: ARJUNA OAKES :: 02/11/23
We’re thrilled to present the debut London performance by accomplished singer/songwriter, pianist, composer and producer Arjuna Oakes this November.
Following the release of his debut EP in 2019, Arjuna has released another five projects all to widespread acclaim. The First Nights and Final Days EPs were a collaboration with longtime friend and co-producer Serebii, released by LA-based record label Innovative Leisure (BADBADNOTGOOD, Allah-Las). First Nights debuted at #5 on KCRW’s top 30 Albums chart and has had extensive play on BBC6 and BBC1xtra.
Arjuna’s latest EP Future Lullaby was created with mentor and renowned Greek/Kiwi composer John Psathas. The pair are set to perform pieces from the EP with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in June this year.
Aside from releasing recorded projects, Arjuna has also scored a theatre show, composed for a string quintet and performed extensively around the New Zealand touring and festival circuit. Arjuna has opened for some incredible artists including Jordan Rakei, Moonchild and Allen Stone.
TIckets are £10 + b/f from Music Glue or SEE Tickets
From: 7pm
At: 10A Bradbury Street, N16 8JN
Nearest Tube: Dalston Kingsland or Dalston Junction
Venue website: servantjazzquarters.com
Facebook event: facebook.com/events/771814180882160/
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ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL :: AVANTDALE BOWLING CLUB :: 17/11/23
On the back of the two sold out shows at Ninety One Living Room, Tom Scott brings his Avantdale Bowling Club project back for one final 2023 show in London.
Written from a working class perspective at the bottom of the globe, Avantdale Bowling Club”s songs explore the day to day realities of life lived on the margins of society. Over the course of two albums, Tom has worked with some of the best musicians and producers in New Zealand to craft a vivid intermingling of jazz, soul, hip-hop and electronica.
Sad and celebratory in equal measure, Scott”s work has been celebrated by NPR, Refuge Worldwide and Radio New Zealand. “Avantdale Bowling Club” won the coveted Album of the Year and best Hip-Hop artist at the Aotearoa Music Awards followed by Independent Music NZ”s Taite Music Prize for best album release. At the end of 2022 the folllow-up “Trees” debuted at number 1 in the New Zealand album charts.
Tickets are £20 + b/f + £1.20 restoration levy from See Tickets or Dice.
From: 7pm
At: Upper Street, N1 2UD
Nearest Tube: Highbury and Islington
Venue website: islingtonassemblyhall.co.uk/
Facebook event: facebook.com/events/624367615993321
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UPCOMING HIGHLIGHTS (details correct at time of sending)
26/05 Jordan Rakei // Peckham Rye Park, SE15 3UA // 2-11 // £50
01/06 Unknown Mortal Orchestra // Troxy, E1 0HX // 7-11 // £28.50
07/06 Blair Jollands // Social Club, E11 3DB // 7-11 // £8
09/06 The Veils // Lafayette, N1C 4PW // 7-11 // £17.50
16/06 The Chills // Earth, N16 8BH // 6-11 // £25
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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Spacific :: PO Box 14988, London SW6 2WL, UK :: kiaora@spacific.net