Committed to showcasing the most exciting and innovative sounds from across the globe, Band on the Wall’s February calendar abides by that ethos and then some. Take a look at our picks of what’s coming up throughout the next month.
For nearly 15 years, Brian Shimkovitz’s blog, Awesome Tapes From Africa, has been turning people onto obscure and wonderful sounds from across the continent. His DJ sets bring that blog to life, celebrating the music and musicians whose cassettes Shimkovitz has collected over the years. Expect everything from folkloric pop, left-field dancefloor gems and hip-hop bangers.
The London Astrobeat Orchestra seamlessly blend cult Western favourites with African influences and the end result is quite brilliant. Bringing together the finest West African session musicians in the UK, the band were affectionately nicknamed the African Talking Heads following four sold-out debut shows at London’s Jazz Cafe. Fittingly, they’ll be working through David Byrne & Co’s timeless back catalogue at Band on the Wall later this month.
2022 Mercury Prize nominee Fergus McCreadie is widely touted as one of the most exciting names in the UK jazz scene right now. His home country of Scotland plays a heavy influence, with traditional Scottish music blending innovatively with jazz to create a truly one-of-a-kind sound.
- Words:
- Bradley Lengden
- Published on:
- Thu 2 Feb 2023
Very much at the forefront of the North of England’s flourishing jazz and improvised music scene, Beats & Pieces reimagine big band music for the 21st century. Described by conductor and composer Ben Cottrell as “not your average big band, rather a band that’s big”, they call on a genre-spanning list of influences that brings a punk spirit to the traditional ensemble sound.