Tuesday 31 October 2017

Cleveland Watkiss - Vocal Warrior


Cleveland Watkiss

Date - 25th October 2017
Venue - A World In London, Resonance FM, London, UK

Current album - Song Diasporas (2016)

Future Performance
6th November 2017 - The Vortex, London, UK

Ubiquitous musical treasure & vocal warrior, Cleveland Watkiss on this A World in London!
Click to listen: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-25th-october-2017/

We caught up with Cleveland between some Sound Spas and his forthcoming date at The Vortex on Nov 6th as part of this year’s London International Arts Festival. Ever-evolving, it’s impossible to confine him to one genre, one era, or one skill, but suffice to say that the man that’s won the best vocalist Parliamentary Jazz Award 2017 is our man in the studio. A MOBO might be on its way too, and not before time. On this show you’ll get some sense of the journeys Cleveland has travelled in rhyme, as a virtuoso vocalist, composer, music educator, and actor. His early days in the 80’s with Lovers Rock queen Carroll Thompson, and The Jazz Warriors, followed by the heady 90’s drum n’ bass scene with Goldie & the Metalheadz crew in Hoxton’s Blue Note. There’s been collaborations with first-gen African greats like Sona Jobarteh, Tunde Jegede, and Kasse Mady too, but the collaborator list is endless and giant-filled. Watch out for his new project Collective X, whose debut album cover has been designed by AWIL resident artist Alban Low. Our first live session with Cleveland on this AWIL left us with a lot of unfinished business, but rest assured that this conversation is to be resumed...
                        ‘           ‘
25/10/17 – AWIL at Res 141  Online: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-25th-october-2017/  Production & pics by Sofia Gaetani-Morris, Norman Druker, Sophie Darling & sketches by Alban Low. Also this week a Addictive TV at SOAS Radio. Next week Sheila Chandra at SOAS & Tse Tse Fly Middle East at Resonance!  #AWorldinLondon – IN ITS ELEVENTH YEAR! Live on Wednesdays 6.30pm Resonance 104.4  www.resonancefm.com & 4pm SOAS Radio  mixlr.com/soasradio 

Monday 23 October 2017

Blurt - Pagan Strings Restrung

Ted Milton
BLURT
Ted Milton - voice, saxophone, performance
Chris Vine - guitar (+ voice)
Paul Wigens - drums (+ voice)

Date - 18th October 2017
Venue - Iklectik Art Lab, London, UK

Current album - Live at Oto (Salamander Records, 2016)


BLURT recorded the Pagan Strings album in Ulm, Southern Germany, in ’92, at the end of a thirty consecutive dates tour. Ted Milton played sax and vocalised. On guitar was Chris Vine, who was with the band from ’90 to ’95, and Paul Wigens, Blurt drummer from ’85 to ’98. Some twenty years later the original line-up reformed to play this one-off Pagan Strings Concert.  Milton also performed “Molecule” – a short performance piece, and recited poems from the recently published Milton Text Book.

Ted Milton
Ted Milton once described himself as "a tone-deaf musician" and at the end of a sax-part during a Blurt gig in Antwerp he proclaimed with a broad smile: "Oh, why don't I just take some lessons?" All this to say Ted doesn't see himself as a ground-breaking nor virtuoso sax player. However, when in good form his instrument becomes an extension of his body and wonderful sonic landscapes enfold. 

Paul Wigens
Paul Wigens joined Blurt in 1986 after Jake Milton left. He can be heard first time on the "Poppycock" album. Paul is a human metronome, taking his musicianship very serious. He studied with American jazz drummer CLIFFORD JARVIS (Sun Ra/Archie Shepp/Pharoah Saunders) in the mid nineties. He has played with the groups Grand Drive (Sony/BMG), The Blue Aeroplanes and Cousteau and mosy recently with Eyebrow. As musician and composer with Cardiff-based physical theatre company Earthfall, he worked on the shows Forever and Ever, Fabulous Wounds, Rococco Blood and Bakkus and the BAFTA-winning short film Too Old to Dream.

Chris Vine
Chris Vine replaced Steve Eagles in 1990 to record the "Pagan Strings" album. Before he had lived in the U.S.A. and played in The Scientific Americans and with a.o. Eliott Sharp. Chris changed the sound of Blurt trough his fingerpicking guitar style, using a thumb pick to accentuate the low notes or to strum the strings very hard. He also made frequent use of an electro-harmonix analog delay and octaver-effects. Chris now spends his time between the UK and Brazil and writes music for theatre and dance companies.


Friday 20 October 2017

DJ Vix - Turntablist Mixmaster

DJ Vix

Date - 18th October 2017
Venue - A World In London, Resonance FM, London, UK

Current album - Chapter V (2015)

Mixmaster DJ Vix on this A World in London!
Click to lisyen: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-18th-october-2017/

All turntablists working with Bhangra music will have productions by DJ Vix in their library. He’s the most sought-after remixer on the British-Asian scene – the Desi equivalent of David Guetta - and has added essential beats & breaks to songs by vocal giants like Jay Sean, Sukshinder Shinda, and Jassi Sidhu. Vix is often out with his Dhol n Bass Roadshow, but I found him recently when we were both brought in to spin an ‘old skool’ set for the BBC Asian Network. On this AWIL catch Vix in the mix, live on the CDJs, and hear about his rise to fame from East London roots to international stardom! 

18/10/17 – AWIL at Res 140  Online: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-18th-october-2017/  Production & pics by Sofia Gaetani-Morris, Norman Druker, Sophie Darling & sketches by Alban Low. Also this week a Pete Lockett at SOAS Radio. Next week Addictive TV at SOAS & Cleveland Watkiss at Resonance!  #AWorldinLondon – IN ITS ELEVENTH YEAR! Live on Wednesdays 6.30pm Resonance 104.4  www.resonancefm.com & 4pm SOAS Radio  mixlr.com/soasradio 

Thursday 19 October 2017

Mark Sullivan - Slip Into Your Head

Mark Sullivan

Date - 13th October 2017
Venue - Slaughtered Lamb, London, UK

Current Single - Slip Into Your Head (October 2017)

Future performance
21/10/2017 -  MILTON KEYNES, THE STABLES
22/10/2017 -  SHEFFIELD, THE GREYSTONES
25/10/2017 - LEEDS, PACKHORSE

06/11/2017 - ST PANCRAS CHURCH, LONDON

Mark Sullivan has crafted his art on the road with hundreds of shows that include all the expected stages for such a troubadour plus incredible experiences such as opening at Wembley Arena, performing at The Houses Of Parliament, the US ambassadors private London residence and receiving an award from Rick Wakeman.

Sullivan is now set to embark upon a UK tour ‘In The Round’ this October with Radio 2 and Country To Country festival favourites Emma Stevens & Megan O Neill plus USA’s James Fredholm making his UK debut. “Slip Into Your Head” is the highly anticipated new single by Mark Sullivan.  This earthy slice of sincerity holds the potential to skyrocket Sullivan to the pinnacle of the acoustic indie folk listener’s radar and begs the question of how far this astonishing artist can go. 

Megan O'Neill - Why I Need You

Megan O'Neill

Date - 13th October 2017
Venue - Slaughtered Lamb, London, UK
Current Single - Why I Need You (2017)

Future performance
21/10/2017 -  Bilston (UK), British Country Music Awards 2017
25/10/2017 - LEEDS, PACKHORSE
21/01/2018 - Green Note, London

Irish-born singer/songwriter Megan O’Neill is one of the most exciting Americana artists on the UK - Irish scene. A long-time musician and song-writer, Megan has previously lived in Nashville but now resides full time in London. 

She released her debut EP ‘Coming Home’ in May 2015, reaching #1 in Irish country charts & was awarded ‘UK EP of the Year’ (W21Music). In February 2017, Megan released a second record with her band ‘The Common Threads’ titled ‘Stories to Tell’ which was recorded at Mark Knopfler’s British Grove Studios with the legendary Guy Fletcher (Dire Straits, Roxy Music, Mark Knopfler) producing. 

2017 has seen Megan selected as one of the top 8 Americana songwriter’s in the UK, a performance at the Americana Music Awards in London and touring Ireland, America and the UK, sharing stages with such artists as Miranda Lambert, Kip Moore, Nathan Carter, Donna Taggart and Victoria Shaw. She’s also spent this year writing and recording her debut solo album. The first single (‘Why I Need You’) is due for release in October 2017 and the full album set for release early 2018.


James Fredholm - The poet uncaged

James Fredholm

Date - 13th October 2017
Venue - Slaughtered Lamb, London, UK
New poetry publication - Uncaged (2017)
Current Single - Oars (2017)

Future performance
21/10/2017 -  MILTON KEYNES, THE STABLES
22/10/2017 -  SHEFFIELD, THE GREYSTONES
25/10/2017 - LEEDS, PACKHORSE

Born and raised in Austin Texas, James Fredholm first discovered his passion for music through the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Johnson.  His inspiration has been drawn from his complicated life, coloured by the cultures of Texas, London and Zurich – not forgetting his time in the army and above all experiences of love.

Growing up in vibrant music scene of Austin, Texas in the 1970’s was a defining moment for me. I got my first guitar at 14 and couldn’t put it down, it just felt right, it was in my blood. Through those years I was a regular at the music clubs, so many known and unknown talents to absorb, including Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Johnson, Christopher Cross and the whole alternative rock and country scenes. I was playing in an acoustic trio and we made a little bit of a name for ourselves writing and recording jingles for local businesses. It was always a passion, despite my fears and insecurities’’.
His music is best described as emotional and arrestingly honest, from the heart. He brings a unique perspective, which together with his 1968 J50 Gibson acoustic guitar and harmonica delivers an intimate, edgy sweetness that gets easily under the skin.

Fredholm describes himself as a poet first, then musician, many songs of the forthcoming album ‘Love Is The Answer’ taking their first steps in his book of poetry ‘Uncaged’.


Tuesday 17 October 2017

Adam Blake - Portobello Blues


Adam Blake - guitar

Date - 11th October 2017
Venue - A World In London, Resonance FM, London, UK

Current album - Portobello Blues (2017)

Portobello Blues with magnificent musician Adam Blake on this A World in London!
Click to listen: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-11th-october-2017/  


On the corner of Portobello Market and Elgin Road, you’ll find Adam Blake busking Blues of every kind. The works of Blind Willie Johnson and Lightnin’ Hopkins are revived through Adam’s excellent voice and intricate guitar moves, transforming this trendy part of West London into some kind of Mississippi delta. He’s also collaborated with amazing peers like Natacha Atlas, Errol Linton, and Cornershop, enhancing their live sets & album recordings with a brimful of fret styles, on bass & sitar. On Facebook, Adam is a sensitive, thoughtful character that’s modest about his career history, and dazzling ability. But in our studio on A World in london, there was no place to hide his true & bountiful talents. Listen in for some fingerpickin’ good, and reach out to grab Adam’s ‘Portobello Blues’ album.

11/10/17 – AWIL at Res 139  Online: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-11th-october-2017/  Production & pics by Sofia Gaetani-Morris, Norman Druker, Sophie Darling & sketches by Alban Low. Also this week a bonanza of global music at SOAS Radio. Next week Pete Lockett at SOAS & DJ Vix at Resonance!  #AWorldinLondon – IN ITS ELEVENTH YEAR! Live on Wednesdays 6.30pm Resonance 104.4  www.resonancefm.com & 4pm SOAS Radio  mixlr.com/soasradio 

Tuesday 10 October 2017

Stefanos Tsourelis Trio - Native Speaker


Stefanos Tsourelis
Stefanos Tsourelis Trio
Stefanos Tsourelis - guitar and oud
Dave Jones - bass
Eric Ford - drums

Date - 7th October 2017
Venue - Jazz Café POSK, Hammersmith, London, UK

Current album - Native Speaker (2017)

Dave Jones
Future performance
14th November 2017 - EFG London Jazz Festival, Bull's Head, Barnes, UK (with live art by Alban Low)

Greek-born, London-based guitar and oud virtuoso Stefanos Tsourelis alongside bassist Dave Jones and Eric Ford on drums launch debut album Native Speaker at Jazz Café POSK.


Eric Ford
Their music is a heady mix of jazz and rock with Oriental and Greek influences, traditional Mediterranean melodies and textures with Flamenco and African rhythms, generating dynamic grooves, combined with nuanced dynamics and sparkling arrangements. Stefanos follows in the footsteps of guitarists such as John McLaughlin and Ralph Towner, creating a personal and unique fusion of 'World Jazz' at its very best as a vehicle for his wonderful oud and guitar improvisations. His music is both melodically and rhythmically engaging.

"A wonderful sense of the trio grooving together very intuitively." London Jazz News.

Stefanos Tsourelis

Monday 9 October 2017

Kan Beng - Vitality United


Ren Renoldz - drums
Kan Beng
Seneke Sillah - djembe & dundun
Jez Gibson - bass
Ren Renoldz - drums
Dotan Cohen - guitar
Nadia Al Faghih Hasan - vocals
Leon McLaughlin - vocals
Nadia Al Faghih Hasan - vocals 
Date - 4th October 2017
Venue - A World In London, Resonance FM, London, UK


Dotan Cohen - guitar
Our cosmopolitan capital embodied in new band Kan Beng, live on this A World in London!
Click to listen: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-4th-october-2017/

Jez Gibson - bass 
Gambian Londoner Seneke Sillah has created a new group called Kan Beng which is fresh, raw, and bursting with vitality! It’s members originate from West & North Africa, Israel, and the UK, merging elements of Berber, Mandinka, and Jewish folk with Rock and Jungle through ONE multi-faceted VOICE. Kan Beng’s wealth of individual talent and incredible energy is all set to send shockwaves through the live music scene so catch them in their embryonic stage on this AWIL! Kan Beng’s formidable line up includes: Seneke Sillah on djembe & dundun, Jez Gibson on bass; Ren Renoldz on drums, guitarist Dotan Cohen, and vocalists Nadia Al Faghih Hasan, Leon McLaughlin & Mahdi Kourtaa.

Seneke Sillah - djembe & dundun
AWIL at Res 138 Online: https://www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/a-world-in-london-4th-october-2017/ Production & pics by Sofia Gaetani Morris, Norman Druker, & sketches by Alban Low. Also this week Mabele Martinez re: A Chabuca at SOAS Radio. Next week Pete Lockett at SOAS & Adam Blake at Resonance! #AWorldinLondon – IN ITS ELEVENTH YEAR! Live on Wednesdays 6.30pm Resonance 104.4fm www.resonancefm.com & 4pm SOAS Radio mixlr.com/soasradio #London #GlobalMusic #FolkMusic #WorldMusic #UK #Gambia #Algeria #Libya #Israel #Mandinka #Berber #Jewish #Rock #Jungle with Chantelle Michaux
Leon McLaughlin - vocals