Blaze memoirs

I know Blaze has been over for 2 good months now, and there isn't much of a point in writing this post - but maybe this is just about the time it takes to recover from the breathtaking performance David Byrn donated to us during this year's closing event on August 3rd!

Truth is that we have been head down into the Autumn season, and now already starting to think about the next Blaze, even though it's not even Christmas yet! Thinking about it brings back a bit of melancholy - most of all about the dancing outdoors and in the Barbican Hall, and a summer that is now definitely over. Good times... hehe!

OK, too much? I know, I know... And - to be honest - we are not really sad about anything, since we've been kept warm by a phantasmagoric kick start of the Autumn, with Orchestre Poly Rythmo, Paban Das Baul, Neko Case and very soon Magma + JP Massiera & Chrome Hoof!!

But for the nostalgic hearts, here's a freshly edited video of our free event in Gillett Square on June 27th (don't believe the date on the video, I'm pretty sure it wasn't July - I was there!!). It had never been so hot and sunny in Dalston - and check out the tropical storm in the end!! The magic of Cuba!

Thanks Rachel for shooting and editing it! Enjoy...

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Dhoad Gypsies of Rajasthan and Kasai Allstars at the Barbican, 26/07/09

'I’ve been told by a few people who don’t live here that “London is no place to bring up children”, which has always struck me as an odd thing to say. The park? The zoo? The river? The lido? For a start, If I’d had those things as a child, and the weather to enjoy them, I’d probably not be the sort of person who wastes his time indoors pontificating on the internet about what people with children do when I don’t have any of my own. And then there is the Barbican. This weekend was one of their “Do Something Different” affairs, with all sorts of events taking place throughout the building, from sandpits to walks to butterfly-making to energetic world music concerts on the free stage. I was more than a little jealous of all those little ones who were being introduced to hip-hop trumpet troupes and goggling at Indian fire-eaters, and the gleeful look on their faces would probably be a far better review than you’ll find here.'

From mapsadaisical's blog. Click here to keep reading this interesting report about our Do Something Different weekend.

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How to conduct yourself at the Barbican...

Where were you last Saturday night? Dancing on seats and in the aisles in the Barbican Hall? Well, that has been a recurrent image throughout the whole of Blaze, and we are really happy about it! It just demonstrates that we deliver, since we have always said that Blaze was a music festival for the heart and for the feet.

And if you weren't there, you can find some cool images of Antibalas Saturday night on Akin Aworan's blog (that's where I found the photo above). And, please, keep dancing your way to the Barbican! The ushers are now pretty used to it.

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Fairport Convention celebration video!

For those of us not fortunate enough to be at the Fairport celebration at the Barbican, here's the video of the encore with Richard Thompson, a chilly looking Linda Thompson and Teddy and Kamila Thompson in tow as well. Thanks to The Word!

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Witchseason Weekender review AKA Bring the Sixties back!

Here's a really nice review of the Witchseason Weekender (Sat 18th and Sun 19th) by BazzFazz - Rants on politics, culture, whatever, from an American in London.

Meet on the Ledge

So a hippy-dippy weekend at the Barbican, organized by Joe Boyd, who produced a whole lot of important albbums in the late 1960s and early 1970s. (Read his book White Bicyles for an entertaining history of this era.) So we had Fairport Convention Saturday night, and The Incredible String Band last night. Well, not everyone--for obvious reasons, Sandy Denny and Martin Lamble were unable to attend, and Dave Swarbrick apparently chose not to Saturday, as did Robin Williamson Sunday. Still, a pretty remarkable evening both times.

Click here to read the rest of the article. We particularly love the bit regarding the audience!

Another 4 *review from the Guardian!

L'Orchestra Di Piazza Vittorio did an amazing performance indeed, last Friday 17th July.
And The Guardian awarded them with a brilliant 4-star review!

If you missed it, here it is:

By John L Walters

It is the perfect way to introduce audiences to a new band: screen a heartwarming full-length movie about them first. When the Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio troop on afterwards for their UK debut, the audience greet them like old friends.

Back in 2001, pianist Mario Tronco decided to form a world music orchestra. Film-maker Agostino Ferrente follows Tronco as he goes on a mission to recruit musicians in Rome's multicultural Esquilino district. Argentine percussionist Raul "Cuervo" Scebba, based in a lock-up garage, gets it straight away: "You mean like the Blues Brothers," he says with a smile.

But the film is closer in tone to The Commitments, as we encounter some great characters: charming Senegalese percussionist Pap; charismatic Tunisian singer Houcine Ataa; Carlos Paz, who we see playing Andean flutes for tourists. Against all odds – indifference, language barriers, money troubles, Italian bureaucracy – the orchestra give their first concert late in 2002. It is hard not to shed a tear as more than a dozen nationalities and languages unite in music.

Read the whole review here.

Antibalas On Saturday

Here's a beautiful video of Antibalas rehearsing for their tour as posted by our friend Put Me On It.



Click here to read the rest of the article!

And don't miss Antibalas with Gangbe Brass Band this Saturday 25th at the Barbican!