OneTaste Party!

Showcase

20 Apr 2012

LINE UP

A.J. Holmes & The Hackney Empire, Krar Collective, DJ John Hendicott, DJ My Therapist

VENUE

Floripa (formally Favela Chic), 91-93 Great Eastern St, London, EC2A 3HZ
Website

DOORS

19:00

OneTaste is bringing its festival vibes to London for its first Friday night PARTY!

Line-up:

A.J. Holmes & The Hackney Empire

From the depths of Hackney come a band that are taking over the world with their unique blend of Afro pop with a home grown British sensibility. They are A.J. Holmes & The Hackney Empire. This six-piece are destroying everywhere they play: “the ultimate Afro party disco machine” – Ghetto Bassquake blog. Their debut single Fraudian Slip, produced by Radioclit was released last year to critical acclaim.

Born in Barking & Dagenham in the industrial far east of London, A.J. Holmes discovered a love of playing African music through a chance meeting with legendary African musician Folo Graff. Learning to rock the Afro Pop guitar style, A.J. became obsessed with the good time sounds of West and Central Africa and set about forming a band.

The Hackney Empire: Vocalist, Sabine, percussionist, Dasi and drummer, Ged were recruited one New Year’s Eve after an all night jam when A.J. saw they were just what he needed. Later finding guitarist and pop guru Martyn and bassist/Brazillian groove queen Abi completed the lineup and the beauty of the band.

Link to A.J. Holmes & The Hackney Empire

Krar Collective

Led by Temesgen Zeleke, a former star pupil of Ethiopian vibraphone legend Mulatu Astatke, Krar Collective perform a rootsy yet contemporary take on traditional music from Ethiopia based on other-worldy modes and driven by hypnotic rhythms. The 6-stringed krar lyre is associated with the azmari minstrel tradition; in the hands of Zeleke it becomes a gritty, ancient rock guitar. Accompanied just by drums and fronted by the stunning voice of Genet Assefa, Krar Collective create a surprisingly full band sound, leading one critic to name them: “The Ethiopian White Stripes”. With gentle ballads and high-energy dance tunes, Krar Collective will surprise and delight.

Link to Krar Collective

DJ John Hendicott

OneTaste veteran John Hendicott is known as much for his DJ sets as he is for music production, working with artists such as Chipmunk, Lady Lykez, The Drop and Bristol heavyweights, Smerins Anti-Social Club.

This variety of style is reflected in a record collection that spans afrobeat and cumbia, to dancehall and hip hop, all mixed together in a distinctive blend of sampling and scratching.

Link to DJ John Hendicott

DJ My Therapist

A short while back admittedly, DJ My Therapist, visited DJ Yoda in the DJ booth to find out about what track he was playing a few too many times. Only to be welcomed with: “Why don’t you go and get your own f**king tunes!”

So he started building a deep vault of funk, soul, hip-hop, reggae, breaks and drum ‘n’ bass to provide all the best people with all the best music that he could find and the collection keeps on growing. DJ My Therapist has played at Glastonbury, Bestival, Lovebox, Shambala, Secret Garden, Standon Calling and am a regular fixture keeping the crowd rocking before and after every OneTaste and Beatroot Rendez-Vous gig. Go and ask him what he’s playing any time; he’ll be proud to tell you.

Tickets: £7 in adv / more on the door!

Press enquiries: jess@onetaste.co.uk