Wow!  What a party!

I’ve been back couple of days now and am recovering well.  At the moment,  Shambala is a complete blur- it feels as though i lived on that field for an entire month rather than 11 days!  it is definitely going to take a little while for me to process and remember everything that happened and everything that i saw or heard!  But, in the mean time, i think that i should at least mention just a couple of my personal highlights.  (These are not necessarily the best or the most special- just a couple that have popped into my head while writing this post.)

On saturday afternoon at 1.50, i received news that Hijak Oscar, scheduled to play on the Main Stage at 2.30pm, were actually in Gurnsey!  At the last minute, after trying several dead-ends, i finally struck gold when MC Xander and Jahman Sillah both agreed to fill in.   It could not have worked out better!!  Although i literally introduced them to each other on stage 2 mintues before their show, they perfomed as if they have been playing together for years.  The stunning beatboxing of MC Xander and the awesome drumming of Jahman quickly attracted a huge dancing crowd who were utterly rapt until the last note of Xander’s beautiful acapella of “Stand By Me.”

I love the cross pollination of talent from different musical crews that occurs more and more at Shambala and this theme was definitely one of my highlights of 2008.  It was heard throughout the weekend in the Roots Yard.  Jam Jah, Mungo’s Hifi, J Star, Smith and Mighty, Rankin Roger and many more all mucking in together, was really special and emphasised the musical family that Shambala is a part of.  This was also demonstrated throughout Smerin’s Antisocial Club’s stunning closing set on Sunday night.  Featuring guest vocalists like Nuala Honan, Xander once again, Dub FX and more Smerin’s surpassed themselves and put on the perfect closing set of Shambala.

I must , of course, mention Horace Andy on Sunday night!!

What a surprise and what a show!  Arranged at the absolute last minute, to have one of my all time musical heroes was a real honour.  The fact that their drummer was late even added another dimension to the show.  For the first few tracks, Horace sang his heart out and performed like i had never seen him perform before.  A consummate performer rising to the situation.  It was a special show that will stay with me for years! (Thanks Andrew for the photo- i didn’t ask but thought you wouldn’t mind!)

Well!!  I intended this to be a brief post, but it its now developing into a little essay!  So, time to wrap it up.  Please, please comment on this post with your musical highlights or even just random festival memories or thoughts.

I think that before i do wrap it up i must comment on how seriously impressed i was with all the Birmingham bands that performed so well all weekend.  Excellent sets from Misty’s, The Beat, Destroyers, Overproof, Freindly Fire, Pritham Singh, Bright Size Gypsies, Desert Groove and so many many more.  They all made me so happy and very proud to be part of the vibrant and exciting music scene of Moseley and Birmingham!!

So long,

Dan

Tonight Funkbox are having a Pre Shambala mash up with Robin (Jam Jah), Guy C (Bees Tour DJ), Rafiki (Jibbering)…8 -2am @ the Yardbird, Paradise Place, Birmingham City Centre. Get your dancing shoes on and enjoy the fine weather, be great to see you out and about

With only 16 days left until the gates of Shambala Festival open once more, we are all seriously excited!  We received the final draft of the program yesterday, and it is jammed full of incredible musical acts, crazy cabaret , wonderful workshops and so much more it would be impossible to list it all here…  Well, of course it would be possible- it would just take me ages and it would totally spoil the surprise when you arrive!

I suppose though, that i can let a few juicy musical treats out of the bag- exclusive information for the Jibbering Massive!

There will be Brum’s very own 2-tone heroes, The Beat, headlining Friday night on the Main Stage.  The Nextmen will be kicking up a reggae-hiphop storm in the Dome on Saturday.  The legendary Nicky Blackmarket will be spinning choice cuts for the Junglist massive, while The Destroyers will be battling with the Dhol Blasters.  Lastly, i am delighted to say that, after many year’s of trying, we have finally secured a slot from the awesome Overproof Soundsystem, Birmingham’s finest roots n steppa dub live act who have just finished a sell out tour of New Zealand and Australia.  There are, of course, loads more bands playing folk, blues, jazz, ska, skiffle, rock n roll, hiphop, breaks and beyond… but you are going to have to wait to find out who!!

Tickets are selling fast and we will sell out before the event.  So, if you haven’t already got one… get on it!!  Get them either in person from Jibbering in Moseley or Online through The Ticketsellers.

On Friday evening, Jibbering was treated to a live performance by Simon Harris who was launching his new album of summery, soulful, folky numbers with Alison Symons on backing vocals.  We even have a little video!  It’s only a mobile phone thingy with pretty poor sound but, being new to this blogging malarky, i’m still quite excited- let’s hope it works!

The turn out was good, the vibes were jolly, the music was great and Simon was, as ever, highly entertaining! All in all, i think that it worked really well.  Thanks Si and Alison!

It reminded me that the few live shows that the shop has hosted before have also been pretty bloody good.  Most notably, an amazing lunchtime set by Nick Harper- now that was something special!  Well, anyway, it got me thinking.  Hmmm…

“Maybe its time to do a few more,” I suggested to Robin.

“How about a Friendly Fire unplugged session?” He suggested.

“Nice!”  Said I.

So, it looks like we have a Niyabinghi acoustic reggae session on the horizon.  Wicked!!  Keep an I n I out, and we’ll let you know when…

What a treat!  The Hot 8 Brass Band from New Orleans are on their way to Birmingham.  Anyone that has been out and about over the past 6 months will surely have heard an awesome brass band cover of Marvin Gaye’s Sexual Healing…  well, these are the dudes that wrote it!  Don’t miss out on this chance to catch one of the hottest live acts around at the moment for a feast of heavy brass!

Saturday 9th August @ The Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath

Tickets:  Jibbering Records or www.theticketsellers.co.uk

Of course, Jibbering is stocking their classic album “Rock with the Hot 8 Brass Band“

We have just launched a totally unique Summer Time Sale at Jibbering Records, Moseley.

The deal is this….

Whatever the temperature is (in degrees centigrade) at the time of your purchase, you receive that amount off as a percentage discount! i.e if it is 15c, you get 15% off… if it is literally boiling, you can take the whole shop home for free!

Sale runs throughout August.

Unfortunately, due to the ever changing temperature of the Interweb, this sale does not work on-line… sorry!

xxx

We have arranged the central acts for tthe next run of Sessions taking us all the way up to Christmas!!  $ truly ace bands will be winding their way to the Hare and Hounds for your enjoyment.  Bands as far a field as Israel, Sweden, New Zealand and um, Brighton!  They will, as ever be surrounded by some of the finest acts from Brum and the inimitable Jibbering DJs and there friends!

• 6th Sept    The Apples
• 4th Oct     Bad Science
• 1st Nov    The Black Seeds
• 5th Dec    Analogik

Simon Harris has been a stalwart of the local music scene relentlessly performing both as a solo singer songwriter and with his own band- The Bright Size Gypsies.

We are very pleased to welcome Simon to Jibbering Records this evening (Fri 1st Aug) for the launch of his new album “81, Oakfield.”  The shop will be open from 7-9pm and he will be performing songs from the album.   So come on down, soak up some quality entertainment, meet the man himself and then, more than likely, head to a local watering hole for further refreshment!

I have had the chance to check the album out.  With lots of jazz, folk and soul coming through, it is quite a departure from his usual gypsy vibes.  He has handpicked a wonderful array of talented musicians to feature on the album (including his father who plays with the Philarmonia Orchestra) and the overall result is a fruity little album well worth checking out for excellent songwriting and some quality summertime vibes.

Hope to see ya there!