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

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.

Well Well Well…  What a fun night was had by all!!!
We were treated to some blinding sets, especially DJ Berts rippin up the main room with a truly bad ass sets of dirty beats and breaks, and Damon The Delicious spinning a seriously fruity set of dancehall and heavy roots out in the courtyard.

The courtyard was really where it was at- it was rammed!  At one point we had a “one up/one down” policy imposed on the stairs… untill the bouncers sensibly realised it was a waste of time as there is another door downstairs anyway!!

Massive thanks to all the DJs that came to spin their wares and to all you lovely folk that came out to play!

Roll on the Free Part eh?!

Jibbering Sessions are back with another blinding party of sonic delights and kick ass bass, breaks n beats:

Featuring:

Room 1:  Smerins Anti-Social Club(LIVE)

It is with massive anticipation that we welcome back this awesome 9 piece explosion of funk, swing, latin grooves and much more.   A truly amazing live experience and “possibly the best live band in the Uk” (Dan- Shambala Festival Programmer).

MC Xander (LIVE)

This “Sonic Shamen” is perhaps the most exciting nu skool beatboxer in the UK at the moment.  Armed with only a mic and a collection of loop and effect pedals, Xander builds kick ass, multi layered, dance floor gems that have been wowing audiences up and down the country. This promises to be a great show!

Room 2: Me & You (Tru-Thoughts)

A few years ago, Tru Thoughts label owner, Rob Luis and the label`s chief producer, TM Juke joined forces to create the phenomenon that is Me & You- a production and DJ duo who`s sets have become legendary and who`s productions and mash ups have become the favourite slabs of wax for countless Djs the world over… This is their first B`ham gig so make sure you do not miss their sonic journey through hip hop, soul, dub step, nu jazz, jungle and beyond!!

Mr Muz & DJ Feva (Munchbreak)

This djing and mcing pair make up the hip hop side of the Munchbreak Collective. Tonight they will present a special “history of hiphop” set for our delight.

Of course the Jibbering DJs will be ever present and in full effect spinning choice cuts and blending the finest in hiphop, reggae, funk and much more!!

Details:

Doors: 9pm-2am

Tax: £6 / £5adv from Jibbering or The Ticketsellers

Hope to see y`all there!!

Another barnstormer of a night for you…

Bison are back in Brum!

Last time Bison graced Jibbering with a performance, the dancefloor descended into sheer mayhem… a sea of broken glass, moshers and stage divers greeted this Sheffield based 10 piece beast of a Ska band. Their potent brew of blazing brass, rocking ska riffs and funkadelic nonsense never fail to rock the dance!

Bison will be joined on stage by Soul Syndicate, a Hereford based outfit  fusing hip hop, ragga and dancehall vibes into a killer dancefloor set featuring conscious rap and sweet melodic vocals. There live PAs are becoming highly respected and they have recently secured support slots for Skitz and Million Dan!

In the Courtyard, we will have Funkbox, dropping the best in classic and contemporary funk.  They will be joined by one of the Uks finest funk n hiphop DJs: Tuf Kut.

All in all a killer of line up!

Hare n Hounds: Sat 5th July

Doors: 9-2am

ADV £5 / £4 NUS, DOOR £8 / £7 NUS

Tickets from The Ticket Sellers or  from Jibbering Records, Moseley!

Jibbering Sessions Returned with a Big Bang for 2008!

Hare and Hounds- 2nd Feb 2008

This was a  great night to kick start the year’s program of Jibbering Sessions.  The night was full of heavy bass and broad smiles- nice!

Room 1 Live Dub, Hip Hop and Funk

Love Grocer (live) provided a great set of  rollin dub riddims and hauntingly melodic brass.

Def Tex (live) This 7 piece live hip hop funk monster delivered a stunning, hard hitting and punchy show.

Room 2 Live roots and Jungle PAs

More Rockers Original Jungle experience from Djs Peter Rose and Rob Smith (of Smith and Mighty fame!!) with the odd bit of Dubstep from Rob’s own label, RSD

Friendly Fire B’hams premier roots reggae band launched their debut 12″ entitled “Chunky.”  Live PA featuring the vocal talents of Tha Usual Suspec, Pablo Rider and Ras T Weed.

Jibbering’s 7th Birthday at the Hare and Hounds, King’s Heath.

• The Destroyers
• Quantic (DJ Set)
• Jibbering Sound System
• Different Drummer Sound System

What a night to remember this was and it was also the busiest night that the Hare has ever seen.  I do not really find that hard to believe- it was packed!  Maybe a little too packed and we will watch out for that next time around.

The Destroyers set was as riotous as on ewould expect and Quantic played a storming set of latin, funk and d&b. Thanks so much to all that came out to celebrate our birthday and to all those that helped and performed!

Kidkanevil Live

What a treat it was to have the golden boy of UK Hip Hop to grace Birmingham with his own unique beats, rhymes and samples.

If his debut album “Problems and Solutions ” this boy is going to go far,so keep an eye on him!  Also watch out for the rest of his buddies on Forst Word Records- Leed’s finest label.  There is talk of sorting out a First Word Showcase featuring the Haggis Horns sometime in the new year- so watch this space!

What a lovely way to spend a sunday evening- sipping cold drinks and chilling out to the finest gypsy fiddler The Cross has ever seen. The band loved playing here and were overwhelmed by the rapturous response of the audience. Thanks to all those that showed up- i am sure that you all enjoyed it.  Here’s to more Sunday Jazz at the Cross!

Shambala Reunion

Autumn was drawing in and the hazy daze of summer was wearing off- so what better way to cheer everybody up than to hold a little shindig to remid everybody of the only 3 days of sunshine that we had all summer!!

This was a great night- a fantastic set of rootsical reggae courtesy of I Witness,with DJ Rubbish mashing it up with bad ass jungle and  DJs Mr Muz, Guy C and Tangawizi setting the scene.

Thanks to all those that played and those that danced!

Roll on Shambala 2008!!