One night at Hootananny Brixton, 3 huge bands.

DON’T PROBLEM

Don’t Problem announce their arrival with 6-tracks of brassy-as-fuck, heavy funk grooves from South London. Some of the capital’s finest horn blowers unite on a deep and dastardly debut that takes the pulse of a city whirling in jazz trance into new realms of sonic consciousness. While tracks like ‘Jacques’ and ‘Judo Chop’ pack a festival punch, the street-wise arrangements of ‘Wavy’ and ‘Rangoon’ elevate DP EP above your dirge-like colliery band fare. Instead, fans of The Comet Is Coming, or Malcolm Catto’s psych-outfit Heliocentrics should take note. Just don’t call them a brass band!

OTTO & THE MUTAPA CALLING

Born and bred in Botswana, Otto started playing the marimba at the age of 11. He continued to play marimba music throughout his secondary school years, studying under marimba pioneer and composer, Alport Mhlanga. He played in the school band until he left Botswana in 2003, having performed widely in Botswana and South Africa.

After relocating to Sweden, Otto joined Zimba Marimba Band, a high energy marimba band specialising in the music, dance and traditions of the Shona people of Zimbabwe. With Zimba, through the great initiative of Peta Axelsson, Otto got to delve deeply into the music of Zimbabwe; learning from and performing with an array of internationally acclaimed musicians; working on marimba, mbira, dance and drumming, with performances in and around Scandinavia, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe and the United States of America. Highlights include performances for the King and Queen of Sweden in 2003, ZimFest in the USA in 2004, and being specially invited to perform at HIFA - Harare International Festival of the Arts - in 2007.

Otto moved to London in 2010 after graduating, and played with acts and artists including Flame Lily Arts, Afriquoi and Tsungai Tsikirai. In 2016, Otto quit his job as a project manager to pursue a full time career in music. He formed African Marimba Music Ltd which specialises in marimba music workshops and performances, with a focus on the traditions of southern Africa. 

With almost 20 years of experience, and a need for his own voice, Otto decided to put together a band, Otto & The Mutapa Calling, to perform a collection of his own original material as well as arrangements of the folk songs he grew up listening to and playing.

MERAKI

Meraki is a new project bringing their unique sound to the London scene. The instrumental fusion band blends influences from Neo-soul to Jazz and Funk.

TICKETS

Free before 9pm, £5 thereafter