The joyful collective celebrate their new album release with two sets across the evening, plus support from Brighton-based Liz Ikamba and a latenight DJ set from Bushbby.
ME AND MY FRIENDS
Sun-drenched music for the soul.
Me and My Friends play soulful, poignant music with a beat: a unique blend of Afrobeat grooves with deliciously rich harmonies, languidly graceful cello and playfully funky clarinet, all tied together by the hauntingly elegant voice of singer and guitarist Nick Rasle.
Over the past decade Me and My Friends have carved out their very own niche of sun-drenched music for the soul. Growing from the basements of Leeds to tours across Europe, along the way they have gained support from the likes of Gilles Peterson, FiP, Soundway Records, Nubiyan Twist and Quantic. Their whirlwind live shows are dedicated to creating the warmth and connection that all humans crave, with a penchant for tearing up their own tracks with explosive dynamism and spontaneity.
New album Before I Saw The Sea represents an audacious development in the band’s signature sound. Intimate and reflective, it is an immersive set of nighttime meditations conceived during lockdown, its laidback grooves combining bittersweet nostalgia with hypnotic rhythmic interplay. This is a record made to accompany journeys when none could be made, as we awaited the parting of the stormy clouds.
“A sublime fusion that combines pastoral dreaminess with the heat of highlife and Afrobeat sounds”
“An amazing live show!” Will Holland (Quantic).
“A life-affirming sound”, Loose Ends, BBC Radio 4.
“I’m loving this!” Steve Lamacq, BBC Radio 6
“They’ve got joy written through them, like a stick of Blackpool rock!” Alex Lester, BBC Radio 2.
LIZ IKAMBA
Brighton-based singer and multi-instrumentalist Liz Ikamba cross-pollinates musical and cultural influences to create her own brand of Afro-soul-folk. Fusing inspiration from styles including Congo village roots, jazz, reggae and hip hop, her songs speak from her experience as a woman of dual Congolese (DRC) and British heritage living in the UK.
Soul-infused harmonies, loop pedal improvisations, groove-driven riffs and beats are blended to create an intimate kind of folk music, where audience are invited to be part and parcel of the show, with catchy lyrical hooks in both English and Lingala.
This year she teams up with Congolese Afro-Jazz outfit Matondology to produce her upcoming EP 'Mama'. Together they create a mesmerising sound, blending the best of African dance music with unforgettable rhythms and riffs.
On the night Liz will perform with her band, and her relaxed style and infectious warmth on stage give a sense of ease and joy. It's an unforgettable experience that is intimate, connective and spontaneous, as well as uplifting and soothing.
BUSHBBY
Bushbby is a London born and based Colombian DJ, artist, producer and event promoter who explores the sounds and roots of Latin American music.
Since 2019, she has quickly established herself as one of London’s Latin music scene’s torchbearers, showcasing an explosive blend of Dancehall, Reggaeton, Cumbia, Champeta and Dembow, inspired by the Colombian-Caribbean and UK sound systems she grew up around.
Dedicated to nurturing the Latinx scene, she founded Candela Viva and Epoka, platforms that celebrate the culture’s roots, music, and people through regular events.
TIMES
2000 Doors open
2100 Me and My Friends ('Before I Saw The Sea' set)
2230 Liz Ikamba
0000 Me and My Friends (party set)
0100 DJ
Tickets only valid before 2300