Arts Deville

Live Session Special featuring Paul Curreri and Benjamin Blower

Shelley — Wed, 12 May 2010 17:34:41 +0000

This week’s show features extracts from the amazing Paul Curreri gig that took place at The Hare and Hounds, Birmingham, Sunday 2 May for the first hour, whilst the 2nd half of the show welcomes Benjamin Blower and The Army Of The Broken Hearted to perform live tracks from his brand new album.

Hailing from Charlottesville, Virginia, Paul Curreri is generally thought of by reviewers, critics and anyone who has seen him live, as a lyrical genius. He received 5 star reviews from Mojo for his album Velvet Rut, on which he played most of the instruments. After a retreat into his home studio following an enforced rest from singing, which saw him produce 8 albums when he had a throat injury, his new album, California, seems set to get similar critical acclaim. One of the bands he produced this year was Coventry/Birmingham based new pop sensation (or so the industry is whispering) Don’t Move!, who have already been on BBC6 twice to do live sessions and are proving popular with their blend of California-style soundscapes with funk, pop and punk americana tinges. To see such an extended transatlantic musical family, created by Curreri’s and Don’t Move’s manager, is positive and inspiring. It’s great to see Coventry-based independent record label, Tin Angel’s passion for music, and knack for putting complimentary but contrasting acts alongside each other whilst defying geographical boundaries! Paul Curreri’s gig was wonderful, and we managed to get a great interview with him, which we’ll play next week. Today’s Sunday City Musicbox features two long segments of his set, with some great little stories about squirrels and karaoke clubs in Hollyhead in between songs.

In the second half of the show we welcome into the studio another lyrical genius, this time from a little closer to home. Benjamin Blower has just released his third album, The Darkness Doesn’t Love You Baby, Come Out While You Can through local independent record label, Zang Productions. This release features the Army Of The Broken Hearted, an extended band that represents the album itself…a set of anthems that defy the consumerism and separation that exists between the artist and the audience. As Benjamin Blower says during the interview featured on the show, “I wanted to make music that was very simple, that anyone could join in with when you play live…we wanna rearrange music altogether.”

This week’s playlist:

1. Today’s Sunday City Musicbox begins with extracts from Paul Curreri’s recent gig at The Hare and Hounds, Birmingham. You can find many of these songs on his new album, California.
2. Beck - High 5 (rock The Catskills)
3. P-Theory - Message of Love- Baroquedub Dance Remix
4. Earl Thomas and The Kings Of Rhythm - Working Together (live version)
5. Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone
6. Sunday City Musicbox then welcomes Benjamin Blower and The Army Of The Broken Hearted into the studio for a chat and to hear some live tracks, complete with Mike Gilbert on accordion and Chris Carter on Bin and Spade. All tracks taken from his new album, The Darkness Doesn’t Love You Baby, Come Out While You Can, released through Zang Productions, a Birmingham independent label, with a range of artists on their roster.

Folk to Funk

Shelley — Sun, 02 May 2010 16:48:34 +0000

Today’s Sunday City Musicbox provides a chilled out soundtrack to get you through a lazy Sunday afternoon, with plenty of Midlands artists in the mix, as well as some great remixes from local producer/promoter Sam Redmore. The usual blend of music you remember, music you’ve forgotten and some music you’ve never heard before.
This week’s playlist:
1. Paul Curreri - The Wasp
2. Lisa Hannigan - Ocean and Rock
3. Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan - Get The Party Started
4. Scott Matthews - Dream Song
5. Emiliana Torrini - Big Jumps
6. Carina Round - Backseat
7. Jo Hamilton - There It Is
8. Lizzy Parks - Soul Bird
9. Soul Jazz Orchestra - Lotus Flower
10. Booker T and The MGs - Melting Pot (Sam Redmore Remix)
11. Gil Scott Heron - Johannesburg
12. Fat Freddy’s Drop - Wandering Eye
13. Johnny Osbourne - No Lollipop So Sweet So
14. Johnny Osbourne - Right, right time.
15. Johnny Osbourne - Fally Lover
16. Marvin Gaye - What’s Going On? (Eddie Scissors Remix)
17. Flight Of The Conchords - Think About It
18. Jimmy Cliff - Trapped
19. Arrested Development - People Everyday
20. A Tribe Called Quest - I Left My Wallet In El Segundo (Remix)
21. Bangers R Mashed - Hammy’s Theme
22. Overproof Soundsystem -Kingstep
23. P-Theory - Kick The Cow (Baroquedub Remix)
24. Sam Redmore Remixes of Alice Russell & Quantic Soul Orchestra
25. Breakestra - Little Miss Funky Sole
26. Lee Dorsey - Everything I Do (Gonna Be Funky)

Today’s Sunday City Musicbox - with special guests Overproof Soundsystem

Shelley — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 19:27:18 +0000

This week’s show has plenty of choice, featuring Malpas, A Boat To Row, Jo Hamilton, Scott Matthews, Sister Henry and The Prescriptions, XOVA, P-Theory and The Destroyers, as well as artists from further afield, some classics alongside exclusives and a chat in the studio with Overproof Soundsystem, ahead of their gig at The Hare and Hounds Saturday 1st May, as part of The Leftfoot 10th Anniversary. As per usual, stuff you already know, stuff you’ve forgotten and stuff you’ve never heard… (press pause for 30 seconds to let it ‘buffer’)

1. CW Stoneking - The Love Me Or Die
(playing in London 1st week of June; only London date for this unusual artist from Oz!)
2. Harry Belafonte - Jump In The Line
3. Destroyers - Utopian Bypass
4. Destroyers - Flight of The Kopanitsas
(playing as part of The International Dance Festival Birmingham in Victoria Square collaborating with dancers and choreographers as part of the Utopia project, a specially commissioned piece for the festival, and is FREE - so check it out 1st-3rd May!)
5. Malpas - Under Her Sails (Sam Redmore remix)
6. Malpas - Where The River Runs
7. Boat To Row - A boat to row, to row to you
8. Megan Henwood - What Elliott Said
9. Jo Hamilton - Pick Me Up
(just came away with 3 Recharged Radio awards inc. Best Single for this track)
10. Goldspot - Clap Clap
11. Goldspot - Inaminamina
12. Cyrus Gabrysch - The Chapel of All Kinds of Things
13. Benjamin Blower - Army of The Broken Hearted (link to video filmed guerrilla-style on the number 50 bus in Moseley - Benjamin Blower will be on Sunday City Musicbox 9th May!)
14. Scott Matthews - Suddenly You Figure Out
15. Soul Jazz Orchestra - track from their new album, Rising Sun; just check it all out!
16. Hypnotic Brass Ensemble - Hypnotic
(Soul Jazz Orchestra AND Hypnotic Brass Ensemble will be playing together in London, Brighton and Bristol this week!!!)
17. P-Theory - You Are The Potter - from their album Chocolate Sock! check out another track and begin delving into their world by clicking here if you like your funk
18. Aretha Franklin - Rocksteady (Alternate Mix)
19. Sister Henry and The Prescriptions - He’s So Fine
(Check out some local gigs if you are around in Birmingham in June!)
20. Sounds Orchestral - Cast Your Fate to the Wind

We also have an interview with esteemed G Corp Birmingham producer, Brian Nordoff (aka Overproof’s Jah Grizzly) who popped by from The Elephant House Studios. We are also joined by Messenger Douglas, who is a vocalist with Overproof, as well as a producer in his right, heading up his own label, Alphamix. We have a chat and play the following tracks:

21. Overproof Soundsystem - Inna Rizzla Dub
22. XOVA - New Revolution
(a new discovery for me, XOVA, pronounced Crossover, are simply excellent live - this track was also produced by G Corp).
23. Bangers R Mashed - Satisfier followed by a cut by Overproof Soundsystem
24. Overproof Sound System - The Model Dub
25. Overproof Soundsystem -Kingstep
26. Messenger Douglas - Acapella

Overproof will be performing a special homecoming gig at The Hare and Hounds, Kings Heath, Birmingham with full visuals from Blendstate’s Liam D’Authrea, as well as Adam Regan, Maxwell 33 and Jam Jah Sound on the decks. You can get tickets from Ticket Sellers now. 0844 870 0000. It will be the first time they have performed on their home turf for several years and if you can’t come along to witness their energy, you can tune in live next Saturday night to Rhubarb Radio and hear the full stream with interviews

from Canada to Brazil via Birmingham - latest radio show

Shelley — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:16:39 +0000

This week’s Sunday City Musicbox kicks off with Canadian group The Soul Jazz Orchestra, who went down a storm for the second year running at The Hare and Hounds a couple of weeks back, as part of Jibbering Presents, with their blend of Funk, Soul, Jazz and Fela Kuti infuenced afrobeat. They will be playing alongside The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, another heavyweight brass based group from across the Atlantic, in Bristol and London very soon, which sounds like a gig not to be missed for anyone who has ever seen either of these bands perform before.

We then continue our New York theme, beginning with an exclusive from Goldspot who have just released a critically acclaimed album and are tipped for big things in 2010. We also highlight new funk band P-Theory, which is made up of original New Jersey P-Funk members as well as a couple of locally based musicians.

Also in the mix this week are Birmingham ska favourites 360 and the Friendly Fire Band, with live extracts from last week’s gig and a special collaboration track written especially for the show.

As if that wasn’t enough, we play the new single from Birmingham heavyweights Overproof Soundsystem ahead of their homecoming gig on May 1st, as part of the 10th anniversary Leftfoot Special.

The show finishes with a very special segment on Capoeira, with an interview and live set from local mestre Mascote from Cordao de Ouro, where we discuss this important part of Brazilian culture and talk about the forthcoming Birmingham International Dance Festival. To find out more information on Cordao de Ouro, click here to visit their website. They will be holding a Batizado (initiation ceremony) which you can come and watch for free in The Friends Institute on Moseley Road on Saturday 24th April from 3pm, as well as an after party at The Cross, Moseley from 8pm, featuring DJs and musicians from all over the world, and Forro (a Brazilian social dance similar to Salsa) workshops in this celebration of all things Brazilian. Entry £5.

FULL PLAYLIST:
1. Soul Jazz Orchestra - from New Double Vinyl album (also available on CD and from itunes)
2. Goldspot - Grocery Store (exclusive)
3. Flight of The Conchords - Hurt Feelings
4. Fun Lovin’ Criminals - King of New York
5. Gnarls Barkley - Going On
6. Deee-Lite - Groove is in The Heart (Meeting The Minds Mix)
7. P-Theory - Everything Passes with Time
8. Lauryn Hill - Conquering Lion from the MTV Unplugged Session in New York
9. Friendly Fire featuring Ross and Paul from 360 live from The Hare and Hounds - Get Away
10. Friendly Fire Band featuring Tomlin Mystic live @ The Hare and Hounds - Dem A Jump
11. 360 live @ The Hare and Hounds - Broken Man
12. Charlie Hunter/Chinna Smith/Ernest Ranglin - Rivers of Babylon
13. Overproof Soundsystem - Jump Up (New Single - Exclusive)
14. Overproof Soundsystem - The Model
15. Dawn Penn - No No No Samba Remix
16.Live interview with local Cordao de Ouro Capoeira group, featuring live music
17. Virginia Rodriguez
18. Messenger Douglas - Staff
19. DJ Chill - Been Around The Block

New York Special on Rhubarb Radio

Shelley — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 18:02:27 +0000

As Sunday City Musicbox has an ever growing listenership based in the Big Apple (and it is the place I’d most like to visit in the world), I decided to pay homage to the wealth of music produced there and take a brief look at some of the city’s greatest artists. As with any show on a major city’s musical influence, I struggled to fit in every artist worthy of inclusion. Look out for more NY greats of the past and present in future shows; two hours is simply not enough time!

If you have problems playing the Rhubarb Radio player…pause or fast forward and rewind to allow it to buffer.

1. Frank Sinatra - New York
2. Cab Calloway - Minnie The Mooch
3. Billie Holiday - That Ole Devil Called Love
4. Miles Davis - Boplicity
5. Ella Fitzgerald - Don’t Fence Me In
6. Dean Martin - Mambo Italian
7. The Drifters - Broadway
8. Ben E. King - Don’t Play That Song (You Lied)
9. The Crystals - He Hit Me (and it felt like a kiss)
10. The Crystals - He’s A Rebel
11. The Ronettes - Be My Baby
12. Joan Baez - I am a Wanderer
13. Simon and Garfunkel - Cecilia
14. Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone
15. Saturday Night, August 14th - Funkadelic
14. Gil Scott Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
15. Bang On A Can - New York Counterpoint -Part 3
16. Talking Heads - Road To Nowhere
14. Lou Reed - Walk on The Wild Side
15. A Tribe Called Quest - Can I Kick It? (Extended Boiler House Mix)
16. Q-Tip - Go Hard
17. Mos Def - Ms Fat Booty
18. Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
19. Jay Z and Alicia keys - Empire State of Mind
20. Patti Smith - Redondo Beach
21. Blondie - Picture This
22. Carly Simon - You’re So Vain
23. Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye
24. John Lennon - Watchin’ The Wheels
25. Hercules and Love Affair - Iris
26. Reni Lane - Place For Us
27. Cat Powers - New York
28. Paloma Faith - New York

From Sam Cooke to Moloko, via some cutting edge Birmingham music and a homage to Motown

Shelley — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 16:46:27 +0000

This week’s show has some soul classics from Sam Cooke to Grady Tate, some 60s ska, mainstream pop, Motown and hip hop. Also in the mix this week are some extracts from the a live Friendly Fire Music Session with Tha Usual Suspec (more widely known as Paradox - see image) , and Benjamin Blower. Here’s the playlist:

1. Sam Cooke - Twistin’ the Night Away
2. Wilson Picket - Soul Man (live recording)
3. Aretha Franklin - Baby I Love You
4. Grady Tate - Don’t Fence me In
5. Harry Belafonte - Jump In The Line
6. Andy Williams - House of Bamboo
7. Harry J Allstars - Liquidator
8. The Slickers - Johnny Too Bad
9. The Mighty Tree featuring Messenger Douglas - Almighty Flood
10. Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
11. The Roots - The Seed
12. One Eye featuring Apache Indian - Trouble in The Dancehall
13. Friendly Fire Band featuring Pablo Rider - Ram Dancehall (live from The Hare and Hounds)
14. Tha Usual Suspec - Raise It Up (live from The Hare and Hounds)
15. Kiril featuring Ras Tweed - Raise Up Your Hand
16. Scott Matthews - Into The Firing Line
17. Jo Hamilton - Winter Is Over
18. Benjamin Blower - Ringing The Bell
19. Beatbullyz
20. 360 - I Ran
21. Misty’s Big Adventure - Home Taping’s Killing Music
22. Minnie Ripperton - When It Comes Down To It
23. The Kinks - Sunny Afternoon
24. Manfred Mann - Pretty Flamingo
25. The Noisettes - 24 Hours
26. Ike and Tina Turner - Somebody Somewhere Needs You
27. Stevie Wonder - I Gave Up Quality For Quantity
28. The Miracles - Hoping The Pause is Helping The Cause
29. Blinky - Can I Get A Witness?
30. Bobby Bland - I’m Too Far Gone To Turn Around
31. Buddy Guy - Early In The Morning
32. Lizzy Parks - Seven Day Fool
33. Moloko - Pure Pleasure Seeker

From Kat Vipers to Van Morrison, via some local reggae and some rare Motown

Shelley — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:03:37 +0000

Today’s show highlights a couple of tracks by Kat Vipers, ahead of her gig at The Hare and Hounds, as well as new talent Josiah Gillespie. Also in the mix today is Overproof Soundsystem and a live track from Fat Freddy’s Drop, before we take a look at some rarities from Motown and finish with a couple of Stax classics and then some Van Morrison, as it is St Patrick’s Day after all!

1. Kat Vipers - Quack Song
2. Kat Vipers - Trojan Horse
3. Josiah Gillespie - from new album
4. Sweet Billy Pilgrim - So It Begins
5. Scott Matthews - Up On The Hill
6. Benjamin Blower - Army Of The Broken Hearted
7. Buck 65 - Square 2
8. Fun Lovin’ Criminals - We Have All The Time In The World
9. Minnie Ripperton - When It Comes Down To It
10. Jimmy Riley - It’s Growing
11. Jimmy Riley -Pull Up Sector
12. Tarrus Riley - She’s Royal
13. Friendly Fire Band - Ram Dancehall (live from The Hare and Hounds)
14. Overproof Soundsystem - Riddim Rider
15. Fat Freddy’s Drop - The Raft (live version)
16. Blinky - Can I Get A Witness
17. Blinky and Edwin Starr - Never Can Give You Up
18. Marv Johnson - SOS Girl in Distress
19. Jr Walker and The Allstars -I’m Doing The Best I Can
20. Carolyn Crawford - Keep Stepping and Never Look Back
21. The Miracles - Hoping The Pause is Helping The Cause
22. Stevie Wonder - I Gave Up Quality For Quantity
23. Debbie Dean - Baby Baby I’m In Love Again
24. The Contours - Jealousy Is Creeping Up On Me
25. Hattie Littles - Love, Heartache and Misery
26. Yvonne Fair - I Can’t Let Him Go
27. Wilson Picket - Ninety Nine and a Half (Just Won’t Do)
28. William Bell - Every Day Will Be Like A Holiday
29. Van Morrison - Ain’t No Sunshine
30. Van Morrison - I’m In Heaven When You Smile

The Harder They Come

Shelley — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:34:25 +0000

In today’s show we play a trilogy from Jimmy Cliff and play some ska from The Pioneers, Desmond Dekker and Fun Boy Three. Some Quantic Soul Orchestra, a funk soul remix by Sam Redmore and a bit of The Mar-Keys is also in this week’s Sunday City Musicbox.

1. Bangers R Mashed - Feel Alright
2. Israelites - Intensified
3. Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come
4. Jimmy Cliff - Sitting Here in Limbo
5. Jimmy Cliff - Miss Jamaica
6. The Pioneers - Long Shot Kick Ye Bucket
7. Boss Beat - Reel Ska
8. Extreme Music - On My Radio
9. Fun Boy Three - The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Assylum
10. One Eye Featuring Apache Indian - Trouble in The Dancehall
11. Mungo’s Hi Fi Featuring Tippa Irie - Ruff Me Tuff
12. Quantic Soul Orchestra - Panama City
13. Jimmy Hendrix meets Gossip - Sam Redmore Mix
14. Otis Redding and Carla Thomas - Tramp
15. The Mar-keys - Last Night
16. Booker T and The MGs - Melting Pot (Sam Redmore Remix)
17. Mix from Maxwell 33
18. Otis Redding - You Left The Water Running
19. Paolo Nutini - Growing Up
20. Nizlopi -
21. Amsterdam Klezmer Band - Terk (Remix)
22. Kiril Featuring Ras Tweed - Raise Up Your Hand
23. Pluto - Man Bitter
24. Vibronics featuring Juggla - Knowledge of Self
25. Tarrus Riley - She’s Royal
26. Peter Spence - Nine To Five
27. The Melodians - Sweet Sensation
28. Toots and The Maytals - Sweet And Dandy
29. Johnny Osbourne - Right, Right Time
30. Messenger Douglas - Staff Dub
31. Bangers R Mashed - A Day In A Merc.

Soul, reggae, jazz and folk for an easy listening Sunday afternoon

Shelley — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 13:41:35 +0000

Today’s show features music from The Black Seeds from NZ, as well as some great atrists from closer to home, including exclusives from Bangers R Mashed, Vibronics featuring Juggla and much more in today’s usual blend of styles. We also play some Bobby McFerrin jazz, folk from local girl Bethan Marshall, Ray Lamontagne and Scott Matthews
and some soul funk from Sister Henry and The Prescriptions and The Diplomats of Solid Sound. Another classic West Midlands music megamix is also on today’s show if you fancy testing your general knowledge.

1. Aretha Franklin - Say A Little Prayer
2. Bangers R Mashed - Afrikan Billie
3. The Black Seeds - Make A Move (Dub)
4. Vibronics featuring Juggla - Knowledge of Self
5. Bob Marley - Talking Blues (live radio version)
6. Bobby McFerrin - Don’t Worry Be Happy
7. Bobby McFerrin and Jack Nicholson - Kolo, Kolo, Kolo
8. Bethan Marshall - Smile For Me
9. Phil King - South For The Winter
10. Ray Lamontagne - Winter Birds
11. Scott Matthews - Fades In Vain
12. Malpas - Under Her Sails (Sam Redmore remix)
13. Sister Henry and The Prescriptions - He’s So Fine
14. The Dimplomats of Solid Sound and The Diplomettes - Trouble me
15. Benjamin Blower - I See Trouble Round The Bend
16. Cat Empire - Days Like These
17. Robin Valk’s megamix of West Midlands classic music; another chance to name that tune!
18. Megamix number 2 - artists I feel Robin left out. Name all 12 West Midlands acts!
19. Carina Round - For Everything a Reason
20. Jo Hamilton - Deeper (Glorious)
21. Friendly Fire Music featuring Ras Tweed - I Am
22. Amsterdam Klezmer Band - Sadagora Hot Dub

Mood music, food music, a few great acts from Bristol and a megamix of West Midlands classics from Robin Valk

Shelley — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 11:59:54 +0000

This week’s show highlights Phantom Limb, Beth Rowley and Phil King, who are three of Bristol’s finest. We also play some ambient beat-driven loveliness from Birmingham’s Ickberg, as well as Automaton, an outfit who have already been compared with DJ Shadow and play live ‘Organic Electronic‘ (see image).
We also play some tracks about food from Messenger Douglas, Lord Cristo and The Carolina Chocolate Drops. Expect some old favourites alongside some cutting edge new releases.

Today’s show also features a megamix of classic West Midlands music from Radio To Go’s Robin Valk. Read more about Robin’s radio experience here, and have a go at naming that tune! There are 24 artists to name, covering some of the best music to come out of the heart of England in the last 43 years. Have fun!

Today’s playlist (allow player to buffer by pressing pause or fast forwarding and then rewinding):
1. Googie Rene - Smokey Joe’s La La
2. Paolo Nutini - High Hopes
3. Beth Rowley - I Shall Be Released
4. Benjamin Blower - Ringing The Bell
5. Carolina Chocolate Drops - Cornbread and Butter Beans
6. Seasick Steve - Diddley Bo
7. The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
8. Phil King - Flowers
9. Phantom Limb - I’ll Have Mercy (live version)
10. Ickberg - Hell Hath No Fury
11. Automaton - Sex, Drugs and Sausage Roll
12. One Giant Leap - Ma Afrika
13. Chicago Afrobeat Project -Fix And Release
14. Lord Cristo - Chicago Food
15. Messenger Douglas - Staff
16. Ska Cubano - Cachita (Remix)
17. Megamix of classic West Midlands music compiled by Robin Valk - name that tune!
18. Bat For Lashes - Sleep Alone
19. Beck - Hell Yes
20. P-Theory - Set You Free
21. Benjamin Blower - Trouble Round The Bend
22. Jo Hamilton - All In Adoration
23. Nizlopi - Dark Sky Tonight
24. Simon Harris - Shark Eyes
25. Malpas - Under Her Sails (Sam Redmore remix)
26. Kidkanevil - When I Dig (Featuring Kissett Asplund and Blu)