Travelers All Stars debut
One of the best bands I got to know during last few years has finally released a record. Even if we’re only talking about a 45, I still consider it a big event. Energy that this band can put into several minutes tune could be envied by quite a few scene’s veterans with many albums on their accounts.
Los Apartamentos – Water Di Garden
At the very beginning I must confess, that I actually have no clue about musical genre called mento. It doesn’t change the fact that the Los Apartamentos’ debut album is soo good and it raises so much positive emotions in me, that I feel downright obligated to write a few words about it and encourage you to make a closer acquaintance with it.
Riverside Stomp XV
I’ve been at Riverside Stomp Festival only once and it was 12 years ago. That’s where I’ve seen Derrick Morgan for the first time and if only because of that I have very fond memories of this event. Mainz is not very close to Warsaw, so during all those years I haven’t been able to repeat my visit, but every year I observe line-ups offered by the promoters with true pleasure. This time it’s also interesting.
Never Thought – Renaldo Domino, Lone Ranger and xRobBlack
We like this kind of premieres. Polish reggae producer xRobBlack sends his instrumental to an american label Happy As A Lark. Guys from Chicago say they need a strong soul vocal here and they recruit a legendary falsetto of Renaldo Domino for this project. To make things even more fun they add Lone Ranger’s toasting to the set. And that’s how “Never Thought” song and its alternative version „Think Again!” were born.
Daptone Records goes ska!
Yes, you’re seeing this right. Brooklyn based label known for promoting such fantastic performers as Charles Bradley, Sharon Jones or above all The Frightnrs this time decided to bet on the classic 60s ska sound. Since yesterday you can preorder “Lover Like Me” 7″ vinyl by Leon Dinero and The Inversions.
The Aggrolites – Reggae Now!
There aren’t a lot of bands which had such a huge impact on contemporary reggae scene as The Aggrolites. You could say that their 2003 album “Dirty Reggae” was actually a new opening and started a whole wave of bands inspired by dirty funky early reggae sounds. Countless tours all over the world, five next releases and.. 8 years of break. Now they’re back and we’ll be able to judge the quality of this return on June 24th.
North East Ska Jazz Orchestra: Jamaican and Caribbean rhythm mixed with the swing big band style
It was one of the largest teams on stage of Freedom Sounds Festival 2018. The North East Ska Jazz Orchestra consists of up to twenty people! They have been playing together since 2012, and set themselves a goal to rebuild the Italian ska scene. In March they released a new, self-titled album, which I talked about with the bassist of the band, Roberto Amadeo, last year.
40 years of 2 Tone Records on BBC Radio 6
In 1979, Jerry Dammers from The Specials founded 2 Tone Records, the label which name was to become the name of the entire musical genre.
Eastern Standard Time: Ska has never died
Eastern Standard Time’s concert was from the start on my list of “gigs to see” at Freedom Sounds Festival 2019. In the first days of April the Americans released their sixth album, “Time For Change” and I was curious, how the new material will sound live. I took the opportunity to chat with the drummer and band founder, James McDonald and vocalist, I-Peace Unikue.
Top 5 concerts at Freedom Sounds Festival 2019
To say that Freedom Sounds is a great festival is not enough. Before we tell you exactly what happened during the memorable last weekend of April in Cologne, Magdalena prepared her Top 5.