Despite the forecast, the sun, and humans of all ages were out in full effect, which made for a thoroughly lovely afternoon.
It was our second attempt at a family event, since our first collaboration with Dramask last year. This time we got a lot more of our friends involved, and the result was more than inspiring.
Here’s some of the highlights this time in nice easy to digest picture form
Subvert Sounds made for a smooth setup and quality finish
Justin Bond rom Loafers Lounge kicked off the music with his blend sublime sun kissed music.
Pyn from Dramask demonstrated various gum strip and tissue techniques to a queue of potential mask makers.
whilst Jen (not pictured here) hosted another few tables for those that wanted to decorate our card masks.
Robin from Jam Jah was up next supplying his unique blend of roots and reggae.
Olly gave a drum skinning demonstration
Anna gave some juggling workshops
Rohit played some of his beautiful sitar compositions
Daz Dolczech and Anka played an amazing set of acoustic renditions of their own Mama Matrix tracks!
Thanks to everyone that came down, and to our wonderful hosts, Keith and Diane at the Prince.
There are more pictures here, and we have recordings of the Daz and Anka’s set, and various of footage of the workshops, so please check back, or subscribe to the rss or the newsletter on the right.
Finally we’ve moved servers and got this site back up and running! While we are on a nice new shiny server, these internet problems have stopped me from telling you about our next event, which is this saturday!
It’s a different affair, aimed at all ages, and one we hope will make for a glorious relaxed day in the sunshine… (or under a marquee if its raining!!)
flyer by Justin Loafer
On Saturday 24th May, we are offering a free family bank holiday all dayer. This was orinally inspired by the work Dramask do, and some of my human friends who have younger kids, and which often keeps them in instead of out enjoying great music with the rest of us. Its also inspired by the family mask decorating event we held last year in the day before the 2nd party, which was facilitated by Dramask at Epic Skate Park.
This time Dramask is hosting actual mask making workshops, and we’ve have a whole day planned for anyone that fancies some nice time. Olly is coming with an informal demonstration on drum skinning, we have chilled and eclectic djed music from Justin Bond (Loafers Lounge), Robin Friendly Fire (Jam Jah), and our very own Marc Reck (Project X Presents).
We welcome Daz Dolczech and Anka from Mama Matrix, performing 2 sets of acoustic solo stuff, alongside some sitar playing from Rohit, an array of live visuals from Liam Blendstate, and with the sound and lights being expertly handled by Subvert Sounds.
The venue is owned by the lovely couple who hosted Epic Skate Park last year and they have now restored and even improved the Prince, hosting the best beer garden in the locality with marquees, a video screen, and a proper kitchen, which serves all manner of real food (not microwave or typical steak and a pint menu’s either), whilst having 9 real ales to choose from.
All of this had enticed the locals back, and made the place one of the nicest places to relax on a summer day, so if you’re not going away this weekend, we hope you can join us.
P.s For any that fancy dancing afterward, we will be going to the Hare and Hounds for custom made….All in all, it should be a great bank holiday weekend.
To everyone who came to our first birthday bash! We are all quite amazed at the response, and just how much fun it was all weekend long. Here’s a quick rundown of the night for anyone who missed it.
After a relatively easy setup (thanks to the in house engineers, and help from Christy), we welcomed the first guests at 9.01 pm, who received their free cd and choice of kazoo from our delectable door hosts, Pyn and Shelly.
In room 2, Robin from Jam Jah kicked it off with some choice roots and reggae, against a backdrop Keir’s inspired visuals mash ups on a 6ft Plasma Screen, whilst Manic Organic prepared tasters from their menu to serve up to any hungry guests.
In room 1, Mr Elephant mixtapes provided the soundtrack to a late leon setting up, and much creativity, with the mask decorating table which were all feverishly surrounded by 9.30.
By 11.15 both rooms were bustling with birthday merriment, and it was time for our headline band to don the main stage. Mama Matrix once again showing why they are one of the most exciting bands in the city, delivering a blistering set of balkan gypsy jazz. Their performance even grabbing the attention of one of Birmingham’s most respected music promotor’s, and igniting many questions as to where they were from!
While Dj Christy was keeping room two on fire with more reggae and some old jungle, Room 1 saw people don their masks, and raise their kazoos, ready for the midnight mask parade. Marc announced it using his voice changer, (which unfortunatly made the announcement somewhat hard to distinguish!), but nevertheless the tribal sound of 8 of the city’s local percussionists (who had never played together before the night) commanded the focus of the party goers, and led by Issabella and Katie, who were in character as victorian ladies, the midnight mask parade journeyed around the top floor of the venue, before settling in the main room for a percussion jam that got the whole room moving.
Some people joined in on the kazoo, and our professional mask maker followed in hot pursuit, selecting 3 winners and notifying them with specially made golden tickets. Marc announced the winners, (thankfully in his normal voice!), who each won a cuddly version of me, (with the top prize being an addition of a bottle of smirnoff). Marc dropped his first record (Arthur Conley’s sweet soul music), and it was back to more dancing and merriment for the rest of the evening.
A mix of music from the mr elephant radio shows got the crowd nicely loose and ready for some big breaks, and the arrival of Khalgani Belly Dancers on stage raised the heat even more.
Birthday Boy Lopan took over, and kept the crowd rockin, before a back to back finale of huge breaks, that rock tune from Steve, and a couple of drum and bass favourites. The last two tracks were Harry Belafonte’s Daylight Come, and Don’t Worry Be Happy, leaving everyone with warm feelings and positive vibes as they journeyed to the after party at the last ever weekend sessions of the Church Inn.
A truly memorable night, (and a most suitably celebratory weekend!
Dave Piper took some fantastic pictures of the evening, and here’s a little video we hashed together.
I work with a lovely team of people to deliver underground carnival style celebratory events, a big radio show, and some elephant community explorations.
