This weekend 31 July to Aug 2, turns Amsterdam into a 3 Day musical fiesta and welcomes many of our ‘friends and family’ to the canals and parks ! Yeah c’mon it’s not just for our obvious extra thoughtful smokey ‘hospitality’ but also cause it’s a music and culture lovin’ country ! To match that, there’s a thriving and exportable local scene and this 3 dayer looks set to show just that. What makes this weekend extra ‘gezellig’ is the diversity of the locations as well as the music …..

and the hits keep on comin’ ! In anticipation of the long awaited London performance of Q-Tip and full live band on 14 March at the Roundhouse, we are very happy to link you to the free download of the super dope J.Period mixtape aptly titled ‘The [Abstract] Best with Tip Tip and [...]

Alors and in time for an extra special Xmas treat – the Deviation Sessions podcasts are up and believe us they are memorable whether you were there or not. Sessions by Wajeed, Rich Medina, Morgan Zarate, Eric Lau – it’s a veritable sonic feast so do dig in !
Plus on this coming Wednesday 3 December [...]

Celebrations the world over continues strong. Southport Weekender starts tonight and I can’t think of a better way to give thanks to such a historic Obama week then with 3 day victory dance party. Europe’s most loved music festival showers 5,000 faithful dance lovers with their favorite top names in soulful dance music (and [...]

Dig for your life! Kon & Amir have made a career shuffling through crates, reading tiny print liner notes and rummaging around garage (aka car boot) sales – just to hold on to their title as the “Kings Of Digging.” Its not all about the notoriety for these fellas, they are first [...]

We’ve got our hands a nice teaser for you. Deviation turns the magic number ONE tonight Weds 1 October with special Exclusive L.A. guest dam funk in the house. Let’s get the bottles popping early, shall we?! Click here for an exclusive dam funk/stones throw podcast. Queues are already forming both online [...]

We’ve got one year to celebrate in a big way! Deviation takes on their first anniversary by creating a funkmosphere inside Gramaphone on Wednesday, October 1st with special guest Cali native dâm-funk. Stones Throw records have declared dâm-funk the official ambassador of Boogie Funk. His LA club night Funkmosphere combines the early [...]

I always seem to get a tingling sensation in my classics when I know another Deviation session is around the corner. Benji B and his mighty fine get along gang are back to Gramaphone on August 6 with special guest Morgan Zarate with supreme vocalist Vula. Vula volie a microphone?! Basement Jaxx vocal beauty [...]

The locks are off! Not only has Rich Medina cut off his trademark dreadlocks but he’s also slicing his crate of Philly funk meets hip hop meets afrobeat wide open for the next installation of Benji B’s Deviation on Wednesday, July 2nd. Let me tell you how much juice Little Ricky has these days. [...]

Phil Asher stands on the word! That word happens to be spelled v-i-t-
a-l-i-t-y. His ability to continue to purposefully grow in and out of 
the house, broken beat, disco funk sector without being categorize as 
that one style dj or producer is what makes his productions so 
exuberant. “Yeah that’s how he works!” [...]

Basements have a tendency to be thought of as places that houses dark 
and murky crowded trunks of junk. But for us these wholly dwellings 
have always held the best in what we consider to be concealed musical 
treasures. Our favorite East London party “Deviation” held at the sub-level spot Gramaphone, confirms the [...]

While Benji B is tanning it up in Miami for Winter Music Conference, 
the rest of us here in “sunny at times ” London are eagerly 
anticipating the next installment of Deviation on April 2nd with very special 
guest djs, Om’mas of Sa-Ra Creative Partners,plus Hudson Mohawke and a live PA from Muhsinah joining Benji [...]

We thought no one could be more excited about the return of Badu then 
we are. Were we wrong! Since last week’s UK release of Erykah Badu’s 
newest phenom album “New Amerykah”, London has developed an enthusiatic 
pandemonium in celebration of the return of Miss Baduizm (just check the myspace hits !) – All with [...]

Since I’ve taken up residency in Shoreditch in London everyone is going on that 
EAST is the new WEST, with weekend outdoor markets and luxury 
boutiques to rival the best of the west end. Its good to know that 
the music is coming east too! One of West London’s panjudrum 
producers, IG [...]

No one really knows how legendary a producer/dj/artist is set out to be at the start. Judging from a listen of Eric Lau’s upcoming debut album ‘New Territories’ (18 March on Ubiquity) you begin to wonder … is this the makings of an epic soul tale ! The fashion in which Eric manipulates his kissable [...]

Benji B is busy seducing the masses down under in New Zealand these couple weeks but thankfully he will be back in time for his Deviation monthly residency in East London on 5 March. You know Benji could easily take the 5 hour session himself but he loves his friends and family in the [...]

Ge-ology has been working with the greatest of r ’n b stars over the years after releasing his untitled instrumental album in 2005. Among others, the New Yorker has provided beats for artists as Bahamadia, Jill Scott and Mos Def. On February 6th, Ge-ology crosses the wobbly blue to visit Benji B and spin some [...]

New York Noise out on Soul Jazz features exclusive and stunning iconic photographs of the New York music and art scene by Paula Court during the 1980s alongside text from some of the most important musicians and artists of the period, including everyone from Andy Warhol, Africa Bambaataa, Martin Rev, Richard Hell, Lou Reed, Keith [...]

Having drafted in Detroit legend Moodymann to round up 2007’s set of Deviation Sessions, Benji B returns to Gramaphone London on Wednesday February 6th for the first of this year’s monthly shindigs. After stunning performances by Skream, Dego, and Flying Lotus, Benji has invited another most respected talent for February’s edition: Ge-Ology (surrounded here by [...]

Get ready for an intimate up close night on the town with Moodymann and resident Benji B @ Gramaphone London on Wednesday 1 December. But first check out last month’s impression starring Dego (4Hero), Flying Lotus (Warp Records) and the man himself: Benji B (BBC1Xtra). With only two editions so far, Deviation is fast becoming [...]