Image courtesy BBC

It’s only up for six more days, but don’t miss this one: Thom Yorke co-hosted a radio show with Kspace pal Gilles Peterson on the BBC, and it is incredible! Peterson and the Radiohead major domo go head to head, following each other with tracks that inspire them, and it’s an absolutely thrilling ride! Listening to Yorke’s selections, the listener really gets a sense of what thrills him sonically: a real thread emerges that draws a straight line into the disparate influences that go into his sound. Gaining a window into one of today’s most adventurous musical minds is a real gift, and Yorke’s taste is superb: he moves from the German abstract drum and bass of Christoph de Babalon and Madlib and Quasimoto’s fractured hip-hop to the funky krautrock of Can, Blaqstarr’s gritty Baltimore grooves and the digital riddim insanity of South Rakkas Crew. It’s all so good, it makes one think that if that whole Radiohead thing doesn’t work out, Yorke might have a future as a radio DJ!

Sexy, jazzy, and above all, magical – that describes BLACKMAGIC, the latest podcast from Gilles Peterson, available completely exclusively on KSPACE. In its nearly half-hour of non-stop music, BLACKMAGIC focuses on one of Gilles’ greatest discoveries – 21^st century crooner José James and his second album of the same title, along with samplings of his 2008 debut The Dreamer and other influences that make up his sound.

Click here to view the embedded video.

James blends disparate yet related flavors – hip-hop, downtempo, jazz, even hip-hop – into one focused, artful whole. First track “The Dreamer” features cymbal rides that shimmer like rainfall under trumpets that recall Miles Davis’ soundtrack to Elevator of the Gallows.  “Save Your Love For Me,” meanwhile, switches up the game with a drum groove that evokes J. Dilla, its inherent funkiness belying the deeply romantic vocal from James. Indeed, James’ voice holds mystery, emotion, amour, and elasticity – sometimes he recalls the breathy sparkle of Chet Baker, sometimes the passion of Stevie Wonder, at others his voice echoes the tones of his idol John Coltrane, but James always sounds like himself. Hearing him, it’s no wonder that international artists as diverse as Basement Jaxx, Flying Lotus, Nicola Conte and Moodyman all have collaborated or co-produced with James, or that The Dreamer reached #21 on JazzTimes’ top 50 albums of 2008 chart. Expect Blackmagic – to be released worldwide on January 24^th – to follow in those velvet footsteps…

Tracklisting:

1. Jose James – ‘THE DREAMER’
2. Jose James – ‘SAVE YOUR LOVE FOR ME’
3. Vijay Iyer Trio – ‘Mystic Brew’ (Trixation Version)
4. Jose James – ‘TOUCH’
5. Jose James – ‘BLACKMAGIC’ (Untold Remix)
6. Jose James – ‘WARRIOR’
7. Jose James – ‘DETROIT LOVE LETTER’

Click here to view the embedded video.

I have to say this saturday just gone was primed for some interesting TV – David Haye ticks all the boxes with his age, look and chat – Valuev was there for the taking in a way – he seemed too mellow for the fight – a man mountain at 7 foot 2 who may just have been thinking that it was time for his poetry writing and animal bonding to take priority. in fact I couldn’t help but feel tinges of sadness when watching the celebrations at the end of the fight – with Valuev just standing quietly and alone in the background. it was an odd occasion all round really – first of all the location, Nuremberg – why? not exactly Las vegas but apparently the Russian has been more at home in germany during his champions reign – the actual stadium they fought was built on top of the actual place the infamous nazi Nuremberg rallies took place – a strange choice considering it was the eve of remembrance Sunday, but also Valuev’s entrance to  really bad live rock  would have disturbed anyone, fortunately not Haye who was still lip sinking the words to ‘ain’t no stopping us now’ through his iPod.

Now to the fight – how does a speedy Millwall fan combat a man 7 stones heavier and a full head taller? by ducking and diving and just being damn quick – this wasn’t helped by the fact that Haye apparently broke his right hand in the third round leading to extra emphasis from his left and more patience needed to wait till the very last round before unleashing a few combinations that almost had the giant Russian on the floor.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I’m sure it was this final round that swung the judges votes – it had been a pretty even until then. so there you have it – a new champion of the world in the blue ribbon weight category – Haye will go far. his trainer’s chilled chat in between the rounds was inspired and Klitschko better be ready.

Don King’s found his new payday !!!

All the live events have a 9 piece Havana Cultura band direct from Cuba rippin it up, featuring special guests Danay, the 24 year old new discovery (think Badu and Jill Scott) and Ogguere, the statesmen of Cuban rap + DJ’s Gilles Peterson himself hosting and spinning with the Sofrito crew (known for their legendary Tropical London warehouse parties) DJ Simbad, Lubi, Vince Vella (the album’s co-producers) and the mighty Radio Nova crew in Paris.

13th November ‘09 @ Wardrobe // Leeds // Click HERE for tickets
19th November ‘09 @ Mint Lounge // Manchester // Click HERE for tickets
20th November ‘09 @ 29 New Inn Yard // London // Click HERE for tickets
26th November ‘09 @ L’Elysee Montmartre // Paris // Click HERE for info

We’re also delighted to be offering up a chance to WIN a pair of tickets for the London show on 20 Nov by simply entering with the answer to one Cuban legend who has recorded at the Egrem studios

Be sure also to check all things Havana Cultura and our Gilles Peterson Sportswide column

It’s just out as of last week by the publishing arm of the mighty Soul Jazz record label, Freedom, Rhythm & Sound… documents the fact that not only were jazz artists of this moment shattering preconceptions about what music can be, they were also liberating design to be equally as innovative. This is the art of independence, depicting what happened when the genre-exploding sounds of the likes of Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Don Cherry, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Sun Ra, Gil Scott-Heron and The Last Poets gained their visual correlative in the indelible, challenging images that accompanied their music. Once again, Peterson digs in the crates so we don’t have to – per usual, when he sheds light on the past, we learn something crucial about where we’re at today. So check out these colorful, bold statements – it’s music for your eyes, indeed  (the book itself shows over 200 covers, many extremely rare to find !)

Listen here below to Gilles’ podcast with Stuart Baker or download your own copy

Freedom, Rhythm & Sound – Revolutionary Jazz Original Cover Art 1965-83
The book out now on SJR Publishing

Freedom, Rhythm and Sound ALBUM — Revolutionary Jazz and the Civil Rights Movement 1963-82
The 23 track double album out now on Soul Jazz Records

Gilles Peterson presents Havana Cultura – New Cuba Sound double 28 track album ft Danay, Roberto Fonseca, Obsesion, Freehole Negro and many more out Oct 29 on Brownswood Recordings.

Been rummaging around a lot recently as I’m compiling a new compilation for BBE celebrating 10 years of Worldwide. Consequently, there’s a bunch of of random ones in here from days gone by as well as a couple of new gems from Dam Funk and Zed Bias. Had to dig out one of my favourite Bugge Wesseltoft grooves after his performance at Ronnie Scott’s in London with Henrik Schwarz a few weeks ago. I’m also finding the UK Funky sound really intriguing right now  – part-Afro, part-MAW, part-grime – and it’s making me go back and revisit some older joints. Masters At Work remixing Grooverider – what a tune ! And Afronaught rerubbing Alison David – Wow ! Then it’s into some deeper,  four-to-the-floor business, topped off with an underground classic from Classen Collective. Enjoy ! GP

1. Marvin vs. Waajeed & The Jazz Kats – ‘I Want You’
2. Carl Carlton – ‘Smokin Room’
3. The Bamboos Feat. Alice Russell – ‘Bring It Home’
4. DJ Krush – ‘Big City Lover’
5. Nightmares On Wax – ‘Easi Jimi’
6. Dam Funk – ‘10 West’
7. Bugge Wesseltoft – ‘Change’
8. Ralfi Pagan – ‘I Didn’t Want To Have To Do It’ (4hero Bossa Reprise)
9. Zed Bias – ‘To The Leff’
10. Grooverider – ‘Rainbows Of Colour’ (MAW Dub)
11. Nu Birth – ‘Anytime’
12. Alison David – ‘Dreams Come True’ (Afronaught Remix)
13. Ben Westbeech – ‘Hang Around’ (Karizma’s Kaytronic Dub)
14. Swayzak vs. Theorem – ‘Devil of Rotations’
15. Classen Collective – Close To Greatness (Deep Joy Mix)

As much as FIFA do their utmost to protect the superpowers its good to see that a Switzerland or a Slovenia can still find a route to the biggest single sporting event on the planet, I get depressed if there isn’t a super tournament some summers, the Olympics, European football champs and World Cup take up 3 out of 4 summers but I’m sorry,as much asI love them, the world athletics just aren’t strong enough on their own for me to avoid a dose of sporting prozac.

Looking elsewhere in the World Cup qualifications there’s a possible big story in South America where Argentina find themselves in a perilous place – the game against Peru on Saturday is a must win for Diego Maradona and in Africa, Nigeria look lost. meanwhile the USA keep proving that football isn’t just a girls game by looking home and dry in the ’safer’ central American qualifying zone – I’ll miss Bruce Arena on the touchline in Johannesburg though!

On a slightly obscure one I have to admit to having checked a few of the under 20 World Cup matches in Egypt right now – I know, I’m sure there are other things I could be doing with my time but  there you go! and even though most of the European teams have sent their second or third string sides (due to most clubs not letting their quality youth out during the season) its Ghana that look hot to win the tournament – watch them!

but to finish off this blog, if you’re thinking of moving to a new land in the future and want to learn a new language then there’s only one choice – Brazil – wow! they’ve got the World Cup after South Africa and the Olympics after – don’t know about you but Rio seems like a good place to invest right now!

Well well, kicking off with a little Slum Village double – check the remix from Alex B! A little Dilla-esque joint from my new ‘Havana Cultura’ album courtesy of rap duo Obsesion with something sweet from Owusu & Hannibal to follow. Digging deep for the 4hero remix by Hefner, something a bit special from Swell Session and Mark de Clive-Lowe featuring the gorgeous vocals of Anni Elif, and a little reminder of how good Portishead were too – those drums!! Martyn, Ramadanman (aka Pearson Sound) and Pangaea have all consistently delivered the goods for me this year, but what about the forerunners – Phuturistix with a stone cold 2-step classic and a little forgotten nugget from Shur-I-Kan – sounding fresher than ever today! Oh and some kid called Joy Orbison who’s straight killing it right now – huge tune for me alongside ‘Hyph Mngo’. Did I forget anyone? Oh only a cheeky session from the mighty Henrik, Kuniyuki and Yoshihiro rounding things off in some style. There you go then. Some old gems that I’d forgotten about and some new cats bringing that Detroit, funky, Afro, dubstep fusion. All killer, no filler! You know how I do.

Recent other Exclusive 66 Mixes can also be found in the Jukebox from Lefto and Gilles with more to come for Toshio Matsuura, Simbad, the BPM.

enjoy

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

After almost a year in the planning, Gilles’ whirlwind trip in Havana to make a record (or 2) at the legendary Egrem studios (Buena Vista Social Club and many many more) collaborating with top Cuban pianist Roberto Fonseca and Vince Vella has resulted in 28 tracks with 20 artists over 2 albums – choc full with the new recordings of classics, future classics and some stellar choices of Cuban versions of Fela’s Roforofo Fight and dancefloor sizzler Chekere Son for example, plus an album compiled from GP faves new and old.

Gilles ever the master Worldwide talent spotter brings us the likes of a now newly discovered dynamo vocalist D’nay singing on record for the first time (think Jill Scott Gilles says),  and Doble Filo,  as well as international award winning artists such as rapper Kumar and pianist Roberto Fonseca himself.

Check out our Havana Cultura Photo Album here and experience a little behind the scenes as shot by photographers Youri Lenquette and Vincent Ferrane.

“Gilles Peterson Presents Havana Cultura – New Cuba Sound” double cd will be available worldwide from 29 October on Brownswood Recordings featuring Gilles Peterson, Roberto Fonseca, Kumar, Gente de Zona, Francis del Rio, Doble Filo, Obsesion, Ogguere, Los Adeanos, Wichy de Vedado, Free Hole Negro, Telmary, Cubanito 20.02, Harold Lopez-Nussa, Descemer Bueno & Kelvis Ocohoa, Yusa, Vince Vella, Mayra Caridad Valdes

Stay tuned here for a chance to win your own copy of this gem ! For a dynamic journey through Havana Cultura check the site, designed to give artists in Havana a global voice.

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“….. this may have been the best week of my sporting year watching from the sofa !! being a record breaking fan of Athletics getting both morning and evening doses in front of the telly has simply been too much sugar – and with the final (and crucial deciding) final test of the Ashes taking place down the road from me at the Oval here in London … AND the start of both the Premiership and the Champions League (preliminary round), then how could anyone expect me to do any work at all … it’s impossible

I just about wiggled out of my seat and got a radio show or 2 together, but apart from that all life in my house has centred around a 2 metre square area around the TV – luckily I stocked up on fresh salads and canned sardines, and luckily my family’s been away, far away in Japan, allowing me to stew and ponder on the stats coming at me from Berlin, Glasgow and South London – media wise its been a clash of wifi, BBC 5live sports extra and BBC HD versus Eurosport HD

- but I have to say that at the end of the day I get major withdrawal symptoms if I have to endure a big tournament without the wisdom and class of BBC sport – they just know how to do these things … of course one has to try best to avoid  Richard Keys on Sky but apart from that most pundits and presenters do a fine job here in the UK – but you have to say even I would have managed to spread some enthusiasm about Usain Bolt these last 5 days or so – the man is a miracle – and I can’t believe his feat with ever be equalled – to be olympic and world champion in both 100 and 200 metres whist breaking the world record in each final won’t ever happen again – unless of course its by him…we’ll see!

Thumbs up to Usin Bolt and his spectacular world records !

I get my biggest buzz from seeing the athletes being interviewed afterwards…they’re so different from regular over trained sports people – they don’t have the nonchalant attitude of footballers or well paid sports stars – they still sound young and excited most of the time. I fell in love with Jessica Ennis this week – so cool and so fit !  and when she described her nightmare injury plagued last 12 months in that Brummy accent you couldn’t  help from getting all tearful - that’s the thing I get more from athletics than any other sport – I get so emotional – even the raising up of the Slovakian flag gets me all wobbly with pride.

My hero of the week though was the British 110 hurdler William Sharman - he only just made the GB squad but managed to get to 4th place in the final, breaking his PB on the way – but it wasn’t necessarily his running that got me, it was his post race interviews – he just took the mic and gave us these brilliant 3 minute freeflowing rants about his life and thoughts – I was desperate for him to get through each round just to be assured of the next Sharman saga! the guy’s a natural and MUST be monitered! try and check him on youtube…

wish these world champs happened more often but then again only 3 years to the Olympics here in Londinium ….. can’t wait!

meanwhile in sunny old England Mark Hughes and City are the ones free to spend spend spend this year … at least it’s not our neighbors from south London and at least City are winding up Alex Ferguson with posters of Carlos Tevez in blue and the strapline ‘welcome to Manchester!!! Mark Hughes has actually assembled a pretty good squad so far but I still think he’ll find it hard breaking into the top 4 – you never know though …

I’m pretty pleased as a gooner – I mean 25 million for Adebayor is good business – good riddance is what I say – to be honest I’d rather be mid table than cheer people like him on – that’s why Wenger will always have my support – he doesn’t tolerate assholes and they’re asshole agents – bring on the youth players is what I say!! watch out for Wilshire this season…as long as we don’t lose Fabregas its all good at the Emirates – Toure can go if he wants – he’ll get injured in the Africa Nations anyway so we might as well get 10 or 12 million for him now – anyhow Thomas Vermaelen looks a good buy and Johan Djourou is coming into his prime – I’d say all we need is someone fresh in the middle to boost and support Denilson and Cesc and maybe another full back, but if we can avoid heavy injuries and can rely on the likes of Rosicky and Eduardo we’ve got an outside chance of doing something this season coming. I know everyone’s putting Arsenal down but let me recommend a bet on them at 9/1 to pick up the  crown next May !

I don’t often bet but this year could be the turning point for Arsene’s men – I’ve got a sneaky feeling that the league is coming to Arsenal this year with or without Viera !

so the thought of catching anywhere showing the second day of the second test at Lords is the digital version of finding a needle in a haystack – I’ve got my computer though and will have to stay updated via Five Live sports extra. It’s also the second day at the British Open golf where 2 oldies are showing themselves up a bit – Sandy Lyle aged 50 something and Colin Montgomery (not much younger)…its all about captaining the Rider Cup team and throwing balls too far forward, ie cheating! just funny to listen to 2 highly respected old pros acting like spoilt kids!

Sandy Lyle - competing in the British Open

Similar runnings in the cycling where Marc Cavendish who keeps winning the sprints is really beginning to get up the nose of the French organizers – l’equipe’s now got in the act accusing Cavendish of dissing France at the airport !!! love that pointless stuff – I suppose they need to keep those column inches filled while the football’s still in pre season.

but its the cricket and the Ashes that’s got me the most right now. 5 days of patience, drama, weather changes, psychology, history and a bit of sport – I’ve written about this before but when it comes to poetry in sport it has to be 5 day tests. England looked like they were gonna make Australia look like England usually do after the first 2 sessions – Strauss and Cook putting on almost 200 for no wicket but then the bails started tumbling. England have a genuine chance of regaining the Ashes this year. It’s the poorest Oz team that I’ve seen for a long while, but the 3 Lions can’t keep throwing away the kind of openings they had yesterday.  Listen, if you have a few hours go find a screen and sit yourself in front of the cricket – you may very likely be seduced by a game that goes against every other lowest common denominator sport.

that’s it until next time and for my GP Worldwide runnings check here

GP back from Wide Style in Paris, via Tour de France and back to fitness !

One day I’d love to follow the Tour de France on my 12 gear racer! you know, just after the madness following the Peleton typhoon that just flattened a quaint Normandy village – out of the dust I appear desperately trying to stay within the whoosh! yeh, even at almost 45 I have dreams of sporting prowess! it’ll prob. never happen of course as I  chose a slightly different trajectory to get my kicks but at least I should try and keep reasonably fit…

it all went wrong around the time of my Australia tour at the beginning of the year. I’d spent the previous 6 months kicking the nicotine and running around the Emirates a few times a day – in fact I was comfortably knocking out 10ks every couple – really beginning to buzz – feeling new, fresh, revitalized – music sounding great, sex was better and life was altogether on a new level – but then it came… the dreaded thigh strain! ok, 2 weeks off maybe…3? so 2 months later and by the time I’d resoled, fixed up and masseured myself back to the clockwatch, I’d suffered a Christmas DJ season, smoked a few fags and was well on my way to falling back down that slippery slope to denial, paranoia and broken promises … and here I am 7 months later coming back from a Paris gig feeling like I have on too many previous occasions – dissapointed! I’ll surely get it together again as I’m off to Corsica in a couple of weeks for a proper chill out and no DJ traps.. but maybe I should start now rather than pushing it back – I always do that
…I should remember Martin Luther King when he said ‘tomorrow is today…’ in fact switching the onus from DJ to sportsman !

I get a feeling that if Bradley Wiggins, (the British cyclist pictured above, currently in 5th place in le tour) was a DJ he’d be a bit like me – I know he loves his more radical tunes and his love for a ’shandy!’ I hope he proves the French cycling hierarchy wrong and gets a shot at the yellow jersey – it looks a long shot as Cantador will probably win it now, but you never know Bradley may break the rules and surprise a few…I’d love that!

Another sportsman who’d be comfortable in my world I think is footballer John Hartson.

John Hartson undergoes a vey touch new challenge - our wishes are with you !

He joined Arsenal from Luton as a 19 year old, and even though he never quite got the breaks under Arsene Wenger, he’s always been a well respected ’skillful but hard and aggressive number 10′ – he didn’t quite fit the classic Wenger profile but I can assure you that all true Gooner fans loved him – he went on to play with passion for clubs like Celtic and West Ham and, after having to retire early from injury has always been worth checking in his pundit role – a loveable Welshman with whom a few pints would be a few hours well spent I’d guess.so it was really sad to hear the news yesterday that he’s developed brain cancer – my thoughts go out to him – he’s still very young so I hope his fighting qualities won’t desert him in his most important match ever…

yeh, ‘tomorrow sure is today’ ….. until the next and more and upbeat Sportswide

Tabu Zombie and Moto take it to new heights. Photo by Jeremy Boxer

Some of it may be that it’s a London crowd who think they know what to expect by now and part that Koko’s become an excellent music venue but clearly the Pimps love to play as much and as hard as possible with Shacho agitator at the helm causin’ ruckus with the mighty powerhouse Midorin exploding right back with Akita bass maestro, Tabu Zombie and Motohari’s horn fury and Josei keyin’ it perfectly in sync right back and beyond !

Pimps up up 'n way up. Pic by Jeremy Boxer

Props to Toshio Matsuura for warmin things up nice like a UFO and GP and the Brownswood crew for another rockin’ WW10 celebration, well fit to follow on from recent Q-Tip and Mulatu and Heliocentrics scorchers, And never forgetting all of you in the crowd/s for the support !

Now me, i’m the lucky lucky fellow tonight who gets still some more Death Jazz tonight in Rotterdam when the Pimps will no doubt take North Sea Jazz by storm together with Shuya Okino’s Kyoto Jazz Massive live and Toshio Matsuura DJ set.

Click here for the Exclusive photo Gallery from our lens man Yev Kazannik who was up close last night.

mighty powerhouse Midorin. Pic by Jeremy Boxer

Jimi Tenor meets Fela Kuti at Theatre de la Mer. Photo by Alex Stevenson

Next up rolling through strong and deep is the Sun Ra of modern dance music Jimi Tenor with his Kabu Kabu band jumping straight in with a Fela Kuti / Tony Allen back beat and the dance area fills up immediately all the way through a scorching afro journey until Jimi comes back round and encores out with his classics ‘ Can’t Stay With you Baby’ and cosmic ‘Beyond the Stars’. Totally nailed it and once again showing the magnificence of the magical ancient venue overlooking the ocean.

Laurent Garnier live band set at the Lighthouse/ Photo by Alex Stevenson

Wanting more, we head down to the lighthouse which served us seriously well last night for a highly anticipated live set by Laurent Garnier and DJ set by Alex Barck of Jazzanova. To a capacity crowd on this full moon Saturday night, Alex takes to the decks for a deep, soulful and seductive set continuing the evening’s foreplay and onwards towards hopeful climax by French techno house master whom the crowd have not really seen perform his live set. Tense build up back stage with some tech issues but Gilles keeps the flow on the mic preparing his WF crowd for it all and Laurent dives in as if deep in his favorite video game and car chases through his history from F.Comm jazzier days to his present full on sound that the crowd adore !

It’s been a fantastic night and in saving a little energy for the last days friends and family beach party marathon we head on up the hill to savor it all – 3 for 3 so far !

Day 3 Video by Lefto

Click here to view the embedded video.

Rain cannot stop this ! Dorian Concept bounces undercover

First off last night was the start of the live events at the truly magnificent Theatre de la Mer where Soil & “PIMP” Sessions once again absolutely destroyed it ! they just get better and better and instantly convert any audience to their Death Jazz musical assault rightfuly so with glowing kicks & outfits to match. Add to that Elan Mehler’s sublime gem of a set with vocalist and new collaborator Adam McBride-Smith and guests Midorin & Akita of the PIMPS + Paris’s Sebastien Schuller lived up to my prediction with his Radiohead inspired sound satisfying his fans and new converts alike !

Sebastien Schuller at Theatre de la Mer. Pic by Alex Stevenson

A full house of us then moved down waterside to the Lighthouse dancefloor where Dorian Concept brought forth his sexy, deep and ever so bouncy live beats – lightning zigzagged across the Sete skies and down it came in big fat drops ! Nothing could stop this now energized and well up for it lot of course, filled with a huge Brit crew this year, and Dorian valiantly boomed his beats through it to a soaked but ecstatic crowd. Slight electrical soaking stops play for a few and Rotterdam via DC’s Martyn jumps on to a full on hands in the air set laying a deep foundation for Detroit’s master Carl Craig to drop a solid, soulful, sexy, house tinged stomper for 3 hours

Carl Craig slide in from Martyn. Pic by Alex Stevenson

- a night of legend indeed ! Rain had no chance of stoppin’ play – everyone delivered and then some and mad respect to Gilles and the Freshly Cut crew for taking this year to a whole new level !

Tonight’s runnings look set to go tete a tete against last night’s winner with live sets from Mocky, Jimi Tenor, Laurent Garnier and DJ sets by the bPM (stage dancer of the year) and Alex of Jazzanova – you know there’s more so stay well tuned in here

Elan Mehler w/Adam McBride-Smith & PIMPS

Lefto’s Day 2 video roundup

Click here to view the embedded video.

Diplo opens up - photo by Alex Stevenson

Yeah it may have been the wantin’ the full-on bass after following Theo Parrish’s deep soulful, classic filled Detroit set which sadly suffered from a defecto mixer problem BUT i predict it’s just cause it was Diplo living up to his deserved rep ! and killin’ it to give Day 1 a proper proper Worldwide send-off

London girls loving Theo Parrish - photo by ALex Stevenson

Other highlights you ask ? well GP shouting out the multi-countried crowd and the ocean population was one – the stars still shining bright just before sun-up – Diplo being asked what’s next in onstage interview and he answers breakfast – the adoring and adorable London girls up front for Theo’s set – the fresh tuna straight out the Sete waters and onto the grill – and um the hillside villa we’re staying in

Photo by Alex Stevenson

Well looking forward to Day 2’s live sets at the sublime Theater de la Mer (you guessed it overlooking the ocean) from Elan Mehler, newbie (to me at least) Sebastien Shuller and the mighty Soil & “PIMP” Sessions plus dancefloor sets from wunderkind Dorian Concept, Martyn and Carl Craig – zut alors it’s only day 2 !

Worldwide traveller and stellar documentar Lefto was up all night giving us his Day 1 vid – check it and check Lefto DJ’ing on the beach this Sunday

Click here to view the embedded video.

More WF blogs at Brownswood site