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This is the temporary holding site for BritishBlackmusic.com (BBM) and Black Music Congress (BMC)
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| After the revelry of the bank holiday and Carnival, please make time for some reasoning after watching 'Bang! Bang! In Da Manor!', a provoking film on London's guns and drugs scene... Panel and PA feature double UMA 2004-nominated Harlesden rapper Slim Dutty! There's no need to book, but please arrive early! |
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British Black
Music Is Dead! A curious topic you
may wonder, especially as it’s coming from an organisation interested in
the promotion of British black music. OK, we are not just ready to throw
in the towel, but it sometimes feels like a losing battle. This is the
reason why the Black Music Congress’ next workshop’s entitled ‘British
Black Music Is Dead – Discuss!’.
It will be at City University in mid-October. If you feel strongly
about the subject, we’d love to hear from you. Or even better, why not
attend the workshop, where hopefully, we can all work towards some useful
outcomes. Anyway, let’s get
back to some of the reasons why we’ve taken this moribund attitude. Britain’s ‘No.1
Black Newspaper’ New Nation recently published ‘The 100 Greatest
Albums Of All Time’ (June 28 2004). It was compiled from the Top 20
list of hundred contributors, drawn from singers, musicians, producers,
and journalists. Out of the 100 albums, only four were British! Of
which the highest placed was Soul II Soul’s ‘Club Classics Vol. 1’
at no. 22, and the lowest being Sade’s ‘Stronger Than Pride’ at no.
100. Isn’t this proof
that British black music is dead, or almost dead? Interestingly the Brits
were over-represented in the ad for the ‘Greatest Albums’ party. Of
the six personalities used, two were British. The New Nation list*
obviously helps underpin reasons for the little or no representation of
British black representation. In our open
letter regarding The Prince’s Trust Urban Music Festival, which
was published in the June 2004 edition of Touch, we pointed to the fact
that having those American superstars on the bill meant few of the Brits
got any meaningful media profile. The Prince’s Trust responded in letter
published in the July edition of Touch, in which they point out there were
a handful of Americans compared to dozens of Brits. Sure, but apart
from Jamelia, can anyone remember seeing any serious coverage of the Brits
in the media? Anyway, we’ll put
that to rest, as we have no problems with the Prince’s Trust. Indeed, we
had a long chat with its commercial director Carol Homden, and I guess we
appreciate each other’s position. Although we are still not convinced
we can not have a major black music festival with just British artists.
What do you think? Unlike the Urban Music Festival, which at least had Brits in the majority, the recent Jazz Café Picnic featured just American R&B artists. Contrast that with the Jazz Café Picnic on August 15. That features solely British alternative acts, such as Zero 7 and Nitin Sawhney. Doesn’t this just underpin the declaration that British black music is dead? We think the only
way to breathe life into British black music is to get our BOB (a Brit On
the Bill) campaign rolling. The idea of getting a Brit on black music
concerts headlined by a foreign act is a major part of the British Black
Music Month proposal. Another idea is the annual compilation of the
British Black Music List (we got a reasonable representation when we tried
it a few years ago – we’ll try to post the results soon-ish). More on
these ideas later. In the meantime, your feedback is appreciated. Whilst we take a
break from putting on the debates at City University, we are keeping
ourselves occupied during the summer by organising events at Tavistock
Hall, 25 High Street in deepest Harlesden under the family-friendly Welcome
To Harlesbridge banner. On July 31, 12-6pm
we have the Black Music Records & African Crafts Fair III.
Apart from bargains and interesting gifts, we’ll be having continuous
showcases featuring singers, musicians, poets, and talks by individuals
and organisations with something to say. There will be a special PA by
local rapper Slim Dutty performing his anti-violence debut ‘Blood
Puddles’, and upcoming single ‘Good 2 Go’ On August 31,
6-9pm we have a hip-hop film and discussion session. Parents – bring
your children. Young folks – bring the old folk.
We want to have a serious inter-generational discussion afterwards! That’s enough for
now. Kwaku * more on music lists in next newsletter July 17 2004
RESPECT FESTIVAL BLACK RECORDS AND AFRICAN
CRAFTS
Black
Music Records & African Crafts Fair III takes place Saturday July 31
2004, 12noon-6pm as part our Welcome To
Harlesbridge series of events.
£Free entry, £20 per stall. Tavistock Hall, 25 High St, Harlesden, NW10
(Willesden JUNCTION stn; buses 18, 187, 206, 226, 260, 266). Records +
Books + Food + Clothes + Games + Posters + Jewellery. Plus live showcases
by conscious MC's, poets, plus those who really have something to say....
Local rapper Slim Dutty will perform a PA featuring ‘Blood Puddles’
and ‘Good 2 Go’. Email editor@britishblackmusic.com
to book stall or performance slot. SLY & ROBBIE
LIVE & RECORDED BRITISH BLACK MUSIC!The mighty Amplified crew continue the UK Soul
miniseries with part 2 this Sunday July 18 @ Marketplace covering 1995 to
present day (or 2005, of we go by their flyer!). Market Place W1 (off
Great Portland St, W1). Tube: Oxford Circus. 5pm-11pm. £Free. www.amplified-online.co.uk TWO CULTURES &
TWO GENERATIONS CLASH UNSIGNED IN HACKNEYUK Unsigned Grand finals now
takes place in a larger venue: Hackney Empire, 291 Mare Street, Hackney,
London, E8. (5pm – 11pm), Sunday July 25. Tickets: £10 (in advance,
more on the door) SABA: 0207 377 8545 & 0208 696 7003. Hackney Empire
Box Office: 0208 985 2424. Online from: www.gigsonline.co.uk PRAISE
IN THE PARK YOUTHFUL RHYTHM Rhythm is London’s
apparently first weekly nightclub experience for 13-17 year olds. It
starts Sunday July 18 and every Sunday thereafter throughout the summer
holidays. The aim is to provide somewhere for young people to relax, use
their skills, meet friends and have fun all within a controlled, safe
environment. The organisers are looking for young talent for PA’s,
DJing, MCing and dance acts to perform at the events. www.rhythmparty.com |