Brixton music news for April 2015

Co Arts Editor Barney Evison rounds up the latest music news from our corner of South London.

Alabama 3 do soundtrack for crime caper
Alabama 3 do soundtrack for crime caper

Local band Alabama 3 – the guys behind the theme song for the Sopranos – have continued their affinity with gangster rock music by appearing on the soundtrack for new British crime film Hackney’s Finest, out in cinemas 3 April and available on DVD and On Demand 13 April.

Lara Lee performs on the Voice. Photo credit: BBC
Lara Lee performs on the Voice. Photo credit: BBC

Brixtoner Lara Lee – aka Floetic Lara – has been sent home after reaching the live quarter-finals of The Voice with her coach Sir Tom Jones. Unfortunately her rendition of ‘God Put A Smile Upon Your Face’ didn’t secure her a place in the semi-finals.

The War On Drugs played Brixton Academy last month to critical acclaim across the board. “This is hazy, windswept music for big skies and open roads” said our reviewer Nicholas, “its sweeping chords wrap around the Academy with a warm, fuzzy, psychedelic glow.” How lovely. Read the full review here.

Local folk band Young Causeway are headlining the Songwriters & Wordsmiths night at the Brixton Hootananny on 8th April. Songwriters and Wordsmiths is a night celebrating emerging talent that takes place at the Hootananny every second Wednesday of the month.

12-piece afrobeat outfit Nubiyan Twist launched their new album on Wormfood Records at Brixton Jamm last month – check out our review and interview with lead singer Nubiya. This is a band to keep your eye on.

Obaro Ejimiwe aka Ghostpoet
Obaro Ejimiwe aka Ghostpoet

South London alternative musician Obaro Ejimiwe – aka Ghostpoet – suggested he might be putting the Ghostpoet name on hold after he finishes his current tour. He said he wants to work on more collaborative projects – read our interview with him which appeared in this month’s Brixton Bugle. He’s performing at Electric Brixton on 9 April, promoting his new album Shedding Skin.

Electronic artist Jon Hopkins is promising an audio-visual special at his sold-out final Immunity tour date at Brixton Academy on 24th April. The night is billed as “a true celebration of the album”, pairing Hopkins’ performance with live re-edits of videos from the tour.

Psychedelic Londoners Younghusband are headlining the annual Bad Friday festival at the Windmill on Good Friday (3 April). Critics have praised their “blend of fuzzy psychedelia, shoegaze and krautrock” and this gig promises to be good ‘un.