Brixton music news for July 2015

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

Lias Saoudi, Fat White Family
Lias Saoudi, Fat White Family

Brixton Fightback gig was a stonker, raises £1.5k

Our reviewer Petra discovered the “friendliest mosh pit” she’d ever experienced at the Brixton Fightback fundraiser in June, which raised £1.5k for the Save Cressingham Gardens campaign. Alabama 3 and Fat White Family were among performers at the gig at Electric Brixton. Check out Petra’s pics and her full review.

Brixton Plan B acquired by owners of XOYO

The Colombo Group has bought the Plan B nightclub on Brixton Road, closing its doors for good. According to the owners of XOYO the venue will be refurbished and reopened under a new name. More about this here.

Unsigned Brixton rapper 2Nice getting noticed by hip-hop royalty

Local rapper 2Nice has started making a name for himself, working with the likes of Tinie Tempah, Congo Natty, Wiley and Luciano. His new single ‘Sunlight’ fuses pop, rap, reggae and EDM. Interested? Check it out below.

Shabaka launches Artist in the Archive at the BCA

Composer and saxophonist Shabaka Hutchings was joined by Congo Natty and others for the launch of Artist in the Archive at the Black Cultural Archives on 19 June. Before the event, Shabaka immersed himself in BCA’s historic records and emerged to ‘musically interpret’ what he’d discovered.

Shabaka at the BCA. Photo by BCA
Shabaka at the BCA. Photo by BCA

Sound problems at Brixton Wu-Tang gig

Wu-Tang Clan’s much-anticipated 20th anniversary tour stop-off at Brixton Academy was marred by sound problems, leaving fans unable to properly hear the first hour of their gig. “Sound was worst i have ever experienced, feel totally fleeced, want refund” complained one Twitter user.

Music for good

Local songwriter Marcus Reeves is working on ‘Three Little Words’, a selection of songs taken from his fifteen-year career as a choral singer. He’s crowdfunding for the EP which will raise funds for male mental health charity The Campaign Against Living Miserably, who work with young men at risk of suicide. Head to www.reevescorner.co.uk to find out more.

Boy Names release new cover of Liars’ Can’t Hear Well

We’ve been following local dreampoppers Boy Names with interest for a while – now they’ve released another single, this time a cover of Liars’ Can’t Hear Well. Singer Patrick’s vocals are the highlight, giving off a spooky vibe that’s quite different to their earlier pop disco sound. Have a listen below.