Well, it has been a hot minute since the last time we posted, and we've been all busy and all over the place playing music!
Soul Revolution
We had a beautiful time at the newly evolved Soul Revolution (previously known as Soul Medicine) at Weston Park, Shifnal. The festival has expanded ten fold and had so much to offer this time round. We also made a new friend for this gig - we had the lovely Shiro on bass for the first time, and it was an absolute pleasure to share a stage with him! He's right up our street, vibes-wise and he played a serious blinder. There was so much going on that we didn't get around and actually see most of the festival. They'd also done a wonderful job of the Artist's area - it was a lovely tent at the back and the lady looking after the area had made a little alter, and there was a fridge and fruit and nuts and it was so chill. One thing that I do need to mention is that dB Acoustics SMASHED IT! Firstly, the whole main stage and PA set up was carefully crafted by our wonderful Sound Family, and the sound production was crispy, resonant and glorious. We're always spoiled by them but it's times like this where they so very professionally cater for such a variety of acts and set ups that we really get to stand back and appreciate how bloody good they are. It looked like Breb, Grandad, Will and Harvey hadn't had very much sleep, but they were incredible. It's wonderful to get on stage at a festival and 100% know that your family have got your back and you're going to sound as good as you possibly can!
Angus, Anna and Sugar had their birthdays
Angus has his birthday the day before Anna and Sugar! Despite being rather busy, everyone had a little celebration. We had hoped to celebrate at Tonbridge, but unfortunately the festival pulled the date. It did mean that they had time to do family things, though, so that's a plus and you know we don't do negatives. Angus did crazy Angus things, I'm pretty sure. Sugar raced a Formula 3 car all around a big track and looked really cool doing it and Anna, me and our Dad had a day out at the British Motor Museum.
Coventry Ska, Reggae & Rum
Check out the pics -
We played an incredible charity gig at Dhillon's Brewery in Coventry in support of Cefovid Uganda organised by Suky and The Two Tone Village. We were part of a 4 band line up consisting of Skaledonia, us, The Dekkertones and The AC30's. We loved the diversity of the line up, and we got to meet some really incredible musicians that we haven't met before. The best part was arriving and then being found by Grandad, who couldn't stay for the gig, but just popped by for hugs and Hello's. Love that man.
Skaledonia are high energy, heavy rocking skanking all the way from Scotland, and they are lovely people! We hung out a bit in the Artist's area. They'd had a double weekend and played at The White Horse in Derby, a venue known for it's inclusivity for Ska acts, if you hadn't checked them out before. We played there back when we first started in 2019.
We did a thing! Well, Anna and Sugar did it, really. We made a Soundcheck Song! It's really useful because it's specially curated to balance up all of the aspects of the sound, including the balance of the three-part harmonies on the vocals, and horns with each other, and horns with vocals! We used it for the first time here on Saturday 13th and it was really useful. It allows us personally to get warmed up and balanced and used to the sound before we start the set, so we're really pleased that we have that now.
We played our set all the way through with no breaks and it was very sweaty but super fun. The vocalists, including Anna now who we seemed to be exploiting on all levels cause she's a snazzy little thing, have really done some Reggulites crafting on some of the tracks, and it's added a totally different dimension to some of the tunes. My favourite out of them at the moment is 'Cleopatra (I've Got to Get You Off My Mind)' by The Tennors. The lines they've created in the harmonies have really transformed the song and made it our own and it seems to be a pretty big hit with you guys, which is incredible. Also, we had the added pleasure of having the most divine James Crosdale on bass with us, and so we were all full of happiness and jubilance. What a bass player!
After we played, we got to meet The Dekkertones, who we've also never met before. Not to be a fifteen year old girl about it, but OMG BESTIES! I would love to do a double header gig with this band, I think we suit each other so well. Everyone was super nice, but I gotta give a huge shout out to my fellow Trumpeter. We are carbon copies of each other, even though he sounded much better than I'm sure I do! They were awesome, and they do Fu Man Chu which is one of my most favourite tunes ever.
It was so lovely to see Suky, Jim and Maggie Lambell, Leonie and Mr Leonie - so many cool people. It was nice to meet Georgie as well! But yeah, the atmosphere was so chill and the venue is really cool as well.
Thank you for having us!
The Reggae Cookout at The Night Owl
Our second of the year and it went off with a bang! Luckily, we were playing set times that meant we finished with enough time for local people to get back in time for the football. Oh sorry, are we not talking about it? Well, we had a truly amazing time, as always, at The Night Owl. We had the lovely Paul with us, and it was Teebs' first time at The Night Owl, weirdly, even though he's been in the band over a year now! Anywho, we arrived, Dan was on sound so we knew we were covered and we soundchecked and then got ready for people-ing!
We got to see Helen and Graham who we haven't seen for ages! Not since last year, actually, so that was wonderful. They're our good good good forever friends and we love them so much. Ade and Sarah came as well so it was great to see them. There was Jane, Gaynor, Owen and Susannah, Joel Gibbs, Leonie Smith, Catherine and Candice Gabbidon and like so many more. But a big important point I need to make is that I have a new obsession, and my new obsession is Kzam. You can find them on Instagram and I'll drop a link for them below. I already knew one half, but I got to meet the other half as well. She goes by Zeus on stage and she's awesome. Anyway, RnB Soul Fusion, acoustic stylee, with some incredibly intricate and intertwining harmonies got me all in a vibe, so I think you should definitely check them out.
The whole thing was just awesome vibes. We knew some people needed to leave before the end, and we had a banger we just needed everyone to hear, so we switched up the second set so that we started with the last song, Hotel California. That song just goes off! We seriously just love it. Angus is just so cool!! We might get married out of convenience when he reaches 50, if he's still available, which I highly doubt. I just love him.
Anywho, we've had the most amazing times recently and I'm so glad that we've caught up. The next thing we're going to be doing is sorting out the name of the album we're going to drop. It's a live session of some banging covers that we love, from the same day that you'll have seen us doing Who Knows (Chronixx) on YouTube. We've taken lots and lots of suggestions from you. The next step is narrowing it down to our top 5 of them, and once we've done that we'll take it back to the socials for you to have the final say. The one with the most love for it will be the name we go with! We're so excited to get it out to you because it really is a little bit special.
We'll be training up our latest addition to the drum section over the next week and then playing a lovely wedding over in Gloucestershire for Stuart and Jasmine! That will give us a rare weekend off before we tumble into August!
All the love in the world, Reggae Rebels.
xXx
Links and Ting
Go and check out Kzam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kzamofficial/
If you've never been, go take a look at Dhillon's Brewery cause it's super cool there.
Go randomly to The Night Owl - you'll never be disappointed!
You performed an awesome set!!
It was great to catch up XX
Thank you for your continued support of the 2 Tone Village and our chosen charity CEFOVID 🫶