Fat Freddy's at Roundhouse

People who don't "get" the line for Air New Zealand - "Is it just a Kiwi thing?" - have obviously never been to a Fat Freddy's Drop gig. Effortlessly excellent yet modest as you like - even at the end of a European tour. However I don't think the guys realised how many Brits were actually in the crowd though, believing it to be  made up of ex-pat kiwis. But there was one Londoner definitely standing up (and bouncing about) being counted as a big supporter of Kiwi music. Bring on the new album.

Description of last nights gig in 2 words:

(expletive) brilliant

I've seen them at Big Chill, in Brighton, Hammersmith and now at the Roundhouse and no two gigs have been the same - but all of them have been amazing - from the great hip hop in Brighton to the battle between Alice Russell and the brass section in Hammersmith.

Never heard them? Get Based on A True Story - but jump at the chance to see them live. Seriously.

or listen to Fat Freddy's on Last.FM along with these guys...

Black Seeds
Fly My Pretties
Katchafire
The Feelers
Kora

- The Hinchmuffin

Albion Live

On Thursday we had our 6^th Birthday party. To celebrate another milestone year for Albion we took over Bar Music Hall around the corner from our headquarters in Shoreditch. We hosted the party in conjunction with one of our main clients Absolute Radio.

As everyone knows the soundtrack to any party is of vital importance so between ourselves and Absolute we not only got some great bands on board for the night – The Vibrants, Finger Eleven, Jersey Budd and Grovesnor – but also a bloody great sound system rigged up in Bar Music Hall.

These bands we interspersed throughout the night with music chosen by everyone at the party. Each invitation we sent out gave the invited a chance to pick a party track of their choice. We compiled the best and span those out at every opportunity. Party winners were Marlena Shaw’s ‘California Soul’, Chairlift ‘Bruises’, and Cheryl Lynn’s ‘Got To Be Real’.

Acts-wise first up on stage was acoustic singer/song writer Jersey Budd. He hails from Leicester but with a name straight out of mid-west America Jersey's guitar music makes more references to folk rock legends Neil Young and Bob Dylan than anyone from his hometown (errr Kasabian, Corner Shop). Thanks for coming down Jersey.

 

Next on stage were The Vibrants whose lead guitar player is the big brother of Joe, one of our designers. They recently returned from touring North America where their unique brand of South London indie went down very well. It did on Thursday as well. Great presence on stage and great tracks. One Absolute are tipping to watch.

Following this we had ex-Hot Chip drummer turned solo electronica act Grovesnor. His red jeans among other things got everyone dancing. Thanks Rob for bringing the synthesiser to the party.

And last but certainly not least was Canadian alt-rock band Finger 11. These guys have been around the block forming in 1989! Absolute broadcast this gig live which featured their cult hit ‘Paralyser’, newest track ‘Talking to the Walls’ and a number of heavy rock covers. It was quite surreal to have such a full on rock band rocking the stage at our birthday party but it went down really well. So thanks to them for coming down the night before their only British gig this year. Check out Jason and Kat with the band in the photo above.

The mosh pit was returned to disco dancefloor with friend of Albion Mr Doris DJing old school funk, house and cosmic disco out until the end of the night.

What an evening. Thanks to everyone for coming down and getting involved. Check out all our photos on the Albion Flickr page.