7.41°C This editorial currently features in the July 2011 issue of The Colchester Circle, available throughout the town right now.
Keep Colchester Cool recommends…
Here are just some of the events taking place this month that you can attend, safe in the knowledge of hearing some great music.
Ben Howard
Essex Rocks are a regular feature on this page – and justifiably so. Saturday, 2nd July 2011, sees them celebrate their fifth birthday, while Mr Essex Rocks himself, Chris Berwick, celebrates his 30th. It promises to be a joint party to remember, with Cav OK, Drive Through Therapy, Guilt Coins and We Are Embassy playing at Colchester Arts Centre. The night will also raise money for Kelvedon Free Music Festival (more of which shortly).
We head back to Colchester Arts Centre on Wednesday, 6 July, as Sandro Perri of Constellation Records – the label behind Godspeed You! Black Emperor – comes to town. The night is organised by Colchester Arts Centre, The Lakeside Theatre and local alternative promoters Motherpopcorn and Dead Air Live. Sandro Perri, who has previously recorded as Polmo Polpo, Glissandro 70, Dot Wiggin and Continuous Dick, travels over from Toronto. Support comes from fellow Canadians Mantler and our own The Dead Rat Orchestra, making their first Colchester appearance since touring with the aforementioned Godspeed and producing the soundtrack for BBC Four’s The Guga Hunters of Ness.
The following Saturday, 9 July, we head down to the Kelvedon Free Music Festival. Last year’s event was a cracker, and this time The Blockheads headline. Joining them across two stages are Automatic Slim, Exposé, Housework, Surfquake, About Eight, Who’s Driving? Bear’s Driving!, Broken Heads, We Are Embassy, Gulls, Animal Noise, The Strangerhood, Drive Through Therapy, The Jorneta Stream, The 633 and The Overwrought.
They’re playing Big Chill Festival and Bestival later in the summer, but on Friday, 15 July Gypsy Hill arrive at Tin Pan Alley. Gypsy Hill is a collaboration between DJ Kobayashi and Herbert Newbert, joined by musicians on trombone, trumpet, classical guitar, tuba and drums. The result is authentic Balkan, gypsy, swing and Mediterranean music infused with electronic beats, scratching and uplifting bass lines.
Freekie Fest 2011 takes place at a location not far from Colchester on Saturday, 23 July. The music offering – spanning Breaks, Drum & Bass, Tech House, Techno, Reggae, Funk, Hip Hop and Soul – ensures there is something for everyone. Ray Keith, StereoFreakz, CyberDog, Worzal, Matt ‘Tha Hatt’, Rev Wright, Seffi B, Roachie and Dave ‘Quicklung’ Paris play the New Arena. Andy Burr, LittleJoe, Dutchie, Kev C, ARIS, Tom Dove, Jay O’Connel, Gavin Rayner, Andy Moore and Doosh take over the Tech Arena. DJs Stat Ic, Shoesy, Gemison and Floyd Fresh spin classic funk, jazz and hip hop in the ever-popular Stumble Inn. This licensed event has built an excellent reputation. For more information on location and ticket availability, visit www.freekie.co.uk.
Saturday 30 July sees Andrew Black play The Soundhouse at The Bull as part of his UK tour. Travelling in from Atlanta, the premier soul blues singer and ‘feel’ guitarist has previously played the Crouch Street venue and is held in high regard internationally for his distinctive brand of blues. This is one well worth catching live.
