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Sunday 26th August is the date of the fourth annual Manchester Soul Festival. The fun and the music will be focused in and around The Printworks, an entertainment complex in the city centre and all profits from the day will go to the Christie Hospital, the largest cancer treatment centre in Europe.

Over the last three years, the festival raised over £65,000 for The Christie, but this year they want to raise a record-breaking target of £35,000 to take the total raised to a huge £100,000.

The full line up will include a performance from Manchester's party band, Stax of Soul. Other acts include Blank Cheque, who released their EP 'Times Have Changed' back in February this year, Soul Temptations, and Mississippi Soul Man, plus KFM radio presenters DJ Dave Starr and Paul Kidd.

Venues within The Printworks complex will also be offering food and drink deals throughout the day. Entry to the Festival is with a wristband; this ensures a discount within the various venues. It's suggested that there's a minimum donation of £5 for the band.

The motto behind the festival is simple; the aim is to lift the fundraising amount 'higher and higher' as there 'ain't no target high enough' for this year's festival!

Find out more @ www.theprintworks.com/event/manchester-soul-festival-2018/

Last Updated on Saturday, 18 August 2018 08:34

The Queen of Soul, ARETHA FRANKLIN died today in Detroit. She was 76 and as reported (see recent news story) she had been ill for some time and was in hospital last week till she asked to return home.

In a statement, her family said: "In one of the darkest moments of our lives, we are not able to find the appropriate words to express the pain in our heart. We have lost the matriarch and rock of our family. The love she had for her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins knew no bounds." It was confirmed that Aretha had died from advanced pancreatic cancer of the neuroendocrine type.

This is neither the time nor the place for a lengthy biographical obituary. Mere facts could never capture what she achieved or describe how her music affected and moved so many people. Best maybe right now to listen to those Aretha songs that have a special place in your life and emotions.... 'I Say A Little Prayer', 'Until You Come Back To Me', 'Never Let Me Go', 'Call Me' and the monumental 'Ain't No Way' will always define, endear and keep the memory of Aretha Franklin alive for  me.

The Queen is dead; there will never be another.

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 August 2018 18:31

Serious music collectors know all about "Library Music" – recordings that are not commercially available but have been specially composed and recorded for use on radio, TV and advertising outlets. Much of it is recorded speculatively, some is commissioned, but almost all of it is written and performed by some of music industry's top backroom specialists – writers, arrangers and session players. Over the years Library Music has earned a certain cachet with collectors but it's normally hard to get hold of... till now!

The EMI subsidiary, KPM is perhaps the most established name in Library Music and by way of celebrating its achievements the label is bringing together a raft of its top players to perform at a special concert at the British Library on October 6th. The "KPM All Stars" will feature people like Alan Hawkshaw, Keith Mansfield, Brian Bennett and Alan Parker. Between them they've played on hundreds of hits (Bennett was one of Cliff Richard's Shadows, while Parker taught Bowie guitar!) and countless Library tunes.

To tie in with the show Be With Records are releasing a set of classic Library albums which includes a groove heavy, 'Full Circle'. This is credited to Alan Hawkshaw and Brian Bennett and features 12 tracks that offer a classy smooth jazz, jazz/funk vibe. None of the tunes will be familiar – but production is faultless and the playing (as you'd expect) is blemish free! The album also comes in the iconic KPM green livery.

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 August 2018 14:54

'Hustler' is the latest single from Sheffield (South Yorkshire, that is) new age soul man YOUNG ARTZ (real name Artwell Manunure). Driven by a mix of electro UK Afro beats and hip hop flavours, it's edgy and all engulfing and features an odd sample taken from an old I-phone recording! Experimental and adventurous, little wonder it's winning airplay on BBC 1Xtra! The usual internet searches will lead you to it! It's on Primera Records, by the way.

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 August 2018 14:16

                 Now in its third year, Sounds of Denmark is a UK jazz festival celebrating Danish jazz in all its diversity and will be returning to London's Dean Street Pizza Express Jazz Club this September. The participating musicians range from noted solo singers - Live Foyn Friis and Janne Mark are both scheduled to appear - to groups that range from the critically-acclaimed Girls In Airports to the hip-hop-influenced, Atlantic Progression,  and the neo-fusion group, Quadrillion, led by harmonica maestro, Mathias Heise. Pianist and composer, Kathrine Windfeld, will also be performing with a 15-piece ensemble that will feature the trumpet of British jazz man, Gerald Presencer.

The festival will be running from Thursday 20th to Sunday 23rd of September.

For more info and tickets go to:

https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/sounds-of-denmark

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 August 2018 13:52