February Action!

Some local thangs going down this month for y'all:

The Alchemystics are playing two gigs this weekend...one for the whole family on Saturday (2/12) morning 10am at First Churches in Northampton, a benefit for Nonotuck Community School. And also on Friday (2/11) night at the Elevens, with Love in Stockholm, 930pm-2am. There's never a bad time to check out their soulful reggae/rap blend!


On Saturday night (2/12), I'll be dropping bombs with Studebaker Hawk at the People's Pint for our regular Sweet Exorcist throwdown there. We'll be helping Michele P celebrate her birthday too! Come hear our eclectic vinyl mix and dance the winter blues out of your system. No cover charge, 10pm-1am. (Poster by Sightlab)

Friday (2/18) will see some funk and afrobeat raiding Greenfield at The Arts Block, thanks to the army of Shokazoba and an attack from Chicago Afrobeat Project (whom you may remember from our Afrobeat Revival compilation--vinyl already sold out!). 8pm-1am. And tune in to Radio Clandestino on Monday 2/14 when Shok reps will be on hand to discuss life and love, debut cuts from their brand new album, and give away tickets to the above show.

Ras Daniel and I had so much fun last month at the Blue Rock in Shelburne Falls that we decided to keep it going monthly, every third Saturday, this month on 2/19. Last time out we played some reggae/dancehall, afro funk/afrobeat as well as some wicked rap. We'll keep a bunch of things in the crates to keep it groovy all night. Again, no cover/21+. 9pm.

February 24th returns the bi-weekly I-Ganic Sound System at Bishop's Lounge in Northampton. The most crucial roots, the freshest steppas, heaviest dubs and uplifting dancehall. Every other thursday! 21+ 10pm-2am.


Holy mother of funk, wait to you come hear what we'll be jamming on Friday 2/25 at The Rendezvous in Turners Falls! A very special edition of Rumba Psicodélica, we've been wanting to do a Funk Rock night for awhile and now we will! Studebaker Hawk, Bongohead and I will be transporting you via vinyl time machine back to the funky 70s with a mind-blowing assortment of funky rock and rocking funk from all over the globe. Popular, as well as obsure, but always funky! Visuals by Mr. Bell of Bell & Howl. This will be an all-vinyl blowout, inspired by the likes of Betty Davis, Funkadelic, Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Barrabas, Isley Brothers, James Gang, ZZ Top, Baby Huey, Sly Stone and all the 70s funk-rockers, back when that was something truly hip. Black, white, brown and beyond...we can all get down on a united dancefloor. Dig!
And bring your game: we'll be handing out prizes for funkiest and most rocking outfits!
No cover, 930-1.
(Poster by Pablo Yglesias)

And don't forget that Alan Evans (of Soulive) will be holding it down with a varying cast of talent every Thursday night at The Arts Block in Greenfield. 930-1.

Well there's a whole bunch of thangs to keep you warm til the birds of March start singing!

TONITE!!!

I-Ganic Returns to Amherst!

My homeboy Camilo aka DJ I-Ganic is hands down my favorite DJ in Western Massachusetts. Holding down every other Thursday in the cramped Bishop's Lounge in Northampton always provides sonic bliss...but maaaaan is it too crowded and silly in there sometimes. So I love when he brings the sound to other spots and parties.

After doing a stint of several years at the Harp in North Amherst, I-Ganic hasn't set up in that college town in too long. Well, thankfully folks on the Amherst side of the river can receive the message of sound and love. I-Ganic returns with what will be a fully-felt set at the Amherst Brewing Company. ABC certainly has some fine brews and the place is a nice alternative to the white-baseball-cap shitbag scene that permeates too much of Amherst. But things will certainly be right for the night on Saturday.

Bio:
Residing in Western Mass with roots in Puerto Rico, I-Ganic began spinning records in the mid ‘80s at the age of 13. Inspired by the sound system culture of Jamaica, I-Ganic played parties and opened for local reggae bands. By the late ‘90s, he had developed his signature style of layering digital effects over a mix of top-shelf selections of the latest UK and Jamaican Roots, Steppas, Dancehall, and Dub. Having added more equipment and a much larger collection of vinyl, I-Ganic Sound System is the Pioneer Valley’s Number One Reggae Sound System.




the I-Ganic Myspace page is here.
and the website: www.iganicsoundsystem.com