Scottish Fish play the Heath Street Baptist Church on August 1
HYDE Park will be resting after another year of incredible performances as BST’s festival drew to a close last week – sadly one day early after Jeff Lynne had to pull out of what was billed to be his final ever performance due to illness. Hopefully he will recover and the band will get back together one more time for the send-off they deserve. A shame too for the other acts on the bill, the many fans and all those who put so much hard work into such events – you can’t blame someone for ill-health but the knock-on effect can be far-reaching. In happier news, our reporter Caitlin Maskell was there for what turned out to be the festival’s closing night as the incomparable Stevie Wonder brought sunshine, happiness, good vibes and pure class to Hyde Park.
• If you spot a new plaque up in The Big Chill House, it’s to mark the first live performance of pioneering 80s band Bronski Beat, who played there in 1983 when the venue was called The Bell. The band, which released its influential album The Age of Consent in 1984, was presented with the PRS for Music Heritage Award at the venue last week.
• Having played the drums from the age of one, 15-year-old Japanese drummer Yoyoka has caught the eye of some of the world’s greatest musicians. At the age of eight she had mastered Led Zeppelin’s Good Times Bad Times, winning approval from Robert Plant when clips of her performance went viral. She has gone on to play with Cyndi Lauper, Jack Black and Fall Out Boy and is the youngest drummer to be selected as one of the world’s top 500 drummers. She plays The Dome on August 2 alongside the Yoyoka “family” band, Ken Okada Group ft Yoyoka. There will also be a jam session with Yoyoka – sounds special.
• August begins with a welcome selection of folk music – first, Celtic quintet Scottish Fish take on Heath Street Baptist Church with their fresh take on traditional and contemporary Scottish and Cape Breton music (Aug 1). Then, on Aug 4, Italian folk duo DUEA – a musical project by violinist sisters Chiara and Sara Cesano, who blend the musical roots of their land with international folk influences and an element of electronics – perform at Green Note. And, on Aug 6, Scottish singer, songwriter and Clàrsach player Anna McLuckie’ Trio play The Harrison in King’s Cross.
• We’ve seen plenty of Beatles tribute bands over the years but Fab Femme, who bring their rockier interpretation of the Fab Four’s back catalogue to The Dublin Castle on July 26, may be the first all-female Beatles tribute band we have heard of – with promises of some B-sides and some hidden gems, this sounds intriguing. Support from Mr DB + cratL + DJs We Got Killers.
• Celebrate Dance Music From the Arab/Swana Diaspora as NYC’s Laylit party returns to London for the second time, taking place at Jazz Café on July 25.
More upcoming gigs
July 25 – Os Mutantes + John Gómez, Jazz Café; Thanks For The Memories, Islington Academy; Herbie Hancock, Barbican; July 26 – Os Mutantes, Jazz Café; Noelle Vaughan and Her Flamin’ Hearts, Green Note; Herbie Hancock, Barbican; July 27 – The Quinteto Astor Piazzolla, Barbican; Queen Ifrica – The Lioness Returns, Islington Assembly Hall; Holly Penfield, The Camden Club; The Wall + Morgellons + The Erics, 100 Club; Mortimer, Jazz Café; July 28 – Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band, 229; July 29 – Jimmie Vaughan & The Tilt-A-Whirl Band, 229; July 29-30 – Wolfmother, Islington Academy; Bane + Supernova + Still In Love + Grove Street, The Underworld; July 30 – Sara Curruchich, Jazz Café; Steve Wickham + Ray Coen + Heathen Apostles + Sarah Vista. 100 Club; President, The Garage; July 31 – Madison Violet, The Lexington; Future Jazz Showcase: Mad Keys, Snazzback, Zola Marcelle & Naima Adams, Jazz Café; The Alchemist, Koko; Fonseca, Barbican; Black Doldrums + The Dead Zoo + Colour Me Blood Red, The Camden Assembly; Best Band + Ping Pong Disco + The Fresh Twang + Bittersweet Avenue + DJ Julia Haxen, The Dublin Castle; Aug 1 – A Thousand Horses, Islington Assembly Hall; Marcia Griffiths + Upper Cut Band, Jazz Cafe; Aug 2 – Day Fever, HERE at Outernet; The Dekker Tones, The Water Rats; Mannequin Death Squad + Deadpop, The Black Heart; Aug 3 – Save Ferris, Islington Academy; Yngwie Malmsteen, Islington Assembly Hall; Aug 6 – Battlesnake + Dead Air + Mother Vulture; Evidence, Jazz Café; The Avengers + Hazard; Aug 7 – Julian Taylor, Green Note; JJ Grey and Mofro, Islington Assembly Hall; Robin McAuley + Lyin Rampant, The Black Heart; The Fatback Band, Koko.
