THE GIG LIST – NUMBER 24

Got one for the Brighton students here. It’s only fair, as a growing section of The Recommenders fans are based at the Sussex University. And so as the clocks finally turned forwards and we welcomed in our long-awaited Spring season, the months in which it sits continue to bring us a fantastic selection of great gigs, many of which will be found at the multitude of Brighton’s upcoming festivals. We have one of those festivals highlighted below, alongside an awesome gig sitting proudly all on its own…

UNIFEST 2009
This is a festival that’s been rolling on for many years now. It’s placed amongst a handful of other live performances and mini-festivals that crop up through the year on the Sussex University site, in what is a busy and brilliantly entertaining campus. This event showcases a very wide selection of genres, from Dance to Indie, even including it’s own arena solely for Dub music! It’s definitely a ‘something-for-everyone’ afternoon that reflects the complex diversity of the Brighton universities student population. Placing the acts across five stages in the heart of the campus itself seems a suitable location too, as it’s known to the students, is well connected and has plenty of space amongst the backdrop of the South Downs.  We list a handful of the acts below from our favourites on the listings to help guide you, but be aware that there a too many to fully list here, so get hunting out and your efforts will no doubt be rewarded.


ACTS: KISSY SELL OUT, KRAFTY KUTS, HOT CLUB DE PARIS, DAN LE SAC,
RED LIGHT COMPANY, JFB
VENUE:                  SUSSEX UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, FALMER, Nr BRIGHTON
COST:                    £ 16.50
DATE:                    Saturday 25th April 2009
WEBSITE:              Not available (see University publications)

WE HAVE BAND
Initially posted up on The Recommender 19, where we first embraced this wonderful band, you will be able to grab an mp3 of their tune, ‘Hear It In The Cans’. A superb track that showcases just why we love them here at The Recommender. Namely a cooler-than-cool Lo-Fi beat, covered over with a sharp chord of electronic sounds and a building vocal that overlaps, almost as if you’re listening to two tunes at once. It works so well and it is with this exciting, experimental gift that they are still our favourite band to emerge thus far in 2009. Backed with the trend-setting Parisian fashion/music label Kitsune, this London trio are sure to continue their success amongst the ‘scenester’ fraternity. They’ll be welcomed with open arms in Brighton. Miss them here and you will have another couple of chances as they re-visit Brighton for both The Great Escape and The Loop festivals. However, it’s at this more personal venue that we think their real treasure will be discovered.

ACT:                    WE HAVE BAND
VENUE:                THE FREEBUTT
COST:                  £ 6.00 advance  (£7 on door)
DATE:                   Friday 17th April 2009
WEBSITE:            Myspace

As a footnote, The Freebutt is a venue that seems to be cropping up more and more on our radars too, as it continues to book the brightest in cutting edge bands. It’s fast becoming the place where taking a punt on an unknown listing can really reward the inquisitive punter…
Mike

THE GIG LIST – NUMBER 18

A relatively short and sweet pointer this time around. Got a couple of gigs that are due to take your attention away from whatever it was that you were thinking of doing. It’s time to think again…

KISSY SELL OUT (DJ Set)
December and January are something of a lull on the gig scene in most towns. To be fair it’s pretty much the same in Brighton too. Christmas will have it’s parties and late drunken nights for sure, as we all dive into that relieving holiday period. January turns and it’s way too cold outside and you’re bound to wait until the pay cheque arrives before contemplating poking your nose outside of your nest. That is except for the late night blow out that is New Years Eve. This year throws up a handful of decent parties across our town, but the highlight is definitely Kissy Sell Out. Playing his usual lively, electro-funk set of wicked remixes, from the likes of Chromeo to Does It Offend You Yeah, Oh and his Gwen Stefani has to be heard to be believed! He is a master of working crowds into a frenzy and will build the perfectly-suited Digital nightclub up to a messy peak. His DJ set is due to be as part of the after party so prepare for a late one.

ACT:                    KISSY SELL OUT
VENUE:               DIGITAL, Brighton Beach
COST:                  £15.00
DATE:                 New Years Eve 2008
WEBSITE:         Myspace

CANDI STATON
You heard me right. The legendary soul singer and renaissance woman hits our lucky shoreline in February. Playing at The Old Market you can expect her usual ‘best of’ collection from her 20+ albums. The best of her well known tunes include the disco classic ‘Young Hearts Run Free’ and the latter and engaging 90′s dance hit, ‘You Got The love’- a tune you have no doubt peaked to on a night out in any club from the 1990′s. She’s well known for a reason and that reason is mainly her voice. She’ll belt out the loud notes with such a volume that you won’t quite know what’s hit you. That’s a skill you never lose. This gospel singing Soul legend will be a sight to behold. Chances won’t come around for this type of legendary artist that often in our little city, so make the most of it and pop out for a trip down memory lane. All together now…”Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up in the air…”

ACT:                    CANDI STATON
VENUE
:                THE OLD MARKET, Brighton
COST:                  £18.00
DATE:                 Wednesday 25th February 2009
WEBSITE:          Myspace

That’s a couple of sets that will surely get you moving. If they don’t then I suggest you check your feet are still attached!
Mike