In concert on a superb double bill with the brilliant APES & BABES acapella group from Norway

When

Saturday 23rd October at 19:00
In concert on a superb double bill with the brilliant APES & BABES acapella group from Norway

Where

The Savoy Theatre

Price: €30
+ Tickets
+ The Brand New Heavies's website
+ The Brand New Heavies's Myspace page

About

Pioneers of the London acid jazz scene, the Brand New Heavies translated their love for the funk grooves of the 1970s into a sophisticated sound that carried the torch for classic soul.

Formed in 1985 by three long-time school friends from the London suburb of Ealing - the Brand New Heavies were originally an instrumental unit inspired by the legendary James Brown and also the Meters. The trio soon began recording their own music, gaining enormous exposure when their demo tracks were spun at the influential Cat in the Hat Club in London.

Eventually adding a brass section, the Brand New Heavies built a cult following throughout the London club circuit, surviving the shift that saw the rare groove scene fade in the wake of acid house.

After scoring at home with "Dream Come True" and "Stay This Way," the single "Never Stop" soon landed on the American R&B charts, with the Heavies the first British group to accomplish such a feat with a debut single since Soul II Soul several years earlier. A subsequent New York performance augmented by rappers Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest) and MC Serch (3rd Bass) inspired the group to begin absorbing hip-hop, and that summer they cut Heavy Rhyme Experience, Vol. 1, an album including guest appearances by rappers including Main Source, Gang Starr, Grand Puba, and the Pharcyde.

1994's Brother Sister, which went platinum in Britain, was the sensational N’Dea Davenport's last recording with the Heavies before beginning a solo career. N’Dea, who hails from New York, gave the group a hi-energy and groovy feel to the performances. Two years later, the group reappeared with a British best-of album entitled Trunk Funk: The Best of the Brand New Heavies.

In early 2006 it was announced that Davenport would be reuniting with the group and she fronts the group to this day. N’Dea Davenport is certainly not a stranger to the music industry. She previously provided background vocals to a number of artists including Madonna. She has proved to have great chemistry with the Brand New Heavies and adds the right element of funky and soulful vocals that are essential.

The energy from the band in concert is almost non-stop as they cruise through hits like “Dream on Dreamer,” “Midnight at the Oasis,” “Sometimes” and “Brother and Sister.” Each hit brings back more memories of their classic run, and momentum builds throughout the course of the red hot performance.

It’s a top class show that is as funky as hell. Unmissable!

Line up for Cork:
N’Dea Davenport (vocals), Simon Bartholomew (guitar), Jan Kincaid (keyboards/drums) and Andrew Levy (keyboards/bass) plus full support band