Love Supreme Review - Six New Jazz Discoveries

Love Supreme - Everything A Jazz Festival Should Be

Returning for a second year, (so far as I know) the UK's only camping three-day weekend summer jazz festival saw a massive overhaul from its hugely successful debut last year. The festival site was much larger this year with bigger stages, a wider variety of stalls and a better atmosphere than ever!

Whilst the sun didn't last all weekend, this did not dampen people's spirits, although Sunday's sunny day was definitely the busiest day of the festival. The walk in, walk out environment at all of the stages encouraged people to follow their ears and listen to what the liked the sound of, regardless of which stage it was on or who else was listening to it.

 Imelda May on the Main Stage - Sunday evening

 Sunset on the Main Stage - Sunday night

 Nikki Yanofsky at The Big Top - Saturday afternoon

 Georgia Mancio Trio at The Matua Sessions - Saturday afternoon

 Festival site - Saturday evening

 Normanton Street on Coco Face Bandstand - Saturday afternoon

 Festival crowds at the Main Stage - Sunday afternoon

 Soul II Soul on the Main Stage - Sunday evening

Ollie Howell Quintet at The Arena - Saturday afternoon

The best thing about the festival was seeing everybody from toddlers to pensioners all across the site having a great time, listening to great live music and feeling the love of Love Supreme. If you're not into the serious jazz, there is plenty of soul, funk, R'n'B, hip-hop and many other sub-genres to enjoy, so be sure to book early for next year, because if it carries on the way it's going, it could soon be one of the most popular festivals in the UK!

http://www.lovesupremefestival.com @lovesupremefest

Six New Jazz Discoveries from Love Supreme 2014

Here are just some of the new artists who I discovered over the weekend who are well worth a listen:

Nikki Yanofsky - Canadian prodigy superstar, aged just 20 and already in the big leagues of the r'n'b/pop-jazz scene with her uptempo catchy tunes

Omar - MBE songwriter and soul singer from the UK, described as the father of British neo soul, best known for his debut single "There's Nothing Like This".

Lalah Hathaway - With an incredible vocal range from the dizzying highs to the gravelly lows and the ability to sing chords (from time to time), Lalah will leave you speechless

Courtney Pine - A CBE awarded London saxophonist extraordinaire known for his upbeat arrangements, playful performance style and the many strange sounds be produces from his sax

Dave Holland's Prism - A little bit of heavy jazz that is very listenable, something to put your head down to and go on a journey with

Christian McBride Trio - A serious bassist with some of the fastest fingers in the business. Starting a long world tour with his performance in the UK at Love Supreme.

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Things To Do in Brighton & Hove - 4th July to 10th July 2014

Things to do in Brighton & Hove - Friday 4th July - Thursday 10th July

• 2nd July 2014
• Author: Tom Sayer
• 0 Comments

Brighton & Hove's Definitive What's On Guide

 

Friday 4th July

Love Supreme Festival @lovesupremefest
Starting Friday for weekend ticket holders and with one day tickets available for Saturday and Sunday, Love Supreme covers a wide range of jazz from pop to soul, including sets from Jamie Cullum, Earth, Wind & Fire and De La Soul.
From 4pm, Sat and Sun 11am
Weekend tickets £125 camping/ £110 non-camping
Day tickets £55/30 under 18s
Glynde Place - The St, Glynde, BN8 6SX

Formidable Vegetable Sound System @BrighthelmURC
4-piece band Vegetable Sound System are the world’s most triumphant experiment in ‘ecological electroswing’ busting out energetic, quirky mashups of speakeasy-style antique-beats with live ukulele wonk, hyperactive horns and the principles of permaculture
7pm, £6
Brighthelm Centre – North Road, BN1 1YD

Saturday 5th July

Paddle Round The Pier @PRTP
A free weekend beach festival, filled with charity fundraising events in the water and on dry land, with live music, stalls and activities for the little ones. Fun (hopefully) in the sun for the whole family.
9am Sat and Sun, Free entry
Brighton Seafront - West Pier

Jim Holland - Shoegazing @jim__holland
It’s shoetime! Polite comedy maverick Jim Holland brings intelligent wit, conversational delivery and two tone shoes to his debut show of dapper introversion.
8pm, £5
Upstairs at Three & Ten - 10 Steine St, BN2 1TE

Sunday 6th July

Hush Hush @whiterabbitpub
A weekly showcase of local acoustic acts, featuring Jenny Stanley, Sam Brothers and host Chuck SJ Hay.
8pm, Free entry
White Rabbit - Kensington Gardens, BN1 4AL

Tom Craine @TomCraine
Previewing his show for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this summer, Tom has previously written for Mock The Week and a host of Channel 4 Comedy Shows. "Wise, funny, lyrical" - Observer.
8:30pm, £5
Komedia – 44-47 Gardner Street, BN1 1UN

Monday 7th July

The Brunswick Open Mic @Brunswickpub
An intimate platform to perform your latest songs or simply to listen to the best local acoustic talent, with cabaret seating, a well-lit stage and a silent audience.
8:30pm, Free entry
Brunswick – 1 Holland Road, BN3 1JF

Tuesday 8th July

Jamie Knox @JamieKnoxmusic
A Brighton-based singer-songwriter from South London performing with his 4 piece band, combining elements of the uplifting energetic with the soul of the brooding melancholic. Support from Rory Indiana and Fools Empire.
7:30pm, Free entry
Green Door Store - Unit 2,3&4 Trafalgar Arches, BN1 4FQ

Wednesday 9th July

Naked Upstairs @timefort
A lovely evening of live music performed for your listening pleasure under candle light, in the 'secret upstairs' at the Good Companions. Featuring Joe McCarthy, Ellie Ford, Oktoba and Time for T (solo).
7:30pm, Free entry
Good Companions – 132 Dyke Road, BN1 3TE

Thursday 10th July

Roam @audiobrighton
Eastbourne pop-punk 5-piece embark on a headline UK tour, starting in Brighton. Expect high energy music and a fresh melodic sound.
7pm, £6
Audio - 10 Marine Parade, BN2 1NB

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Preview - Shakedown Festival - 19th July 2014

For those of you looking to get involved with the summer festival season without forking out hundreds of pounds on tickets, travel and camping gear, Shakedown Festival might very well be the one for you!

Shakedown was established in 2011 as a one day music festival, originally held in Stanmer Park. Due to the success of previous years, the festival now boasts a three stage line-up, being held just outside of Brighton in Waterhall. This year's line up is filled with great dance acts including Basement Jaxx, Duke Dumont, Groove Armada and Zane Lowe, who has performed every year at the Festival.

The is a free coach service to the festival operating from St. Peter's Church at the Steine from 11am til 7pm, returning between 8pm and 1am. There is no parking on site so this is the best way to get the festival.

Tickets £45 + booking fee or £75 + booking fee for VIP.

http://www.shakedown.co.uk @ShakedownUK

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Reviews 

My Top Five Brighton & Hove Open Mic Nights -

A guide to my favourite weekly open mic nights, including the old and the new.

Ten Artists Not To Miss At Love Supreme 2014

For those of you heading down to Love Supreme, here is my pick of ten acts to be sure to catch to guarantee you a great weekend.

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For more reviews, interviews and music features, check out whattomwrites.blogspot.com or follow me on twitter @tomsayeruk for updates.

Love Supreme - Ten Artists Not To Miss At Love Supreme 2014

With the full line up and stage times finally released, here are some of my hand-picked favourites for Love Supreme 2014, held in Glynde just outside Lewes and Brighton.

Friday 4th July

Fresh Like Dexie - Arena - 5pm

Brighton-based neo-funk collective Fresh Like Dexie combine influences of jazz, hip-hop, funk and pop in their keyboard and vocal heavy mix of fresh soul.

The Studio 9 Orchestra - Arena - 6pm

Another local act, Studio 9 Orchestra are a 19-piece orchestra, specialising in 20th century jazz, funk and latin music. Formed in 2011 by Scott Sheridan and Phillipe Guyard, it contains some of the finest jazz musicians that the south coast has to offer.

Saturday 5th July

Snarky Puppy - Main Stage - 2:15pm

Having just missed these guys performing twice in quick succession, I will not be making the same mistake after countless recommendations from friends. This New York-based group are an instrumental fusion band, led by Michael League, a GRAMMY Award-winning composer, producer and bassist. Following a sell out show at Cheltenham Jazz Festival last month, Snarky Puppy are the perfect way to ease yourself into the weekend of jazz at Love Supreme; with music that is experimental, innovative and down-right funky.

Normanton Street - Cocoface Bandstand - 5pm

Local superstars Normanton Street are so busy making moves, writing new songs and playing shows across the country, that it will surely not be long before they reach the big stages. With a host of great supports recently including MC Lars and Avery Sunshine, as well as mini UK and Welsh Tours, several performance at the Alternative Great Escape Festival and a headline performance on the Free Stage at Cheltenham Jazz Festival this year, who knows where you will see them playing next. See my interview with Normanton Street back in February here.

Laura Mvula - Main Stage - 5:45pm

Intimate and delicate, Laura Mvula's songwriting has a simple beauty displayed in a clear glass case. A multi-award nominated and double MOBO and Urban Music Award winning performer, I have seen Laura perform twice and will definitely be there for number three. Read my review of her headline set at Cheltenham Jazz Festival here.

Jamie Cullum - Main Stage - 9:30pm

Always a promoter of new jazz with his Radio 2 show and getting stuck into the jazz scene with his involvement with Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Jamie Cullum's latest album Momentum is something a little different from his smash-hit Twentysomething and its follow-ups. His new material shows a wider range of styles and a lot more shades to his musical palette without losing any of his energy and excitement in his performances. Read my review Jamie Cullum's opening set at Cheltenham Jazz Festival here.

Sunday 6th July

Curtis Stigers - Big Top - 4pm

American jazz vocalist Curtis Stigers has been recording albums for over two decades, so he must be doing something right. Having seen him perform as part of 'Friday Night Is Music Night Live' at Cheltenham Jazz Festival last month alongside Lianne Caroll and Kurt Elling as guests vocalists, I am sure that he will not disappoint with his smooth voice and style to match. Read my review of Curtis Stiger's performance at Cheltenham Jazz Festival here.

Imelda May - Main Stage - 6:30pm

My uncle is pretty clued up on the jazz scene, having been a professional musician for over 50 years, so when he suggests someone to listen to, I take his word that they will be great. Imelda May has an intensely busy touring schedule including festivals in the UK and Europe as well as a European tour from October until mid-December, so I'd assume a few people also think she is something special! Imelda's authentic Rockabilly revival sound will get you dancing, (hopefully) in the sunshine. Her new album Tribal is out now.

Gregory Porter - Big Top - 7:30pm

One of the best vocal performers that I have ever had the privilege to not only see live but also chat with and enjoy the after-festival party with at Love Supreme. His vocal presence matches his tall stature and his songwriting is sincere, personal and poetic. Check him out!

De La Soul - Main Stage - 8:30pm

25 Years going strong, De La Soul have a busy summer lined up, full of touring dates as well as a host of big festival dates in the Europe and the US. Fresh from Glastonbury and Solidays Festival in Paris the week before, De La Soul are sure to be on top form for their headline closing set of Love Supreme 2014.

Tickets

Weekend tickets are £125 camping, £110 non-camping.
Day tickets are available for just £55 adults and £30 under 18s.
Tickets are available from http://www.lovesupremefestival.com/tickets-on-sale-now.

For more updates of local music reviews, articles and interviews, follow my blog or follow me on twitter @tomsayeruk.