Follow the writing sessions for Congotronics vs Rockers !...

10 Congolese and 10 indie artists in 6 countries are currently swapping files to prepare this incredible project.
Follow this (almost) in real time, by visiting the blog which documents the rehearsals for the show. At this very moment, members of Kasai Allstars & Konono No.1 (in Kinshasa, Congo), Deerhoof (in New Mexico and elsewhere), Skeletons (in NY), WIldbirds & Peacedrums (in Sweden), Girls in Hawaii (in Belgium) and Juana Molina (in Argentina) are recording sketches, emailing them back and forth, and adding ideas onto each other's contribution. 

Everyone will then get together in Brussels for rehearsals, prior to the world premiere of the Congotronics vs Rockers project, on May 12 at the Cirque Royal in Brussels, on the opening night of the Nuits Botanique Festival.

Band of Gypsies is on the move!

Supporting the release of "Band of Gypsies 2", the Balkan Gypsy supergroup hits the road!
The much anticipated release "Band of Gypsies 2", featuring Taraf de Haïdouks & Koçani Orkestar is out now! So is the group! They will play a number of high profile concerts and festivals.

The first dates have been announced:

With more to come !

Check here for concert updates.

Lonely Drifter Karen heard throughout Europe

Lately many people have noticed the catchy compositions of Lonely Drifter Karen coming out of their radios and televisions.







Spanish ears are tickling with the appearance of "This World Is Crazy" in a whimsical ad for El Corte Inglés, whereas in Sweden people are being encouraged to "Show Your Colours" in outdoor health activities & sport.
"This World Is Crazy" is from Lonely Drifter Karen's first recording "Grass Is Singing". "Show Your Colours" is from last year's pivotal collection "Fall of Spring".

But thankfully it doesn't stop here! This international pop group swirling around the captivating voice of Tanja Frinta and keyboard magic of Marc Meliá Sobrevias are bringing their melodies to at least two of the four corners of the globe.
The group will play a series of concerts in Spain, including one in support of the Congotronics vs Rockers project on 14 May in Madrid. From there, they will be taking off for distant shores with a 12-day tour of China (dates to be released soon) , then return back to Europe for a series of concerts in July & August. But that's not all ! We hear they are working on some new recordings so look forward to more news on that soon !

Staff Benda Billi are back & stronger than ever before!

Coming back "very strong" with a gala premier in London! Video!




Staff Benda Bilili started their European tour with a screening of "Benda Bilili" & concert at the Union Chapel. A short video of this special event can be seen above.

Congotronics vs Rockers: first tour dates announced

The exceptional tour by the collaborative ensemble featuring Konono N°1, Deerhoof, Juana Molina, Kasai Allstars, Wildbirds & Peacedrums and Skeletons is taking shape!
A first string of dates have now officially been announced:

May 12: premiere at Cirque Royal, Brussels (BE), for the opening night of the Nuits Botanique festival
May 14: Madrid (ES)
June 26: Couleur Café, Brussels (BE)
June 30: Le Guess Who, Utrecht (NL)
July 2: Roskilde (DK) 
July 3: HKW, Berlin (DE)
July 6: Metz (F)
July 9: Bataclan, Paris (F)
July 12: The Barbican, London (UK)
July 14: Benicassim (ES)
July 17: Vieilles Charrues Festival, Carhaix (F)
July 21: Paleo, Nyon (CH)
July 23: FMM Sines (PT)
July 30: Fuji Rock (JP)

More dates TBA soon

More info here

Konono No.1 win Grammy, tour Europe

The award for "Best Pop Collaboration" went to 'Imagine' by Herbie Hancock, Pink, India.Arie, Konono No.1, Seal, Jeff Beck & Oumou Sangare

After being nominated for a Grammy with the "Live at Couleur Café" album (2007), Konono No.1 have just won an award with this track excerpted from Herbie Hancock's latest album, "The Imagine Project", on which the jazz luminary invited artists from various parts of the world to collaborate. See the video here.

The other contenders in the "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals" (category 8) included tracks featuring Eminem, Elton John & Leon Russel, Lady Gaga & Beyoncé, Katy Perry & Snoop Dogg.

Totally surreal, isn't it ?....

Konono No.1 are now embarking upon a European tour which starts on Feb.23 in Prague and ends on March 25 in Bergen (NO), after visiting Germany, France, Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands. See the dates here.

Konono will then be working on the "Congotronics vs Rockers" live project, the superband also featuring Deerhoof, Kasai Allstars, Juana Molina, Wildbirds & Peacedrums and Skeletons, which will perform at major festivals and venues around Europe and Japan in May, June & July 2011.

HOQUETS find a home at Crammed Discs

From the wood shop to the record store, Crammed welcomes Hoquets to the label !




From their workshop in Brussels, Belgium,  we are proud to introduce you to HOQUETS.  Strongly influenced by our Congotronics groups and their instruments made out of recuperated materials, the members of HOQUETS use a similar attitude: this trio exclusively play with instruments that they invent & construct out of wooden boards, broken strings, tin cans, etc. They play music which is at times strange, overflowing with energy, and like no other: inspired by indie pop, punk, funk & their use of unusual instruments, this music is both without precedent & strangely familiar at the same time.

Their debut album is scheduled to be released early this April. 

Special Holiday offer to launch 30 years of Crammed Discs

Buy one cd album & get one cd album for free. And that is just the beginning !
The end of the year is a great moment to share your favorite music with friends & family.

To make this easier, we at Crammed Discs are happy to share with you this special offer:
Buy one cd album & get one cd album for free.

If that is not enough, here is an added bonus:

As we begin to celebrate our 30th year in 2011, we would like to give a present to you:
If you buy two albums * (+ one album for free!), we will give you a surprise disc,
one of our golden moments from the Crammed Discs catalogue.

This offer ends January 31st.

So here's to you and yours: Happy Holidays !

The Crammed Family

Band of Gypsies: Live in Brussels 12/12!

Sometimes we document history, sometimes we make history.

Taraf de Haïdouks, the wildest of all Balkan Gypsy bands, celebrate their 20th anniversary by getting together once again with mighty, funky Macedonian brass band Koçani Orkestar for a new "Band Of Gypsies" show:  an irresistibly festive extravaganza which will see the two bands play TOGETHER and combine music from all over the Balkans and Turkey.

Just like the Taraf's original "Band of Gypsies" (which was recorded exactly 10 years ago in Bucharest and became their milestone album), this very special show will be recorded, filmed and released on CD in the Spring of 2011. This concert will be the premiere of a new series of BAND OF GYPSIES show around the world.

DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS HISTORIC EVENT!

12/12 BRUSSELS - ANCIENNE BELGIQUE 8pm

TICKETS ON SALE HERE