Conference marvin::uk_music

     Eh, I think I know a little about them. Back in 1984/85/86, John Peel
used to play some album tracks by them, and he even had them in for a session
once.  Like you, I was intrigued by the music, an infectious rousing kind of
'romany'-music, is how I'd describe it. 
     I was much taken by it and did a lot of taping. I Dont have any records
by them, but that because they aren't exactly easy to come by in Ireland.
I'll have a listen to my old tapes tonight and try to get the name of their
record label for you. (I think they're on Vindaloo with The Nightingales, 
Ted Chippington and others) As far as I know, they are a group of ethnic Turks, 
or else they hail from the Balkans, I'm not exactly sure. They live in the UK,
and used to play quite a few gigs in the London area. 
     I once read a review of one of these which sounded like an absolute
madhouse. Apparently all the Mustaphas extended families turned up at this
concert and whole families danced and sang and played for hours !
     If I get any album names or record company name, I'll post it here.

Pk. 

I had a listen to those old tapes of mine last night, and the sense
of total abandon and furious musicianship poured out. At the risk of 
pigeon-holing the group, this is World music at its best. 

During the first Peel session they made, he comments that they are
"... still unrecorded." . On a later tape, though he says that they have
an album out named 'Bam Mustapaha',  (I knew it!) but doesnt say what label,
unfortunately.

Pk.

    that reminds me; I've also heard the 3M3 rhythm section backing up two
    musicians from Mali (?) on the Peel show a year or so back. One of them
    may have been called Digi Tembo (sp). Very hypnotic stuff......
    
    Bob

If the guys name was something like Digi Tembo, then it was almost certainly
Bigi Tembo, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist (?) with the toast of Zimbabwean
music, The Bhundu boys. They similarly found it difficult to get a record deal,
but due to the patronage of WASP rock-stars and air-play by Andy Kershaw and
John Peel, they finally signed to WEA or someone like that about two years ago.

Since then, I understand that the major has not been happy due to their failure
to fill stadia. Last I heard, they were playing support to Madonna at wembley.
I kid you not. I saw them in Ronnie Scotts in february 1986, it was choca-block
full of people dancing and singing. (Except for me. I cant dance.). A very good
gig. They really do spend a lot of time gigging around the UK, (but Galway ???)
and I dont expect you'll have to wait to long before they play near you,
wherever you are, especially with the Universities starting the academic year
around now.

The Bhundu boys are superb players, and I expect that they - either individually
or in group form - will play more and more as 'guests' on albums by Sting, 
Paul Simon, U2, ... in future. Especially Shaki Kangwena, can he play the guitar
or what! While dancing around the place !


Pk.

    
    I remember at Reading Festival last year it was pouring with rain and
    John Peel put A Bhundu Boys record on and so many people got up and
    danced, it really changed the atmosphere from people being fed up with
    being wet all the time etc to a being really happy.  It was one of the
    highlights of the festival for me apart from the bands because it was
    so great to see how so many people were affected by it.  They were also
    very good when they played live on I think the Sunday.
    
    Tim
    ---

    .1�            <<< Note 725.1 by GALVIA::PKENNEDY "Sugar Smack Head" >>>


    .1�                                                 I Don't have any records
    .1�by them, but that because they aren't exactly easy to come by in Ireland.

    Hey Pk...what's this Galway/Ireland *bashing*? :-)

    I ventured into town yesterday and dropped into to the new 'Mulligans'
    record shop. They specialise in album and tape imports and you can get
    records from all over the World. Like Australia,South America,Cuba, Eastern
    Europe,Asia. They also cover Cajun,Zydeco,Afro-beat,Blues recordings
    dating back to the 20s and 30s and the complete Gael Linn collection!

    So I stroll over to the Eastern European section and Lo-and-Behold I
    find not one but three 3M3 albums! The titles being 'Bam!...the 3m3
    play stereo also','Heart of Uncle' and 'Shopping'. From looking at the
    album covers there seems to be six in the group(hence 3M3?) all called
    something Mustapha(possibly 5 brothers and an uncle?). Mulligans is
    located on the corner beside 'Strawberry Fields' caf� which is not too
    far from the Quay's Bar(a well known Galway watering hole) or the
    County Library building.

    As for the Galway city music scene it ain't all that bad...though it
    sorta reached it's peak in the early 80s. What with the July Arts
    Festival,College gigs,the pub scene,busking festivals and the other
    street festivals anything is liable to happen! The Bhundu Boys played
    the Warwick Hotel on at least one occasion a few years back it's just
    a matter of keeping an eye on the local papers and being in the know
    ...says he jokingly :-)

    Hope this helps.
    
    Rgds.,
    
    - Dave K.

RE: .7

> the new 'Mulligans' record shop.

 Right, I must go see this place.

> As for the Galway city music scene
> it ain't all that bad...though it sorta reached it's peak in the early 80s

 Too right, so did Cork. I saw the Undertones, The Fall, The Cure, The 4 Be 2's,
 Lene Lovich, The Specials, The Beat, The Stranglers, Depeche Mode, U2 and many
 others in Cork between 1980-1982. What's happened ???? I always blamed the
 shutting down of the all-year-round ferry between Cork and Swansea for the
 abrupt drop-off of activity. This is sad, because when not many bands play
 in a town, then not only is their not much to do, but also people cease to
 be really influenced by them and get fired up to start their own bands or
 get involved in other areas like film, theatre. The venue most of those
 bands played in in Cork is long gone. 

> the July Arts Festival,College gigs, 

 I was really looking forward to the Arts Festival, the film scedule was ok,
 but there was little live music innovation, like didn't Stocktons Wing play
 for the Festival ?. BTW I would give a lot to be involved in organising this
 kind of event, I am *not* moaning and waiting for 'someone else' to do it.
 I know exactly the kind of music I would like to bring in here, the problem
 is having the power and the resources to do it.

 If you hear of any college gigs, post them in the "A Galway Note" topic,
 I'd be delighted to hear about them !


> the pub scene, busking festivals

 I've already said in my "A Galway Note" Topic that I reckon that the pub scene
 and trad. music scene are probably very good. But I am unmoved by celtic trad.
 music  (something to do with the dearth of syncopation, I suspect) and as for
 looking for musical sustenance from busking festivals... 

 BTW the Pixies are reported to be about to embark on a tour of Ireland.
 Cant wait to see their schedule.

Pk

>>> BTW the Pixies are reported to be about to embark on a 
>>> tour of Ireland. Cant wait to see their schedule.

As far as I know the only Irish dates are:-

   Oct 1st, National Stadium, Dublin
   Oct 2nd, Belfast.

Better check this though as they might have added more dates.

jim