"The discovery of the year" Craig Charles BBC6 Music
Jelly Jazz & Eden Arts Cafe proudly presents
From Record Kicks, the album launch party for... THE UNDERBELLY
& Roxie Ray
with DJs PETE ISAAC (Jelly Jazz) DJ GRIFF (Rambunctious Social Club) Friday 2nd April @ The Eden Project, St. Austell 7pm - 12.30am. £7.00
April sees a very special Eden Arts Cafe session as Cornish funksters The Underbelly rock up to Eden with Australian vocalist Roxie Ray in tow to celebrate their debut album release on the acclaimed Italian funk and soul label Record Kicks! This is going to be an absolute monster of a night!
Based in the far South West, The Underbelly have been steadily gathering momentum, writing loads of songs and gigging their way around Cornwall and Devon to very positive reactions from the dancefloor and from listeners across the airwaves. After a bunch of gigs with Jelly Jazz and spins on Jelly Jazz radio, a demo was sent to Craig Charles on BBC6 music, no doubt the most popluar funk and soul show on UK airwaves, and he absolutely loved it. Calling them 'the discovery of the year' is some statement and one which must have had the boys feeling pretty damn proud of themselves for. Needless to say it wasn't long before record label interest grew, and with a few labels making offers, the band ultimately signed to Record Kicks for an album deal. Based in Milan, Record Kicks specialises in funk, soul, jazz and Afro flavours with a very healthy roster of artists including Kokolo, Hi Fly Orchestra, Gizelle Smith, Ray Harris, Trio Valore and loads more. They are in good company then.
Listen to the new 45 on Record Kicks: 'I Keep Headin On' feat Roxie Ray
'Cold Toast'
Buy vinyl
"Stunning, loving the tunes to bits. Big and beefy, just how we like our funk" Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show "The Underbelly KICK ASS!" Pete Isaac (Jelly Jazz radio show) "Nice slice of classic funk!" Eddie Piller (Acid Jazz / BBC 4) "Some more raw funk from the Record Kicks camp and sounding on point to me! DJ Andy Smith "Cold toast? No way Jose! This is hot buttered funk toast with super sweet Jam on the side! Infectious Scratchy guitar and a dope brass section!" Nik Weston (Mukatsuku / Guynamukat) "I Keep Heading is a full blooded punch of energy. Love it loads!!"
Diesler (Tru Thoughts / Freestyle)
The band play an edgy, melodic style of full-on deep funk. Taking influences from every sphere of music, they blend memorable horn melodies with a tight, kicking rhythm section all mixed up with percussive breaks to keep your feet on the dancefloor, and a tune in your head. The band is made up of Luke New (sax), Richard Hume (sax & flute), Matt Taylor (guitar), Richard Voisin (bass) and Roger Luxton (drums), who between them have built up a wealth of experience in the music world.
The Underbelly formed in late 2007, and generated interest with the recording of their very first demo, which was picked up by Craig Charles and played week in and week out on his BBC6 Radio show, and featured on his BBC Radio 2 Christmas special. Following this exposure the band signed a deal with Milan-based record label Record Kicks, through which they will be releasing a 45 single featuring Roxie Ray in March 2010, followed by the release of their debut album "7 Feet Under", for which Craig Charles wrote the liner notes. The album blends a mix of uptempo ‘raise the roof’ instrumental funk, vocal tracks featuring upcoming Australian singer Roxie Ray, and summery jazz/funk, aiming to fit into place on both a DJ deck and your MP3 player.
The Underbelly have played numerous live gigs around the UK at venues such as the Jazz / World Stage, Glastonbury Festival, Ronnie Scotts (London), The Jazz Café (London), and session work at various UK studios, and have shared the stage with such acts as Quantic, Kinny, Flevans (Tru Thoughts), The Apples and Pete Isaac (Jelly Jazz).
So it's all very exciting for the lads, and us, especially as we've been involved with saxophonist Luke New since day one at Jelly Jazz. He was the man behind the band Big World Skunk, a funk/latin party band of epic proportions, a proper 'good time' band that enjoyed some memorable sessions around the SW and beyond. We even put out a 12" on Jelly Jazz Records, the first and only release we did! So to see the new band gain this much attention, a record deal, the prospect of stepping into the international scene, playing gigs around the world and more records to come is fabulous. Make sure you come to this one if you can, it's going to be a corker!
The album titled 'Seven Feet Under' is due out on vinyl and CD on 22nd March, with the 45 single out on 8th March.
Jelly Jazz @ The Eden Arts Cafe
Filmed at the brilliant 1st Birthday Party in last September with The Apples, Underbelly, Jelly Jazz and loads of people all lovin' the Arts Cafe message and vibe.
