Punch touring is proud to announce the UK tour by a real legend of African music. Tony Allen will be marking his 70th birthday and the 50th anniversary of Nigerian independence with a UK tour this autumn. Kicking off at the mac (Midlands Art Centre)  in Birmingham, the five date tour with his full afrobeat orchestra will play in Leeds, London, Edinburgh, Bristol and Glasgow. Tony Allen, who played at the WOMAD festival in Charlton Park on 23 July 2010, will be promoting his CD Secret Agent and playing a special showcase at London’s Barbican. This will be the third tour produced through Black Routes, the network for touring African and Caribbean music.

Full 2010 tour dates are:
30 September, Birmingham mac

1 October, Glasgow The Aches

2 October, Edinburgh HMV Picture House

3 October, Leeds Wardrobe

6 October, London Barbican Centre

7 October, Bristol Metropolis

Tony Allen’s track Asiko was heavily sampled by J Dilla. Check out the clip below:

Born in August 1940, and a self-taught musician, Tony Allen began to play at the age of eighteen, a fan of American jazz but also fascinated by traditional music and with the percussion work of Ghanaian Guy Warren, who mixed traditional rhythms with the new sounds of American bebop. Invited to audition for a jazz-highlife band by Fela Kuti in 1964, he became an original member of Kuti’s Koola Lobitos highlife-jazz band and started a decades-long musical relationship.

Allen is known as the man who put the beat in Afrobeat, Nigeria’s most influential musical export – a combination of the heavy groove and universal appeal of soul with jazz, highlife, and the polyrhythms of Yoruba music. Allen’s fusion of drum styles perfectly complemented Fela’s new African groove and he recorded over 30 albums with Fela and Africa ’70 – widely regarded as Fela’s best works. He has also worked with Manu Dibango, King Sunny Ade and Ray Lema. While often returning to the Afrobeat template that made his name, in the years since Allen has also worked with a broad range of rock acts, such as Jimi Tenor,  and, to general acclaim, with Damon Albarn, Paul Simonon as the group The Good, The Bad and the Queen.

In addition Smash Bro’z lead artist Kashmir won first place in the solo freestyle and the group also won the freedom of expression award. They received the highest artistic scores of any crew in the competition. Massive congrats from everyone at Punch.

Smash Bro’z will also be performing  at this year’s BASS Festival in June.  Mean while keep updated with Smash Bro’z by checking out their blog, click here. 

Below is a video footage of Smash Bro’z performing at the Championships.

Ghetts is hailed as one of the primer Grime MC’s and his hotly anticipated new album will be out in Summer 2010.

Ghetts joins the panel to talk about how important digital image and promotion is to artists and musicians.

Places for the seminar are free but you need to register to attend and places are limited, click here for all the details.

Below is the new video from Ghetts:

FAITH47 was one of the key artists we worked with during BASS 2008.

See the blog article and watch the video by clicking here.

The article is an interview with Punch Director Ammo, who explains the reasons of why this topic is being explored, ” We want this seminar to be a stepping stone to new work and business for everyone in the music world.”

Tuned On is a series of free seminars that explore issues affecting today’s contemporary music industry. For more information on the seminars click here.

If you’re interested in applying for your event to be showcased as part of BASS 2010 just click here.

For more information on the Design Competion click here.

Monday 8 February 2010  6pm – 7.30pm – Symphony Hall

 Is Black music dead?

This seminar explores whether Black music events are still successful or whether the red tape and fears of violence surrounding them has made it harder for promoters and organisers,  under continued pressure from police and local authorities. Panellists will discuss the implementation of the 696 form in London, a form which makes promoters highlight any events that may attract a BME crowd.

Confirmed speakers include Akala (Hip Hop Shakespeare Company & brother of Ms Dynamite), drum n bass MC Magika, Mo from The TickerSellers and Tyson from BMG, an event security firm in Birmingham.

We are also happy to confirm that the Superintendent and Sergeant from the Licensing and Planning unit at Steel House Lane, West Midlands Police will also be on the panel.

Interested? Then sign up for a FREE place by sending your name and email address to sophie@punch-records.co.uk or call us on 0121 224 7444.

Nigeria 50 is a cultural event which will bring the best of Nigerian culture celebrating five decades of music, art, fashion, writing and style from Africa’s most exciting nation.

Nigeria 50 – African Soul, Global Style

On the 1st of October 2010 Nigeria will be celebrating 50 years of independence from colonial rule.

Nigeria 50 is a cultural event which will bring the best of Nigerian culture to fresh and eager audiences worldwide. For the very first time the fruits of five decades of music, art, fashion, writing and style from Africa’s most exciting nation will be on tour together.

This is a tour rich with the unique soul and the vibrant style of Nigeria – the most populous Black nation on earth.

Working with artists such as Tony Allen, Dele Somsimi and Lemi Ghariokwu, the tour will take place in across the UK, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Cape Town and of course Lagos.

You can download more information on the project by clicking on the links below:

Nigeria Next - Generic overview of the festival and broad aims.

Nigeria 50 Timeline - UK programme of events and activities.

If you would like more information, or would like to get involved please call Ammo on 0121 224 7444.