ERA, the new-age musical group of the 1990s and 2000s, returns for amazing shows throughout Europe in 2019 and 2020. They provide a real musical journey out of the ordinary, brought by its creator and his 40 singers and musicians.
Former guitarist-rocker Eric Levi begins composing film scores in the early 1990s. Shortly thereafter he creates Era, a project that fuses Gregorian Chant-style choral singing with rock beats, in the style of Enigma’s MCMXC A.D.
Era (styled as +eRa+, an acronym for “Enminential Rhythm of the Ancestors”) uses lyrics (by Guy Protheroe) which, although similar to Greek or Latin, are, in fact, deliberately devoid of any exact meaning. Lyrics are also partially based on beliefs of the 13th century French Christians, the Cathars.
Furthermore, Era’s live shows and music videos often feature artists dressed in medieval or traditional clothes and armour. For the ‘Ameno’ song, Eric Lévi draws his inspiration while visiting the Collioure castle, South West of France.
Indeed, 22 years after the triumph of their first album, Era comes back with a family-oriented and enchanting performance. They dive into the group’s fantasmagorical universe that sold more
Additionally, Era sells out in 2019 and adds more touring dates and cities for 2020 throughout France, Belgium and Russia. You can book your tickets or buy their albums directly on their website.
In the meantime, enjoy this slideshow and videos taken at the live concert in Zénith Toulouse in November 2019.
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Finally, if you would like to follow them on social media, you can find them on Instagram and Facebook.
Time is up, on 22nd June 2019, the Picós phenomenon, Caribbean Colombian Coast sound systems, invades Toulouse at Mix’Art Myrys!
As a follow-up to the French ‘fête de la musique’, several Toulousian communities offer to bring you on board of an immersive trip through the popular urban culture of the Colombian coast.
– a music set compiled by DJ Galletas Calientes and local DJ No Breakfast. They are meeting for the first time on stage!
2. DJs PRESENTATION
Secondly, let’s talk about the tropical DJ Galletas Calientes (Colombia/France) coming directly from the Caribbean Colombian Coast for everyone’s delight!
►►Galletas Calientes Records label creator, he honours us as a DJ within the ‘Mas I Mas’ Parisian community since the middle of the 1990s. Techno/Drum and bass DJ at first, he is also currently interested in the traditional folk and electro music fusion…
Since he lives in Colombia, his music culture is enhanced with Latin and tropical rhythms. He collaborates with labels and artists at the forefront of the Colombian stage such as:
Systema Solar,
Meridian Brothers,
Palenque Records,
Sonidos Enraizados…
For this festival, he offers you a trip through frenzied rhythms around a set coming directly from the best Picós of the Colombian Caribbean Coast!
And with him, the unmissable and legendary local DJ No Breakfast we no longer introduce due to his reputation of vinyl’s digger and music nights entertainer in the pink town of Toulouse.
►► DJ No Breakfast offers us a wonderful Caribbean set on his vinyl collector discs.
3. PROGRAMME
Then let’s move on to a more detailed programme.
►► 7 pm:
‘Champeta’ dance entertainment by Anika. Champeta is a Caribbean Colombian Music of African influence. I’m afraid I do not have videos of this, as I came to the event at 9 pm. But I have filmed their music performance!
A fresco from a collaboration between Colombian artist Soma and a local artist Natsvit.
‘Hasta Abajo!’ is a series of street posters at the image of the Picó nights announcers. They are produced by the photographer Leslie Moquin in partnership with Locombia Festival.
It is worth noting the film is a finalist at the Sundance London Film and Music Festival 2019. This highly recommended film has been produced by Roberto de Zubiria and Sergio Zaraza.
►►10.30 pm: DJs sets start
►►12 pm: Video Mapping by Felipe Vargas, the Caribbean Mapper:
4. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Thirdly, here is the overall programme of the main events:
7-9 pm: Doors opening and Latino Graff Walls
9 pm: Film screening
10 pm: Champeta music
10.30pm: DJ sets start
12 pm: Video mapping.
Furthermore, please take note of the festival location:
Mix’Art Myrys, Rue Ferdinand Lasalle 43, Toulouse.
Also, what else to find?
refreshment and catering areas
market stalls of Colombian Caribbean souvenirs such as these dolls:
5. Organisers and partners
Finally, a big thank you to all the following partners who made this festival possible!
On Saturday 2nd January 2016 I attended this amazing live concert by 2 members of the Jaffa Cakes band at Cafe Dublin, 17b Asdill’s Row, Temple Bar, Dublin 2.
I got the chance to meet both the lovely singer Plinny Phoenix and pianist Dario Rodighiero. I enjoyed so much their live jazz/bossa nova performance that I made a video out of it! The audience appreciated it as well. You can see and hear them cheering and clapping.
BAND MUSIC STYLES AND MEMBERS
The Jaffa Cakes band is a taste of the most famous songs in a retro style, that could be any genre of music, but mostly:
jazz,
blues,
swing,
funk.
They’ve got just a piano, drums and a voice. Yet they bring a unique mix of retro-modern songs in the blues, funk and jazz genre.
The 3 band members are:
Miss Phoenix @ Vocals
Dario Rodighiero Duck @ Piano
Paolo Zuddas @ Drums.
If you’d like to know more about each member, check their biographies:
I attended in 2014 a bossa nova and samba live concert by the Nova Collective Bossanova band at House Dublin, 27 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2.
I thought you might have liked to hear more about it!
Nova Collective, an Irish-Brazilian Bossanova band founded in 2012. The band is playing every Sunday from 5 to 7 pm at the ‘House Dublin bar and restaurant’.
The band is led by pianist Louis Ryan. The line-up ranges from 5 to 8 of the finest jazz and Latin musicians Ireland has on offer.
They released a debut EP called ‘Samba De Amor’you can buy and download in multiple formats.
If you would like to know more about them and their projects, check their Facebook page.
Finally, I have recorded few songs from their live performance on Sunday 23rd November 2014.
I hope you will enjoy listening to these mixed tapes!
For those who haven’t watched the City of Men series and film (called Cidade dos Homens in Brazilian), I highly recommend you to do so. The story follows two characters from early teenage hood to adulthood and can be purchased on ebay or amazon.
Here, I will only discuss with you today about the music aspects of these series and film, as the soundtracks are well worth a mention!
The composer of the film (Acerola and Laranjinha as young adults) is Antonio Pinto, who mixed many genres such as rap, funk, jazz, blues, samba…If you would like to read a little more about him and/or listen to some of his tracks, check the following links: