The Big Top, Cardiff,
Tue 6 June
Ogun State is a region of Nigeria whose most noteworthy musical son is the late great Fela Kuti, kickstarter of the Afrobeat style and top political rabble-rouser. Ogun State is, as of this event, also a Cardiff-based promotional entity with a music policy of Afrobeat, funk and the ever-indefinable ‘world music’ – all things in which Fela’s legacy looms large, nearly 20 years after his death. Why are they throwing this party now, precisely? Well, apart from the obvious retort – why not? – it’s a fundraising night for Voluntary Service Overseas, an organisation that enlists volunteers to work on various projects in developing countries. No time like the present with this sort of thing, right?
Topping the bill tonight is Cardiff-based DJ Viewpoints [pictured], real name Gethin Herbert. Viewpoints has had a busy 2017 already, his schedule seeing him share decks with Horse Meat Disco, Greg Wilson and The Reflex among others. In keeping with those names, he makes a point of displaying a rangy eclecticism and musical knowledge; his sets more normally tend towards slinky, slo-mo disco and house, but there are plenty of dots to join between that and the sound that Fela pioneered.
Warming up for Viewpoints will be the Milkshake Boys, whose identity is frankly a mystery to me, but either way this should be a really good way to make the club go up on a Tuesday.
Admission: £5/£4 adv. Info: 029 2022 8883 (NG)