Upcoming events.
Mother of Mankind - Myogeniks, Rosy Kear and The Village Idiot
After a short hiatus, Mother of Mankind is back in a revamped venue now with TWO floors of music with a refitted bar upstairs and the basement we all know and love down below. Downstairs will feature, as always, the Mother of Mankind soundsystem and we have an exciting roster of DJs to soundtrack your night.
Eoghan McDonaugh is a Filmmaker and DJ/Selector under the alias Myogeniks. Also, a cofounder of Medina Presents, a mysterious dance which has been host to the likes of Romare, Le Motel, O’Flynn and Mr. Bongo through on the turntables. Myogeniks sets are characterised by texture and colour, focussing on melody and percussive elements. Expect a coherent yet unpredictable blend of genres and styles - gathering momentum with smiles and dancing.
Rosy Kear is a multi genre DJ based in Stroud. An integral member of Joicey Collective, resident DJs hosting club nights and running workshops for womxn at SVA, Stroud and beyond. Rosy’s sets are playful and bold, with flashes of nostalgia and global influences, taking you on an energetic journey with the dancefloor at its centre. Expect punchy percussion, warmth, groove and a healthy dose of bass along the way.
The Village Idiot is a local record collector and tastemaker who has been DJing for more than 20 years. He moves effortlessly across genres and is guaranteed to get you moving to music you know and love, and plenty you have never heard before.
Tom Rickey is founder of Mother of Mankind, playing music rooted in Africa - expect Sokous, Afrobeat, Makossa and some rare records from across the continent.
If there are any tickets left on the night they will be £18 on the door, look forward to seeing you on the dancefloor!
ION Festival, Albania
Last year I played a set at the Yacht Club overlooking the Ionian sea and I’m going back for more this year. A couple of sets still TBC but I have been told I will be supporting the incredible Kilimanjaro at the pool party so looking forward to that one already 🏝
ACD Arts + Drumming and Dance Workshops
Really excited to be hosting the wonderful ACD Arts band in Frome. They will be holding two workshops and performing twice throughout the day / evening. The group will be running a dance workshop in the daytime (supported by Lydia Moahy Moore) and a drumming workshop in the evening (supported by Abi Bailey). I will be providing music on the decks throughout the day on the Mother of Mankind Soundsystem.
Adults £5 kids go free.
We Out Here Festival
Last year was the first year that I played at my favourite UK festival. The music is always so good, and so well balanced across different genres and energies. Very excited to be invited back to play there again this year - set places and times still TBC!
Love Specs Tent, Secret Garden Party
The Love Specs tent went OFF last year, I really had some of my favourite DJ moments there. It encompasses a lot of what is good about SGP - a little tent that you stumble in to when you are heading to the main stage and then get stuck there for 3 hours and lose track of time. More of the same this year!
Supporting Harare at the Silk Mill, Frome Festival
Really excited to be supporting Zimbabwean group Harare as they return to Frome to play at the wonderful Frome Festival here in my home town. Will be warming up for them and playing a few for a dance after the gig!
ION Festival
I can’t wait to play at ION Festival in Albania! I’ll be playing two sets at the beautiful Yacht Club on the Ionian Sea:
Thursday 7th September - 22:00-00:00
Sunday 10th September - 22:00-00:00
Get your tickets here and I’ll see you in the sunshine!
We Out Here Festival
Super excited and humbled to be playing my FAVOURITE UK festival, We Out Here. I’ll be closing the Hennessy stage from 2.30 AM to 4 AM on Saturday night / Sunday morning.
You can get your tickets for We Out Here, here!
50 Years of Hip-Hop
On the 11th of August 1973, Clive Campbell, aka DJ Kool Herc, holds a back-to-school party in the rec room of an apartment building on Segwick Avenue in the Bronx.
50 years on, and Hip-Hop is one of the most influential music genres and cultural movements in history. We are celebrating the depth and breadth of the music, with our DJs hailing from the UK, Japan and the USA we will take you on a journey across borders and through time....
Atsushi Hasegawa starting his hip Hop journey in Tokyo in the 1980s, where he playing with Nigo (bape) and Hiroshi Fujiwara, founders of legendary Japanese hiphop label MAJOR FORCE. In the mid 90’s he moved to Paris, DJing on the StoneThrow tour with Peanut Butter Wolf and Egon and forging a record deal with Cut Chemist.
Steven Uttley (Selector Ste U), is 50 this year, as is hip hop as a music and global cultural phenomenon. Having been drawn in by 80's electro and early rap via a Manchester radio station, he has been a hip hop fan, gig goer and vinyl collector ever since. First gig attended in the mid 80's was Run DMC and Public Enemy!
Mr Mankind was born in the USA and grew up listening to De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest and Jurassic 5. Fast forward to 2023 and he has built an audiophile soundsystem and started an African music night in the basement at French General Trading in Frome. Tonight though, is all about the Hip Hop - join us to listen in high fidelity and dance the night away. Don't be afraid to dust off your baggy jeans, baseball caps and high-tops - we're going for a full immersive experience!
SOLD OUT
Batch Gueye Band (Live)
This is the first time I have brought a live show to the basement and we are in for a treat!
I met Batch last year when I provided DJ support for the band Fofoulah at the Silk Mill (featuring Frome’s very own Dave Smith on Drums) and participated in a drumming and dance workshop to prepare for a performance as part of the gig in the evening. I was struck by Batch’s energy, talent and his incredible voice and invited him to join me for a night to celebrate the music of Senegal at an intimate gig in the Secret Basement as part of Frome Festival.
Batch Gueye is a Griot dancer, musician, singer and songwriter from Senegal. The Batch Gueye Band have played at numerous music festivals, including WOMAD, Glastonbury, WOMEX, Shambala.
Soundsystem and support from Mr Mankind.
Batch Gueye: Guitar, Vocals
Oumar Sagna: Djembe and vocals
Stefano Vandelli: Kora, n’goni and vocals