I could start this post with a load of stuff about filesharing and album leaks, but you’ve read it all before. The fact is, the internet gets a hard time in the media. The music industry doesn’t like the fact that they don’t have much control over what happens with their music (ditto the film industry) and they’re so unhappy that Lord Mandelson has been drafted in to try and pass laws that will allow the suspension of suspected filesharer’s internet connections. Right or wrong (and if you feel it’s wrong, why not sign this petition), the internet has made a major impact on the music industry.

We like to look at the positives here at Beatnik. The internet has opened up a world of opportunity for aspiring musicians (and established ones too) to get their music out and heard without major label backing.

Self-promotion and even distribution are all possible with a computer, time and perseverence. The social networking phenomenon Twitter means artists can make connections with tastemakers and industry folks without having to try and get past agents, and sites like bandcamp.com make digital distribution and the collection of payment for music very straightforward. A lot of the music we play on Beatnik now is first heard of when the artist announces it on Twitter. Some of it is even bought direct.

Here are 4 folks whose music you can buy direct from the artist, all with the Beatnik seal of approval! It’ll make you feel good to drop dosh directly in their pocket!

1. Fulgeance – Smartbanging EP
   Available in Physical & Digital at http://fulgeance.bandcamp.com/
   Superb wobbly beat constructions from a French dude. I particularly dig Sour Socca, straight banger!
2. DJ IQ – Flashing Lights
   Available in Physical & Digital at http://djiq.co.uk/
   UK Beats Mix Tape from DMC champion DJ IQ. All dubplates, comlpetely essential.
3. Kidkanevil – Megajoy
   Available in Digital at  http://kidkanevil.bandcamp.com/
   I’ve been banging on about this tune to everyone, it sounds incredible when it drops in the club and it’s got that retro 80s video game bleep sound down. Awesome music.
4. Paul White – Sounds From The Skylight
   Available in Physical & Digital at http://paulwhite.bandcamp.com/
   It was when I bought this album from Paul White that I was first introduced to bandcamp. An intriguing, tapestry of heavy beats and weird samples… like having a walk inside someones head, and who wouldn’t want to do that!

If the station goes, Cambridge loses a unique and valuable community resource not to mention some of the finest musical programming in the UK (big claim but we’re serious). If you can stump up any dosh, it’s much appreciated. Even if not you can show your support by adding a Twibbon to your Twitter avatar here : http://twibbon.com/cause/209radio/Join

We urge you, whatever happens, to tune in and have a listen at 105FM in Cambridge or online at http://209radio.co.uk to what may be the station’s last few broadcasts.

Not to sound too pretentious, but we hope this will become a kind of cultural hub for you (as if you really needed another one of those!)

Anyway, why not subscribe to the RSS feed and keep up to date with us, oh, and don’t forget to leave comments on anything we post… it’s a good way to be in touch with Beatnik!

One last thing : SIGN UP TO THE MAILING LIST AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE!

Love you!

Pete

First things first, you should be receiving this newsletter because at some point you either came to a Beatnik or Jazteka event in Cambridge, a Bossaphonik event in Oxford, you listen to the radio show or are just a friend of Beatnik in one way or another. If none of the above applies to you, and / or you never, ever wish to hear about our events and radio show again, here’s your chance to unsubscribe from the WeAreBeatnik Newsletter;

Click here to unsubscribe

We will be sending no more than one newsletter per month and if you’ve chosen to stay with us, you can of course leave the list whenever you wish, just look for the unsubscribe link at the foot of any WeAreBeatnik Newsletter.

If you choose to stay with us, you can of course choose to leave the list whenever you wish, just look for the unsubscribe link at the foot of any WeAreBeatnik newsletter.

On with the newsletter…

Oi Va Voi at The Junction Cambridge

Wednesday 23rd September 2009

Tickets : £11 advance from 01223 511511

http://www.junction.co.uk/events/day/2009/09/23/658-oi-va-voi
http://www.myspace.com/oivavoi

Oi Va Voi are a band that music lovers of all tastes and genres will know for their original eclectic material and dazzling live shows. The UK leg of their world tour is set to start in Cambridge and finish a week later at the Shepherds Bush Empire in London.

As the new album title “Traveling the Face of The Globe” denotes, they spend all their time between albums touring all over Europe, the Middle East and beyond snowballing musical influences and fine tuning their performance skills. The result is a band that have a pallet of emotions to paint many pictures in the minds of the listener, whether on recordings or at the concert, you can hear and feel the moments where the violin soars, the Klezmer stomps on the dancefloor and beats are interspersed with stabbing riffs of Balkan brass, all sitting comfortably around the soulful vocals. This is an urban sound that links cities and scenes from New York to London, Paris to Moscow, Istanbul to Tel Aviv. Confident, vibrant and highly entertaining their charismatic live shows have had them dubbed by the national press as one of the most exciting bands in Britain today.

Support on the night comes from Beatnik’s very own Gil Karpas & Band. -http://myspace.com/gilkarpas

Natacha Atlas & The Mazeeka Ensemble at The Junction Cambridge

Saturday 3rd October 2009

Tickets : £13 advance from 01223 511511

http://www.junction.co.uk/events/day/2009/10/03/661-natacha-atlas-the-mazeeka-ensemble

Musically and geographically, Natacha Atlas has always been an itinerant. The Anglo-Egyptian singer has spent more than a decade fusing electronic beats with North African and Arabic music, finding links between seemingly disparate musical genres, exploring new and different sonic settings and working with a wealth of like-minded collaborators from across the world along the way. The resulting body of work is both a triumph of true multiculturalism and a testament to the richness and accessibility of Arabic culture.

The Last Ever Saturday Night Jazteka
at The Fountain

Saturday 3rd October 2009

Free Entry. 10pm – 3am.
http://www.fountaincambridge.co.uk

It’s the last ever Jazteka on a Saturday at The Fountain, it’s also an afterparty for the gig at the Junction and it will feature Beatnik & Club Global DJs back to back all night.

Bumpin’ at La Raza

Every Saturday

10pm – 3am.
http://www.laraza.co.uk

DJ Pete Moore (from Beatnik) drops the science every Saturday night at La Raza… Disco, Jazz, Funk, House, Reggae, Hip Hop and a myriad of beat styles get an airing every week.

Beatnik on 209radio

Fortnightly Saturdays 2pm – 4pm on 105FM in Cambridge and online at http://209radio.co.uk

We play it all on Beatnik – Jazz, Funk, Brazilian, Afrobeat, Dubstep, Balkan Beats, Latin Jazz, Soul, Beats Hip Hop and a whole trunk more stuff that doesn’t even have a name yet.

The podcast is available to download from http://beatnik209radio.co.uk and on our current episode (available to download now) we have an interview with our guests at The Junction this month, Oi Va Voi and a guest mix from our buddy, Casserole Music dude and all round good guy DJ Lee Scott, he turns in an hour of what we’ve termed party jazz… it’s kinda housey funky latin-y stuff… perfect for slapping on before going out!

It’s a short and sweet one this month. Next month we’ll bring you a little more including (with any luck) the unveiling of our new website wearebeatnik.com which will feature all our Beatnik related news, videos, music recommendations, mixes, reviews and all sorts of other stuff about music and culture.

Thanks for reading!
Beatnik