Syvain Descazot and partner Anouk arrived in HB around october last year and approached us to use our printing department. we obliged and soon after had the pair working for us and after some six months the couple are returning to france. we like to think of it as our artist in resistance program, like woofing for creative travelers. we would like to keep the program running but are not sure if we will find as great a pair as these two french brettanians.

The main man recloose pops into town for one night a provedore tonight. i’m going to warm up for him… should be tight! check out his radio show blog “hit it and quit it” playlists and podcasts.

It is hard not to be aware of Keith Haring’s work, even 20 years on one still sees his work on tees, record sleeves or in the streets around the world so i kind of knew his work and some of his iconic images he produced but never really knew who he was or where he was coming from and so it was good to see this workaholic artist who in a decade worked his ass of right up until his death.

What impresses me about Keith is how quickly his career took off. By the end of art school in 81 he was beginning to blow up and pretty much that year and the next saw him exhibiting all over the world. The amount of output blew me away as well, this guy was prolific and he painted with purpose, conviction and speed, almost like he was under voodoo. And even with so much attention and success always requested that where ever he goes in the world he must do a public piece or mural that would last long after he has gone.

Just spying on the chaps over at TCSS and was pretty blown away by this sweet little number. Very nice indeed.

The great thing about the internet is making connections and while browsing my stats i noticed page views coming from changethethought.com. I investigated and realised it is a site i remember checking a year or so ago and coveting a few of the prints. Change the Thought is “a resource for the global creative community” with contributors from around the globe. Sweet.

One of my all time favourite DJ’s Norman Jay will be in Aotearoa this weekend and i need to find a way to get to welli to see the living legend live and direct. Norman Jay has been playing rare groove, philly soul and disco boogie goodness for about 30 years. The Good Times soundsystem is one of the heavyweights from the Nottinghill Carnival featuring Norman and his brother Joey and i was one of the thousands of people who would tune in to BBC London to hear his weekly sunday show. This geezer is diamond and i can asure you this is something you do not want to miss.

Good Times at Frank Kitts Park for
Rugby Sevens Weekend
Friday 5th and Saturday 6th February
12mid-day – 12mid-night each day.
Free entry – R18

Featuring:
Norman Jay MBE (UK)
The Monkey Business DJs
Fried Chicken Soundsystem
Redbird Jnr
DJ Dunsta
and heaps more still to be confirmed over the 2 days!

Sandwiches and Wellington City Council present a FREE two day festival to coincide with Wellington’s Rugby Sevens weekend. The festival will run from 12mid-day until 12 mid-night on both the Friday and Saturday and is centralised around British music icon Norman Jay MBE (UK) and his ‘Good Times’ brand.

The festival will also feature a number of Wellington’s leading DJs over the two days, licensed bars – including the purpose built ‘Nation Bar’ on its first trip to the capital, food stalls, and TV screens to show all the action from the stadium down the road.

Located at Upper Frank Kitts Park, a short distance from the stadium, the festival is ideally located as a meeting place before, during, or after the rugby. Or better yet, forget the stadium and enjoy a full day of music in the sun!

The event will be a vibrant addition to an already colourful weekend on one of the capitals biggest occasions.

Sun / Grass / Music / GOOD TIMES !!!

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here’s some podcast goodness from Norman Jay

http://www.carnivalism.co.uk/?p=8

http://www.timeout.com/london/features/5507/Norman_Jay-s_Carnival_podcast.html

Yep that is right, worldwide maestro GP is making his way down to Aotearoa for a one night engagement with the Turnaround fellows at the end of feb. check the conch site for more info and tickets.

Check his site for podcasts or BBC for his weekly radio show

While the nothern hemishere is knee deep in wintery blasts we down the bottom of the globe are in the middle of a sizzling summer and what better sound track to go with the nice weather is some good vintage boogie from three damn fine sources.

1. Disco Deviance mix for Cosmic Boogie by Dicky Trisco.

Disco Deviance is a label that releases new and re-edits in a classic disco boogie viegn.

2. Dam Funk – Beautiful Music for Beautiful People

all vinyl, no cd’s, Mp3′s or downloads, just vinyl goodness in this mix from LA’s boogie master.

3. Dj Ayers and DJ ELeven – The Glamorous Life Vol. 3

Killer 80′s mix with some classic jams from back in the day. If you were an eighties kid like me then expect some nostalgia with this mix. Check his webiste for a load of mixes including the history of hip hop series. Each year is chronicled in a mixtape beginning in 1979 up to 2000.

Rake Clothing is an Australian led surf label under the artistic direction of Adrian Knott that brings a style not unlike that of The Critical Slide Society (which is why we like it) mixing a style of folk art with old sailor tattoo artwork. Nice work Rake.. check the web store for what we got.

Check out these mini simmons boards the rake guys have been working on as well. they look super sweet. I’m sold i like them a lot and want one.

check this site if you want to know more about the mini simmons surfboard

Love this. the nice people over at Stones Throw have a nice gift for you.