Please note: A limited number of combi-tickets are also available for this two-dayer!

LABEL SHOWCASE: INTERNATIONAL ANTHEM RECORDING CO.
Brand new label International Anthem Recording Co. is steadily making name for itself from out of homebase Chicago. They already dealt a solid ‘Black Lives Matter meets free jazz’-blow with Irreversible Entanglements feat. Moor Mother (at BRDCST earlier this year) and the label also houses future jazz icons in the form of Ben LaMar Gay and Makaya McCraven. Cultural weekly Chicago Reader captured the label’s spirit perfectly: 'International Anthem is one of the most innovative, aesthetically savvy, and open-minded record labels in Chicago that brings punk idealism to progressive jazz.'

Aside ‘veterans’ of the Chicago scene – such as Jeff Parker (Tortoise, Chicago Underground Trio) and Rob Mazurek – ‘newcomers’ like avant-garde trumpet player Jamie Branch or the psychedelic cumbia of Dos Santos are also grabbing attention.

The flourishing London jazz scene was spotlighted earlier this year at a big two-dayer entitled ‘We Out Here’ – with the likes of Theon Cross, Nubya Garcia and Moses Boyd. Now it is time to take a good look at Chicago. The two scenes seem to have more in common than you’d expect. Ready for a great two-dayer with future jazz icons Makaya McCraven and Ben LaMar Gay?

MAKAYA MCCRAVEN
Parisian born drummer Makaya McCraven has been celebrated in jazz circles for a while now. Downbeat Magazine described him as ‘exceptional on the drums’ and Chicago Reader did so as one of ‘Chicago’s most versatile and in demand drummers.’ His love of global sounds and hip-hop certainly clearly filter through in his music. He has opened for Kamasi Washington, Wu-Tang Clan and 50 Cent too.

McCraven dropped the album ‘Where We Came From (CHICAGOxLONDON Mixtape)’ just in time for summer. It came about through Makaya’s residency at the Total Refreshment Center, basically: the epicentre of the London jazz scene. The result: Makaya McCraven improvising freely with the holy hotness of the London jazz scene: Soweto Kinch, Theon Cross, Joe Armon-Jones, Nubya Garcia and Kamaal Williams. Those hearing these tracks will instantly appreciate the invention of the endless repeat button.

We’re still busy working on the line-up but, aside from Makaya McCraven (drums), Jeff Parker (guitar) and bassist Junius Paul have already agreed to join us.

SOUNDTRACK BY INTERNATIONAL ANTHEM DJ’S (US)

Eminent guests! None less than the founding fathers of International Anthem – Scottie McNiece and David Allen – are coming over especially to provide both International Anthem nights with just the right soundtrack. The Chicago sound, 100% pure and unadulterated, through our woofers!