FLASHBACK
27 June 2008
Newsflash Freddy people, The Camel is available right now, right here on FFD Merch Tent.
http://www.fatfreddysdrop.com/merchtent2.php
That's right, The Camel is more than a mirage, and has trekked in ahead of the July release date previously mentioned.
Chur
FLASHBACK
19 June 2008
FFD ALBUM RELEASE TOUR
Fat Freddy's Drop is pleased to announce an extensive European and UK tour for the worldwide release of their new album in November.
They hope the tour and album release will be welcome news for all those disappointed by the recent cancellation of their August tour to UK and Europe.
After working on the follow up to their breakthrough album Based On A True Story for the past two years, jamming live on stage and recording in the studio, Freddy's are now committed to releasing the as yet untitled album in 2008.
The four week long album release tour starts in Paris at the Zenith on 12 November and ends at The Roundhouse in London on 4 December.
UK tickets go on sales 9am Friday 29 June via FFD ticket store:
http://fatfreddysdroptickets.trinitystreetdirect.com
For the Freddy people in the South Pacific, expect to hear some Aussie dates soon, and Aotearoa/NZ to follow. Tumeke.
THE CAMEL
The first official release from the forthcoming album will be The Camel featuring UK singer Alice Russell dueling on the vocals with Joe Dukie.
The Camel, running at an epic but very Freddy's friendly 9 minutes and 30 seconds, will be released worldwide on limited edition vinyl and CD and digital downloads on 21 July by The Drop and Kartel.
As with most Freddy songs The Camel was born as a beat on the MPC whilst on the road, the loping rhythm crafted by DJ Fitchie in a sweltering hotel room before the band headlined Barcelona's Sonar Day Festival.
Back in Fitchie's studio, The Drop in Lyall Bay, NZ, Jetlag Johnson added a one take blues guitar lick, Dobie Blaze delivered some deep dark funk on his analog keyboards and the rest was history in the making.
Friday 13 June 2008
the sun is gonna shine again
It is with regret that Fat Freddy's Drop is announcing they are unable to make the tour to UK and Europe in August.
The band have said their new album will not be ready in time for it's scheduled November release if they take the time out of the studio to make the trip to Europe this Summer.
While the bad news is Freddy's will miss playing at the Big Chill and have cancelled or postponed appearances in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Portugal, the pay off is the band committing to a 2008 release.
'Sorry' said the bros after making the difficult call.
Hopepa says "we especially want to say sorry for the people who bought Big Chill tickets in the expectation that Freddy's would be playing there."
Freddy's is still on track for Zenith in Paris in November, where they will have the new album under the belt.
WFFD
Alert to WFFD listeners, a fresh session from MC Slave is on now.
THE CAMEL TEE
Check out Freddy's merch for the new Camel tee shirt, design by Joe Dukie and Michelle Healey, on line, for sale in Threads.
FLASHBACK
28/5/08
BIG FOR BLUFF
Keeping it real, Freddy's blasted the ancient Bluff Town Hall and the bros are still raving about the awesome kai at Te Rau Aroha Marae.
Billed as the inaugural Ngāi Tahu Seafood Bluff Oyster & Food Festival Concert, Freddy's took an instant liking to the hospitality styles at Te Rau Aroha Marae, the big feed on arrival helped, and to the warm acoustics in the historic hall.
Despite showers of rain outside, the scene was set for a memorable occasion at Bluff Town Hall, a venue that is usually booked for local drama club activities and large tangi as opposed to a live show by a band that's just played to thousands at sell out gigs in Paris and London.
Around 500 lucky locals, and a visiting American couple who drove all the way down from Christchurch, got to check Freddy's at their relaxed best, playing new tunes and some classics that included Midnight Marauders featuring Riki Gooch's Uncle Pat on sax.
It was like a homecoming gig, there was a buzz in the crowd and the borer in the old wooden building got all shook up. Much later in the night there was a haka for the bros, and in reply Joe Dukie with gat in hand, Dobie, Jetlag and Riki Gooch dropped an acoustic version of Hope.
It seemed like it was the biggest event in Bluff in a decade. There was even speculation that it was as big for Bluff as when Dobie Blaze's mother, Ngawara, won Miss Southland back in the 1960s.
Dobie's family connections saw the band hosted at Te Rau Aroha Marae, mean Maori mean, and with his mum and whanau in the mix in the whare kai it was pretty evident where his love of good food derives.
His cousin Aimee, in-between getting married that weekend to Jason (choice one, have a great honeymoon) helped put on the gig at the town hall. She said that everyone loved it and really appreciated Freddy's making the effort to play in Bluff.
"It was an amazing experience that we'll treasure forever" says Aimee.
Chur chur Bluff and Te Rau Aroha Marae.
FLASHBACK
16 May 2008
Bluff Nets Freddy's
From Paris, Portugal and London to Bluff, Fat Freddy's Drop has been netted to play at the Bluff Oyster & Food Festival celebrating the succulent deep-sea Bluff delicacy.
Freddy's will take the stage for the Ngāi Tahu Seafood Bluff Oyster & Food Festival Concert on Saturday 24 May in the Bluff Town Hall, a new event at the annual Festival.
The bros make no bone about their love of good kai, and will have the chance to savour other southern treats such as blue cod, marinated mussels, tuna, salmon, crab, crayfish, paua, venison and muttonbirds.
Bluff, population 1800, is located at the end of the South Island and the port town overlooks the cold waters of the Foveaux Strait, home to the world famous oyster. Pack the winter woolies.
http://www.bluff.co.nz/oystering.html
Check FFD Gig Guide For Ticket Details.
FLASHBACK
13 May 2008
SUN IS GONNA SHINE AGAIN
WFFD is back cooking on the broadcast downlow from Lyall Bay, South Coast.
Check out host MC Slave's korero about the intergalactic tour around the world that included two spectacular sell out shows in Paris - the new European home of Freddy's?
Post tour shout outs to Bellarouche, Yarra Bravo and DJ Vadim for the musical support and inspiration, and merci to all the people at all the gigs - except to the dude who stole MC Slave.s laptop in Nottingham. Dude he is mad at ya, but moving on.
With a little help from his kids, MC Slave has replaced the WFFD stings he had recorded on the road, and WFFD is back in business.
First tune up is The Camel. Dukie sings the sun is gonna shine again mantra and Jetlag Johnson drops a mean Maori mean one take guitar camel ride.
The May session also serves up tunes from Julian Dyne, Eru Dangerspiel aka Hemi Quaver feat Parks and a Recloose journey into disco funk (with a nod to Prince) reveals some original FFD horns.
FLASHBACK
23 April 2008
WHO DAT DRUMMER
Folks at Freddy's live shows may have noticed a guest drummer in the crew so thought we better give a shout out to the cuz on the beats, Riki Gooch aka Eru Dangerspiel.
Riki is a legend of drumming in Aotearoa and his debut album Great News For The Modern Man is dropping in 2008 after three years in the making. A major collaborator with all and sundry, Riki contributed beats on Based On A True Story and was the drummer in the gone but not forgotten TrinityRoots.
Check out the modern man on: www.myspace.com/rikigooch
PS: Freddy's tour is going off, however Freddy.s nu track, The Camel, in true Island Time, will now be landing in June.
Chur
FLASHBACK
16 April 2008
SOMETHING COOKING
Freddy's is cooking with live shows in France, UK and Portugal on the menu, as long as the bros successfully get through Terminal 5 at Heathrow with all their gear intact!
Two NZ shows, the sneaky gig at Bodega and the not so sneaky gig at Grey Lynn Park, were a great send off as the bros successfully jammed nu tunes such as The Camel. Thanks to everyone who attended for the good times, and to Glynn for the fine stint on the barbeque.
The April overseas tiki tour is a brief two weeks only, both Paris gigs have sold out and the rest of the gigs in London, Bristol and Nottingham are heading that way too.
For you lucky punters who make it along, enjoy the nod in the kitchen with Freddy's no preservatives, no food colouring, no samples, just fresh as ingredients live and direct from the South Pacific.
FLASHBACK
4 April 2008
SESSIONS
Click the WFFD sticker to hear the latest and greatest WFFD session broadcasting from Lyall Bay. This show, featuring Fitchie and some of the other bros chatting in the studio, was originally produced as a special in the run up to the Daylight Savings gig in Grey Lynn. Now Slave is proud to present 'the director's cut'.
And if you live in or near Welli, yes the bros are playing Saturday night at Bodega. Door sales only for the down low old skool gig with the freshest tunes.
FLASHBACK
27 March 2008
TICK TOCK
Freddy's is doing it for the love of music at Grey Lynn Park in Auckland for the annual Red Bull Daylight Savings gig.
The free family showcase on Sunday 6 April will see the bros mashing up the big tunes before the seven headed soul monster heads offshore on the tiki tour to UK and Europe.
The Grey Lynn event marks the turn back the clock Kiwi peeps as daylight savings officially ends, and perhaps provides a sneaky chance to nod heads to The Camel single, playing on Black Box headphones in a recharge zone. Did Alice Russel make the final track? Seek and ye shall find.
And a few of you might have been lucky enough to catch Freddy's playing a set on the down low at the recent Warrior.s home game in Auckland. Our rugby league bros won the game - co-incidence or not??
FLASHBACK
20 MARCH 2008
TRUE STORY ON WFFD
Nu WFFD session is broadcasting around the world. Get naked, check out some funky tunes, and hear from Jetlag Johnson aka Tehimana about battling jetboats and landing a heavy snapper on the rocks. Waiting for photo evidence.
FLASHBACK
17 March 2008
PARIS PULLS EXTRA SHOW
Freddy's Paris show at Elysee-Montmartre on April 23rd is officially sold out, but wait an extra date at the Elysee-Montmartre on April 24th has been added. Tickets on sale now, check Gig Guide for more details and links.
Freddy's is also playing a set at Printemps de Bourges Festival on 18 April. After 32 years delivering the very best onstage, the festival prides itself on selecting a balance between headliners and artists worth discovering, and a combination of contrasting musical flavours. It's a crucial philosophy in times where talent is manufactured live before our eyes.
FLASHBACK
17 March 2008-03-17
Big Thrill
The Big Chill has confirmed Fat Freddy's Drop for the 2008 festival at Eastnor Castle Deer Park in August.
As organisers toted the latest additions to the outdoor stages "New Zealand's heaviest, most soulful dub stars" were added to the list, just after news that Leonard Cohen is including the Big Chill as part of his first tour in 15 years.
More Info: www.bigchill.net
FLASHBACK
11 March 2008
CAMARÃO
Note to Freddy's, study Portuguese before April tour. For starters, unforgettablelanguages.com speed lesson for this week:
The Portuguese word for SHRIMP is CAMARÃO
Imagine a SHRIMP with a CAMERA ON its head.
The Portuguese word for SMALL is PEQUENO
Imagine your BIKINI is too SMALL.
The Portuguese word for DIRTY is SUJO
Imagine something DIRTY SOOTHES YOU.
FLASHBACK
5 MARCH 2008
WFFD Guest Show
Greetings, for post match commentary on Matakana tropical rain storm, check out WFFD #4 broadcasting, feat: host MC Slave with 2 special thieves in the house - DJ Thief from Melbourne and legendary DJ Vee representing Elephant Records, Camden, London town (via Ghuznee & Barcelona).
FLASHBACK
26 Feb 2008
MUDDY-KANA
Reporting in, A Bush Party was a wild mix of mud & music - big chur chur to all the people who braved the forces of nature and winding road to be part of a legendary weekend.
The Slave motto was 'have a glass of harden up' as the rain poured down, and blew sideways, during the Saturday session. DJ's Thief, Cian and Vee dropped the fine beats and got the mud folk in the mood for Flowz & The Uso's hip hop from the heart, followed by Freddy's jamming a fresh batch of tunes. Everyone most def 'Pulled The Catch As One'.
Hopepa went down mid-set with a pulled calf muscle but Dukie and the Freddy voodoo got him back to his feet. The night ended with mud marauders and mud slides down the bank.
Sunday the rain eased up and it was rewind selector time on the music front, washed down with tequila shots. All up, it was a legendary Bush Party, and the beginning of a new chapter on the Freddy's raft.
Flashback 24 Feb 2008
A Bush Party starring Fat Freddy's Drop at Matakana is on this weekend - yes pack your gumboots a la Glastonbury styles - Freddy's will bring back the sunshine.
Free shuttle buses running from Ward Rd, off Matakana village - catch a bus if ya can 'cos the rain has made roadside parking dodgy.
Saturday show sold out - gates open 4.30pm
Sunday show - gate sales available - gates open 1.30pm
Full details: www.musicmountainmatakana.co.nz
Flashback
19 Feb 2008
BUSH PARTY
If you wish to join the Sunday afternoon delight at A Bush Party, Matakana, tickets are available at Real Groovy, Auckland plus gate sales on the day. Gates open 1.30pm to 9.30pm, Sunday 24 Feb 008.
WFFD AROUND THE WORLD
Slave has a fresh jam on WFFD. Click da WFFD sticker for your listening pleasure.
WFFD is a little something for everybody around the world; latest session features Freddy's Cays Crays remix, a track off the new 12" vinyl from Rio Hunuki-Hemopo (produced by MU) and Happy Cones triple scoop Brothers & Sisters.
WAX-EYE
Freddy's Merch Tent vinyl supply has been re-stocked, the wax is back.
FLASHBACK 19 FEB 2008
Check out a recent Tony Chang conversation with Tim G in Welli, pre-Matakana bush boogie.
chur
FLASHBACK
15 Feb 2008
GET READY FOR THE DROP
People are you ready for the Drop at Matakana 'cos the party in the bush is most definitely on. Tickets still available for the Sunday picnic session. Chill.
DJ Thief aka AJ is crossing the ditch to crank up the Bush Party antics, and according to word on the street, he's gonna hang in NZ to collaborate on a mystery project with Reno from Shapeshifter.
To score tickets online for A Bush Party Sunday picnic show, spot the Bush sticker and click.
FLASHBACK
7 February 2008
GIG NEWS
As Freddy's embark on a mammoth year we take great pleasure in announcing Fat Freddy's Drop Live, UK & France.
Gigs are confirmed for April at Elysee-Montmartre, Paris and Le Printremps de Bourge Festival and in the UK, Freddy's will play Nottingham Trent University, Hammersmith Apollo, London and Bristol Academy.
Purchase UK tickets online at Freddy's ticket store http://fatfreddysdroptickets.trinitystreetdirect.com and pre-order Freddy's new single, The Camel feat Alice Russell (releasing May) plus receive a free bonus download of DJ Fitchie's deep dub remix of Wandering Eye.
Meantime back home in the sticks, A Bush Party at Music Mountain Matakana is SOLD OUT for Saturday 23 Feb show but tickets for the laid back picnic session on Sunday 24 Feb are available.
Full info on Gig Guide.
FLASHBACK
30 JANUARY 2008
NU WFFD LANDED
People, check it out, MC Slave has finally got another WFFD session out the gate.
The nu session, recorded live in Lyall Bay, features a few sneaky tunes in the mix from the likes of Ladi6, plus Dobie Blaze chats to Slave about surviving the freakish barracuda attack!
FLASHBACK 23 JANUARY 2008
SECOND SHOW FOR FREDDY'S BUSH PARTY
Music Mountain Matakana in association with The Drop is pleased to announce a second show for A Bush Party at Matakana this February.
With barely one hundred tickets remaining for the original show date organizers got the nod to add a Sunday picnic session to the mix at the boutique venue located in pristine native bush north of Auckland.
Gates for the Sunday picnic session will open at the earlier time of 1.30pm. Full details on Gig Guide.
Both shows feature support from FLOWZ & The Usos and DJ.s Mu, Slave, Cian and Thief (Australia) plus Vee on a visit home from London where he runs Elephant Records.
DJ Fitchie says "we're not playing too many gigs this summer and we've picked a good one with Matakana. We're really looking forward to the Bush Party shows, the best tunes we're playing are the new ones, and there's a golf course next door..
FLASHBACK
15/1/08
THE BIG BITE
Crickey let yer guard down and all hell breaks loose as far as Freddy's is concerned.
Since The Big Drop Off at Shed 1, tasty beats topped by watching the sunrise across a tranquil Welli harbour, we all looked forward to quality downtime.
But nah, two of Freddy's whanau had their cars nicked, Walter's truck blew up on Highway 50 and kai khemist and keyboardist Dobie Blaze almost got his arm ripped off by a barracuda.
True that, Dobie was chilling in the water on Kapiti Coast when a barracuda mistook him for dinner and sunk its razor-sharp teeth into his left arm, slicing through tendons and nerves.
Surgeons at Hutt Hospital, keenly aware that Dobie needs both arms to fully deliver the Freddy's skank and for fishing, and for cooking kai, and all the rest, saved the day.
For the gory details check out this link.
Other action news was a visit to Lyall Bay by Charlie from Kartel, London who, apart from getting to sample tunes in the studio from the forthcoming album, has started booking European tour dates for 2008.
First confirmed gigs are for Paris in April (check Gig Guide) and more shows to follow for London and Lisbon.
Chur chur, roll on 2008.
FLASHBACK
20 December 2007
TBDO, SHED 1 LOCATION
This is about as good as it gets
http://www.wises.co.nz/l/Wellington/Wellington + Central/Queens + Wharf/
FLASHBACK
20 December 2007
Kia Ora
Please note that you can purchase tickets online to The Big Drop Off until end of day Friday 28th December 2007.
All tickets purchased online up to this date will be safely packaged and held at the door for you to pick up in person at The Big Drop Off, Shed1, Queens Wharf, Wellington.
Doors Open 8.30pm. Please bring ID to collect your tickets.
Otherwise, check out Real Groovy, Welli & Auckland, for tickets in-store, open every day (except Xmas)
chur
FLASHBACK
19 December 2007
BACK INNA SHED
With The Big Drop Off landing at Shed 1 this New Year's Eve, we've dug up some clips from the vaults featuring Freddy's when they last set alight a shed on the Welli waterfront.
The old skool clips feature Freddy's and whanau at Shed 6 in 2005 around the time that Based On A True Story was dropping.
One of the tunes is Midnight Marauders, featuring Joe Dukie & Shapeshifter’s P Digsss jamming on the mic, and the other is a Roady mash up, featuring Slave, Feel Style and introducing mighty MC Alpha rapping to the congregation.
Choiceness, and the perfect tip to set the stage for The Big Drop Off, featuring Fat Freddy’s Drop, Shapeshifter and Ladi6 & Parks, back inna shed for a new dawn.
FLASHBACK
5 December 2007
THE RETURN OF IRON JOE
We are pleased to announce the return of Ironing with Hopepa featuring live mannequin Iron Joe in the Mandatory window.
Ironing with Hopepa session will be live this Friday 7 December, under the watchful eye of iron trainers, Fiona and Clare from Mandatory. FREE ADMISSION!!
Big Drop Off Happy Hour, with contraband $85.00 tickets for the New Years Eve party will be available at Mandatory only during the two-hour iron-athon.
29 NOVEMBER 2007
IRONING WITH HOPEPA
Bringing the love back to the people, Hopepa is down for a spot of ironing in the front window of Mandatory on Cuba St, this Friday 30 November 2007.
Hopepa will be stepping up to the live mannequin game in support of The Big Drop Off, and we bet it’ll be a decent distraction for people focused on whether or not Beckham takes his shirt off during a footy match at the Cake Tin stadium.
Fiona & Clare at Mandatory have previously tailored a Ho-couture suit for Hopepa and as well as the front window display, complete with beer crate and chandelier, they’ll have contraband tickets for sale over the next three weeks for the NYE showcase.
IRONING WITH HOPEPA
5.00PM – 7.00PM
Friday 30 November 2007
MANDATORY 101 CUBA ST, WELLI
29 NOVEMBER 2007
PIRATE HEAVE HO
Threads alert, Fantastic Voyages t-shirt is now available via FFD online Merch Tent.
Da link: http://www.fatfreddysdrop.com/final_t_shirts.php
11 NOVEMBER 2007
A BUSH PARTY
Freddy’s gigs in Aotearoa this summer will be few and far, so it is a pleasure to announce A BUSH PARTY with Music Mountain Matakana.
Nestled in pristine native bush, MMM is a relatively new boutique venue located a little over one hours drive north of Auckland. The very organic, very cool and laid back set up was enough to entice Freddy’s away from recording schedule commitments to party in the bush Saturday 23 February, 2008.
Joining Freddy’s for the bush party will be FLOWZ & THE USOS, plus DJ’s Mu, Slave, Cian and introducing live and direct from Australia, DJ Thief.
Tickets on sale fom Monday 19 November check GIG GUIDE for mo details.
2 November 2007
SOLD OUT
Freddy’s gigs in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane this weekend are all Sold Out. If you scored a ticket, have a good one mate.
If you are a Brisbane Bullets fan, Freddy’s will cheer you up!! That was an awesome game against the Breakers this week, down to the wire three pointers feast, won by the Aotearoa boys. Lyall Bay Seagulls will be proud.
The next chance to snap up a ticket for Freddy’s live voodoo is back across the ditch at The Big Drop Off, NYE, Shed1, WELLINGTON.
Join Freddy’s, Shapeshifter, Ladi6 & Parks (the other bro-vocalist with Rio on Freddy’s tour), DJ’s Mu, Cian & Kava to the break of dawn 2008. MC Slave will be Master of Ceremonies. Tickets still available, honest.
25 October 2007
BURN OUT
On the live tip, Freddy’s have been jamming in the Bay in preparation for the Aussie tour.
Count down is on, word is tickets almost all gone daddy gone.
Props to Brisbane who after asking and asking for Freddy’s to return to the city, have chomped thru the ticket sales super fast, and Sydney is currently in second place. Melbourne, def more laid back, but Freddy’s expect that late run style.
TBDO
Meantime at Shed 1 in NZ, tickets for The Big Drop Off are being shipped out at a steady pace; following the lead of the UK we’ve now got contraband tickets heading to Singapore and Australia.
FLASHBACK
18 October 2007
GET YOUR CONTRABAND TICKETS ON-LINE
Tickets are now available on-line for The Big Drop Off – click on thru via TBDO banners on this page, gig guide, home page & merch tent.
Kia Ora to the people in the UK who have already purchased x2 tickets on-line! We like your choice for seeing in the new dawn.
FLASHBACK
3 October 2007
THE BIG DROP OFF
Freddy is stoked to announce SHED 1 is officially the bigger and better location for The Big Drop Off NYE gig and that tickets are on sale NOW.
To smuggle us through to sunrise, The Big Drop Off features a notorious and shady line up dropping contraband sounds, LADI6 & PARKS, FAT FREDDY'S DROP and SHAPESHIFTER, plus DJ's MU, CIAN & KAVA operating the decks.
Tickets are on sale at Real Groovy, Wellington & Auckland, plus on-line ticket sales dropping real soon on the Freddy's and Amplifier websites. Full ticket info on FFD Gig Guide.
In other news tips, B.O.A.T.S recently hit x8 Platinum album sales on home-turf, and Live At Matterhorn is officially x1 Platinum. Nice one!
Finally, there will be no aquarium development at Te Raekaihau Point. Fat Freddy's Drop has supported the campaign against the $20 million aquarium on our wild and rugged South Coast and recently the Environment Court sank an earlier ruling to grant resource consent.
Donations still welcome: http://www.savethepoint.org.nz/
Chur
Freddy
12 September 2007
AUSSIE BREAKTHROUGH
Lovers not fighters Freddy's are booked to bring the beats to Aussie in November.
Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane have won the lottery grab for the live shows! Back by popular demand in the great southern land, these are probably some of the last Freddy's gigs of the year.
Support will be UK soul sensation Belleruche. A fresh signing to Tru Thoughts label, Belleruche features vocalist Kathrin deBoer and guitarist Ricky Fabulous, delivering true funk turntable soul music. www.myspace.com/belleruche
Full Ticket Info on FREDDY'S GIG GUIDE
FLASHBACK
22 AUGUST 2007
Two Scoops
On the down_low, upcoming Welli gig by the Happy Cones will feature Freddy’s own Dobie Blaze & Toby Chang.
After dropping a 7” vinyl in 2004 with Kartel, then going into a long hiatus, Happy Cones is finally committed to a live debut on stage at the San Francisco Bathhouse.
Dobie says that after so many years of ‘tutu-ing’ away with Happy Cones, “we’ve decided to bring the live element to fruition and get back to the roots of free style jamming”.
DJ Hopepa will drop a session on the decks to launch Happy Cones proceedings on Saturday night, before he slips down the road to play The Eggs end of month residency at Matterhorn.
FLASHBACK
11 July 2007-07-12
Home Sweet Home
Freddy’s are home sweet home following the mighty Fantastic
Voyages Tour in Europe and UK. Much love and respect to everyone who supported
Freddy’s summer tiki tour.
Studio lock down next for the bros, where some of those new tunes that
were jammed on tour are sure to find their way onto the next album.
Keeping on the Kiwi tip in London, check out an exhibition by Welli
photographer Maggie Gould at Sacred, featuring shots of musicians such
as Ray Charles and Johnny Cash.
Sacred, Carnaby St. Precinct, 13 Ganton St, is a restaurant run by
a Kiwi and specialises in great coffee and kai.
FLASHBACK
29 June 2007
Aotearoa Soul Superstars
We love the mean as Freddy's feature in the Guardian:
http://music.guardian.co.uk/pop/
story/0,,2113357,00.html
Flashback
28 June 2007
Mud Wiggles
Freddy’s delivered the rub a dub sunshine to wiggle in the mud
to at Glastonbury Festival. Bringing original Aotearoa styles to the
mystical Vale of Avalon, the bros shone onstage, with Jetlag in his
denim lavalava, the horns, the beats, the keys and Joe Dukie breaking
through the thunderclouds - radiant.
BBC def got sweet photos to check out: http://www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2007/artists/
fatfreddysdrop/
Follow the on-line links through to Trevor Lord who ends his three-day
Glastonbury trip as Fat Freddy’s Drop close the Jazz World stage. Give
the man a gumboot for getting the Freddy’s live voodoo.
‘I go to the Jazz World stage, hoping that Amp Fiddler's neo-soul
grooves will satisfy. Even that’s too much, the drumming sounding
discordant and unrelenting (he’s not, it’s just me).
Face it Trevor – you're knackered. Not unhappy, but spaced on
fresh air and lack of sleep. I sit down for an hour, and talk to random
people, and don’t worry about what I’m going to write later.
Then I get my wish, some sweet and soulful Dub from New Zealand’s
finest, Fat Freddy’s Drop. The audience all seem as ready as I
am for something spacious and rich, with horns, and bass and open vocals.
Dancing is a little difficult; our feet are stuck to the ground. So
we just wiggle our arses and throw shapes in the air, and – for
a while – everything is good in the world. And that'll pass, and
that's all right, because that's what things do’.
TREVOR LORD, BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/2007/
diary/240607/
FLASHBACK
21 June 2007
MYSTIC MUD CONNECTION
From the beaches and super-yachts of Palma to the wellies and mystic
mud vibe of Glastonbury Festival, the Freddy’s have embarked on
this years voyage to the Northern Hemisphere.
The Palma stopover, playing a private gig for the NZ Millennium Cup,
provided an opportunity for Freddy’s and whanau to get some
downtime before the official Fantastic Voyages
Summer Tour.
This weekend Freddy’s make history as the second
ever band to represent Aotearoa at the Glastonbury Festival set in the mystical
Vale of Avalon.
The BBC is reporting revellers could be in for yet another wet
and muddy Festival but never fare ‘cos rain or shine, the super
hero Freddy’s will drop the tropical beats.
On Saturday evening the future funk pirate’s play the heavyweight
Dance Roots Stage, and Sunday night the Freddy’s deal to the penultimate
slot on the Jazz World Stage.
For those not at Glastonbury (the Festival sold out in two days) the
BBC is broadcasting continuous coverage from the Festival including
broadband audio and video delights.
The BBC is filming Freddy’s on the Jazz World Stage and hopefully
this features amongst the live sets the BBC screens online.
Check out the following links for more Glastonbury details:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/glastonbury/
http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/
Both Freddy’s gigs at Astoria, London next week have SOLD
OUT. Nice
one London people!
FLASHBACK
30 May 2007
FFD Barbershop
Look out for Freddy’s ‘bro barbershop’ styles on stage
in Aotearoa/NZ and on the Fantastic Voyages Tour to UK and Europe
Harmonizing with lead singer Joe Dukie on the mic will be the rock
Rio Hunuki (aka Rio Hemopo from TrinityRoots) and soulful singer Adi
Dick who just released his debut solo album Our Place.
The all bro vocal line up is a first for the future funk pirates
who will be cooking some fresh tunes in the kitchen, high and low, straight
to you.
Another guest on tour will be Scott Towers, subbing
for Fulla Flash on the sax. Scotty jammed with Fitchie and Dukie on their first
UK tour in 2002, with Freddy’s at Cargo in 2003 and on all the
recent NZ and Aussie gigs.
And MC Slave is on the bus again with his trusty camera
and hip hop rhymes. Slave recorded much of the material for the Fantastic
Voyages Volume 1 DVD, which incidentally will be released via Kartel
in UK on 25 June 2007.
FLASHBACK
25/5/2007
SUNDAY SESSION
Freddy’s are pleased to announce an extra show at Galatos in Auckland.
Fitchie has booked the Sunday session after tickets to the Friday and Saturday shows sold like hot cakes.
Go get tickets NOW from Conch Records on Ponsonby Rd and Real Groovy on Queen St.
Tickets to the Welli shows at the Front Room still available, but not for much longer!!
Chur!
FLASHBACK
22 MAY 2007
Freddy Voodoo
Big shout to Simon Morse for the Voodoo Girl ‘artist drop’ on our home page.
The Morse-man is a prolific illustrator and comic artist. His killa comic creations, Straight Jacket Ninja, Chopper Chick and Toolbox, are edgy and progressive works of art.
Morse paid his due’s in New Zealand with comic art and work under the Illicit label, he’s worked in Japan and America and is currently based in Welli with another Freddy collaborator, Inject Design.
Artist by day, DJ by night, Morse-man also plays ace 80's music cheesey tunes and power ballads.
http://www.myspace.com/dj_poindexter
16/5/2007
Local Showdown
Grouse news, Fitchie has booked Freddy's to play a series of live shows in Auckland and Wellington before the future funk pirates set sail across the seven seas to tour Europe and UK.
Fat Freddy’s Drop will play Galatos for two consecutive nights over Queens Birthday weekend, and hit the hometown the following weekend for two nights at The Front Room.
Fitchie says the gigs will be “an opportunity to check out a few new tunes from our forthcoming album”.
We know its short notice, but hope you can be there to experience a new chapter in the Freddy’s musical journey, and to wish the bros well for their Fantastic Voyages Tour.
Ticket Info on FFD Gig Guide.FLASHBACK
11 May 2007
XTRA LONDON SHOW
As the saying goes in show biz, ‘by popular demand' Fat Freddy's Drop is pleased to announce a second show for Astoria in London. The extra Fantastic Voyages gig at Astoria will be on Thursday 28 June 2007. Full details on Freddy's Gig Guide.
And for FFD whanau in the land of the long white cloud, stay tuned for a tasty treat.
Fantastic Summer Voyages
Kia Ora, we have an update for the future funk pirates Fantastic Voyages Summer 2007 Tour to the Northern Hemisphere.
We can now confirm new ports of call at Bournemouth Opera House; Rescue Rooms in Nottingham; Glastonbury Festival; Garance Reggae Festival in Paris and Fritzclub in Berlin.
Full ticket details and links on FFD Gig Guide.
FLASHBACK
3 May 2007
Found: News-flash in a Bottle
Ia manuia le aso fanau o Fat Freddy’s Drop, choice wishes for the second anniversary of Based On A True Story.
It was May 2005 when the good ship Fat Freddy’s Drop first unleashed the slow burning, super-jive, future-funk B.O.A.T.S. experience, live and direct from the South Pacific to the world.
So many jams, mo True Stories, mo babies (hi handsome!), undercover grooves and alofa along the way - it’s been a fantastic voyage so far, see you on the other side.
Chur chur.
BOATS SPECIAL
As part of the birthday bash celebrations, we are offering a special sale price on the B.O.A.T.S CD until the end of May, NZ Music Month. Check out Freddy's Merch Tent or your local retailer.
ESQUIRE: FLASHBACK REVIEW
"This jam from Fat Freddy's Drop is a total panty-dropper".
By Morgan Wells
Click to Read
http://www.esquire.com
FLASHBACK 19/4/2007
SLOW BURN
Fat Freddy’s Drop have the longest charting local album in NZ/Aotearoa... ever!
Based On A True Story scored the record after 102 consecutive weeks on the album chart, toppling the previous 101-week record held by Bic Runga's Beautiful Collision.
Chartbiz at RadioScope commented that ‘It looked like the Freddy’s were on the way out last week falling to #37, but this week it rebounded to #27’.
Congrats to Joe Dukie, Tony Chang, Fulla Flash, Jetlag Johnson, Dobie Blaze, DJ Fitchie and Hopepa for the slow burn.
And much respect to YOU! the people of the long white cloud for the making it all possible.
FLASHBACK 6 April 2007
LONDON CALLING ACROSS THE SEVEN SEAS
Ahoy there,
Fat Freddy’s Drop is pleased to announce Astoria in London will be one
of the ports of call for the upcoming Fantastic Voyages European
and North American Tour 2007.
Yup, the future funk pirates are getting out of studio lockdown
to sail the seven seas with a fresh batch of tunes from the land
of the long white cloud.
Tickets are on sale now for the Astoria gig, full details on
Freddy’s Gig Guide.
Stay Tuned for more tour announcements.
Chur
FreddyFLASHBACK 5 APRIL 2007
FREDDY’S SCORE A CENTURY
It is official - this week Freddy’s scored a century on the NZ Album Charts with Based On A True Story.
The album released in NZ way back in 2005, has been batting for 100 weeks in the charts. B.O.A.T.S kicked in at Number 1 and almost two years later is sitting at Number 32.
Too much Freddy’s!FLASHBACK 28/3/07
TRUE STORY BERLIN
For your viewing pleasure, Berlin – Maria is now playing
on Freddy’s Fantastic Voyages DVD preview. Click to View
The True Story clip features eclectic guitar virtuoso Justin Firefly at Maria plus Freddys versus Sonar Kollektiv football match. The game was a highlight of Freddy's 2006 World Cup Tour but only the first half of the game was completed at the time! The second half is on the cards for June 2007 and only then will the winner be declared.
Flashback – 23/3/007
Future Funk Pirates
Sailing is the next foray on the FFD sport calendar, with the
future funk pirates confirmed to play at the NZ Millennium
Cup in Palma, Spain.
The gig in June 2007 will be ‘invite only’ and is part of the 3rd New Zealand Millennium Cup regatta.
The future funk pirates will then launch into their annual summer pilgrimage around the Northern Hemisphere.
The final tour schedule is being worked on at the mo. To be in the know, SUBSCRIBE to FFD.
Meantime in North America, Freddy’s BOATS album is starting to buzz beyond the underground.
In a music review in the Book, L.A, was the observation that ‘With
a groove swinging like a hammock between two coconut trees and
singer Dallas Tamaira soulful crooning flowing like a summer
breeze, this record puts your head on vacation. Hit repeat and
you’re gone forever’.
SAVE TE RAEKAIHAU PT
The battle to save Te Raekaihau Point, a windswept and wild landscape
on Wellington’s South Coast, continues.
Following a decision to grant Resource Consent for an aquarium and café development on the point, GADOT (Group Against Development On Te Raekaihau Pt Inc) are committed to opposing the development.
For more info and to make donations: www.savethepoint.org.nz
FLASHBACK 16 March 2007
Alongside kai, sport would surely rate as the other ultimate activity for Freddy’s.
Kinda cool then that the bros have literally smashed a few boundaries at the legendary Basin Reserve cricket pitch this week in preparation for the massive Sandwiches SummerSet day/nighter in Welli.
And a couple of likely lads – the Moggy bros – have been working on some 2-D animation for the event – check out Joe Dukie at the wicket along with Tom Middleton and others on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSGWHxi3fEM
Chur
9 February 2007
It Just Isn’t Cricket
Fat Freddy’s Drop is among the big hitters lining up to drop the bass
at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on 17 March 2007.
Sandwiches Summerset07 on the last Saturday of daylight savings will be Freddy’s only official Welli show this summer.
The other players booked for the inaugural showcase of urban beats and fine kai at Wellington’s iconic cricket ground are Shapeshifter, Ladi6 & Parks, Downtown Brown & the Sunshine Sound System plus live and direct from the UK, Tom Middleton and Black Grass.
Check Gig Guide for ticket info.
Nu Generation Freddy
Hopepa’s young son Benjamin made his public debut live on stage at the
Te Awa Winery gig last weekend. Armed with a suitably sized trombone
he literally was Hopepa’s ‘mini me’ on stage, right down to the bad ho
jelly roll moves.
His appearance ensured Freddy’s performed as a ‘seven headed soul monster’!!
Near the end of the gig, Joe Dukie let slip that one of the Freddy’s is getting married in Hawke’s Bay this week!
Congrats to the funky cats, Fitchie and Nicole (his partner of 11 years as well as Freddy’s manager) and to their daughter Mia who is in charge of the rings!! It’s sure to be a superfly occasion with Tyra and the Tornadoes doing the wedding band honours and a ‘sports day’ comp organized by the man himself, Fitchie.
17 January 2007
Dubsteppers
Mighty dub greetings to 007.
On the underground tip, Cay’s Crays remix by Digital Mystikz was voted 3rd Best Tune in the Dubstep 2006 Awards.
Mala aka Digital Mystikz took out the top tune spot with Anti War Dub – which is wot a world with no soul needs more of!!
Check out da other dub dub winners on:
www.dubstepforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=12641
Mala can be found at:
www.myspace.com/malamystikz
chur.
Shout outs to all the brothers and sisters creating and supporting
original music in Aotearoa and around the world.
Bongmaster / Trinity Roots / Slave / Weta / Shihad / Fonky Monks / Roots Foundation / Andrew / Tiki & The Salmonella Dub Crew / Conch Manuel & Cian & Submariner at the Turnaround / Otis Frizzell / Ned Star / Stinky Jim / Ladi 6 & Parks & Julian Dyne & Verse 2 / Zen / Kava Koa Zane Lowe / Hamish Clark / Tha Feelstyle / Dubhead / Tubbs Cornerstone Roots / Shane Carter / Shapeshifter / Pitch Black / Benny Staples / Kora / Sunshine Sound System / The Black Seeds / Phoenix Foundation / Rhombus / Daniel Best / Jazzanova & Sonar Kollektiv / Brad & Dom - The Nextmen / Mr Scruff & Andrea / Gilles Peterson / Charlie Gillet / Felix Haaksman / Che Fu / Scribe / DJ Raw Footsouljahs / Imon / Jasper / Mephisto Jones / Mark De Clive Lowe / Sparrow / Ben Tippett / DLT / Dan Tippett / Scribes of Ra / Anthony Donaldson / Pos & The Pacific Underground / Asterix / Recloose / The Eggs / Open Souls / Ill Phonics / King Kapisi / The Urale Sisters / Age Pryor / Video Kid / Ray Ray / Lord Fader / Richard Nunns / Brian Flintoff / Ngawara Gordon / Horomona Horo / Happy Cones / Ebb / Mikkee Dee / Jet Jaguar / Flash Harry / Nathan Haines / Brother J / Kim Patterson / Tom Thump / Scott Towers / Maaka McGregor / Chris Cox / Chris O'Connor / Twinset / Dr Lee Prebble at The Surgery / Tribalincs / Fusa / Sean Deans / Ross Steele / Lemon / Flic / Andreas Lepper / C4 Sugarlicks / Capital Recordings / Loop / Vee at Elephant / Real Groovy / Slow Boat / James & Karyn at Fabel / Steve Watkins / Mike Bradshaw / Tim & Geoff at Havana Coffeeworks / Roger at Fidels / Potty at Havana Bar / Sam & Leon at the Matterhorn / Hema Oil / Radio Active 89FM / Base FM / BNET Radio / Fraser at the Bodega / Scotty at Refuel / The New Jazz Transplant / Jewel School / Martin Kwok / Ben Stevens / Lily Star / Andy Mitchell / Splore / Kaikoura Roots / Raglan Soundsplash / Rippon / Womad NZ / Chris at Whopper Chopper / Ed & Ben at the Leigh Sawmill / Dub Conspiracy / Jeff Hendersonn at Happy / Goosebump / Toby Larmer / Nell Winton / Walter Claus / Reubin Sutherland / Taika / Bro Town / Cliff Curtis / Jeff Raffills / Tamara / Wang / Adam Jenkins / Grant Smithies / Cushla / Nak / Andre & Fadime & Renee & Steffen & Katharina @ Szene4 / Lovelite / Sacha Russia / The [original] Khuja Crew / Sideshow / Tracy Brown / Stewart / The Tikipunga Boys / Kenn Coleman / Peter Baker / David Carroll / Michelle Sainsbury / Simon Hakaraia / Charles Kirby-Welch / Glynn Rowell / Starfish / Scott & Rob @ Protel / Ifopo / Stephen Jewell / Mark Sequeria / MIA / Benjamin / Eru / Alaska / Lily / Ema Pomara / Nicole Duckworth /Alicia Williams / Ange Kalogeropoulos / Amelia Handscomb / Michelle Healey / The Tea Ladies / Killer Bernie / The Hurricanes.
