Mr Elephant Presents

A massive shout to everyone who came into our room on saturday night at the aforementioned Longest Day Festival! It’s certainly fair to say that you (and the Mr Elephant djs and vj), created one of the most electric atmosphere’s ever seen in the back bar at the Hare and Hounds, and huge thanks once again to Bazaar for making it all happen.

Sound setup was handled expertly by Andy the  sound man, with our resident visual artist Liam (and Charlie), setting up a huge video screen ready for his inspiring projections. Emma and Bazaar had invited Zen and a tarot reader down, and there was a friendly masseur who gave great head massages.

Pyn made the place look more beautiful with some nice bits supplied by Emma, and we welcomed Justin from Loafers Lounge back, who kicked things off with his beautiful blend of diverse sun kissed electronica and downtempo.

By 7pm the back bar was unusually busy, and it time to invite Olly Badaboon, (our “newcomer dj” from our first Mr Elephant event at Epic in March 2007), back to see where he was at musically. Just off a plane from Ibiza, Badaboon has certainly been honing his skills, and took over the decks with some new and classic funk and some choice scratching, raising the tempo and shaking some asses, as the place filled up, (and Chris the chef got his head massaged!)

8.30 came and the mighty Dani C from Funkatronic was up.

Dani is a great dj we’ve been wanting to invite down for a while now, and it certainly became apparent why, when after a few records, he had people coming up and shaking his hand and pulling all sorts of shapes to his summer and latino style house! A sure sign of an old pro

While our rooms was free entry all night, the two rooms upstairs, hosted by Bazaar, and B-Music were open from 8pm and were £7 quid entry to cover a great line up of musicians and djs. We managed to sneak a peek at around 10.30, when dropping up a backup deck (thanks Rob!) after one of the hired ones had gone down. While there wasn’t many people around yet, it looked fantastic, and full of promise to go off in true solstice style, with a bevvy of instruments adorning both stages.

Back downstairs however it was (fortunatly) rammed to capacity and time for our resident dj Marc Reck to take to the decks. The dancefloor was now nicely full thanks to some great mixing from Dani, and Marc dropped his diverse blend of cut up trip hop, classic soul, and upbeat swing, which got the place shouting, and the people smiling.

It was nice to see some scratching from Marc too, before he raised the pace into his more familliar breakbeat territory. Liams blendstate’s visuals and intelligent use of colour set the ever changing mood with real skill.

By 11.30pm, the back bar was now full to capacity, with people from the more chilled out front bar apparently taking it in turns to come and have a dance! This all paved the way for a return set from our friend (and headliner from our first event), Mr Boogie Dave.

Boogie most known for his pioneering dubstep, and of course the legend that is Drop Beats Not Bombs, threw down an amazing set of booty breaks, which got the crowd shouting and jumping, and ended with the most amazing remix of Rage against the Machine’s classic “Killing in the Name Of” track.

It was great to see such a huge reaction, as Boogie is a great and well deserving dj, and sometimes dubstep can be a little hard to grasp for some dancefloors.

12.30 upstairs, and there was some great music being played by some of Birmingham’s most talented musicians. There was some apparently some confusion as to who was actually playing as the flyers had been printed early, but we imagine that it was suitably going off, and the price had been thoughtfully dropped to reflect the time of night.

Unfortunatly we couldn’t go and see for ourselves, as 12.45 downstairs, the temperature had raised to sweating temperature! Dani C was back on the decks and by the time he dropped a huge remix of Cj Bollands Sugar Daddy, the whole place was on fire (literally!)

Handing over to Marc Reck for the last stretch, (who was so excited by this point he was bouncing around like Tigger on speed…or Marc on Staropramen!). Marc raised the pace with each record, quickly switching into Drum and Bass, and igniting the crowd into a jumping bass driven mass sinaglong!

All in all a most memorable night, and an atmosphere created by the local people in a local pub that will be very difficult to forget.

The full set of pictures we’ve got so far are here (thanks marc), and there was also a roving professional camera man (who had a proper camera, and was asking people to pose, etc) so there should be some good ones on the way.

We’ll post them as soon as we get a copy, and if you want to be notified when they are up, click on the rss subscribe button, and they will be delivered automatically to your chosen rss reader.

Wishing you all a most glorious rest of summer.

One love

Mr Elephant x

Hey humans.

Firstly, apologies about the lack of posts these last two months. We realise they’ve all been about the events, (which to be fair have been dominating our focus since april, alongside switching servers), but we will be back on track very soon, with your tasty tips (thank you!), Ruth’s next installment of her reports on Birmingham, and Marc’s 3rd Mr Elephant Radio Show.

Remember Elephant’s never forget..its just takes them a little time to work out technical bits and bobs.

Anyway we have some news and yet another invitation for you! This week we have been asked to host a room at the Longest Day Festival! It is to be at the Hare and Hounds this Saturday (21st June), and its being organised by local promoter and Bazaar’s very own Emma Cutler.

We will hosting the back bar all day and night, and will be inviting some of friends from the previous Mr Elephant events to come down and play stuff they might not usually bring out (and some they would).

Our room will be free entry all day and night, and will feature some mr e style treats from Bazaar such as knitting (with instructions), a bbq, jewellery on sale, tarot readings, massage, origami and a host of other treats.

The upstairs rooms (one of which will be hosted by B-Music btw), will be £7 in after 8pm, and will feature some great live music from local bands like the Mama Matrix, and djs such as the bee’s tour dj.

All rooms will be on til two in the morn, and it should be a fitting local celebration of this years summer solstice.

Details are actually a little incorrect on the flyer for our room, as we have different timings and running order than those advertised, but suffice to say it promises to be a lovely day out, with a host of great music and activities, so hope you can join us.

Music wise our room should look like this :

Justin Bond (Loafers Lounge) - Eclectic Summer Chillout
Marc Reck (Project X Presents) - Eclectic laidback Mr Elephant type diversity
Badaboon (Digi phunk) - Funky biznizz
Dani C (Funkatronic) - Diverse downtempo up through to choice house
Boogie Dave (Drop Beats Not Bombs) - (Chilled Electronic Breaks up to more dancefloor breaks)

All of us from midnight with our party style tunes), and visuals will be hosted by our resident visual artist Liam Blendstate.

Happy Solstice to you all

Despite the forecast, the sun, and humans of all ages were out in full effect, which made for a thouroughly lovely afternoon.

It was our second attempt at a family event, since our first collaboration with Dramask last year. This time we got a lot more of our friends involved, and the result was more than inspiring.

Here’s some of the highlights this time in nice easy to digest picture form

Subvert Sounds made for a smooth setup and quality finish

Justin Bond rom Loafers Lounge kicked off the music with his blend sublime sun kissed music.

Pyn from Dramask demonstrated various gum strip and tissue techniques to a queue of potential mask makers.

whilst Jen (not pictured here) hosted another few tables for those that wanted to decorate our card masks.

Robin from Jam Jah was up next supplying his unique blend of roots and reggae.

Olly gave a drum skinning demonstration

Anna gave some juggling workshops

Rohit played some of his beautiful sitar compositions

Daz Dolczech and Anka played an amazing set of acoustic renditions of their own Mama Matrix tracks!

And as the sun went down Dj Marc Reck and Vj Liam Blendstate provided a sublime audio visual soundtrack.

Thanks to everyone that came down, and to our wonderful hosts, Keith and Diane at the Prince.

There are more pictures here, and we have recordings of the Daz and Anka’s set, and various of footage of the workshops, so please check back, or subscribe to the rss or the newsletter on the right.

One Love
Mr Elephant x

Finally we’ve moved servers and got this site back up and running! While we are on a nice new shiny server, these internet problems have stopped me from telling you about our next event, which is this saturday!

It’s a different affair, aimed at all ages, and one we hope will make for a glorious relaxed day in the sunshine… (or under a marquee if its raining!!)

flyer by Justin Loafer

On Saturday 24th May, we are offering a free family bank holiday all dayer. This was orinally inspired by the work Dramask do, and some of my human friends who have younger kids, and which often keeps them in instead of out enjoying great music with the rest of us. Its also inspired by the family mask decorating event we held last year in the day before the 2nd party, which was facilitated by Dramask at Epic Skate Park.

This time Dramask is hosting actual mask making workshops, and we’ve have a whole day planned for anyone that fancies some nice time. Olly is coming with an informal demonstration on drum skinning, we have chilled and eclectic djed music from Justin Bond (Loafers Lounge), Robin Friendly Fire (Jam Jah), and our very own Marc Reck (Project X Presents).

We welcome Daz Dolczech and Anka from Mama Matrix, performing 2 sets of acoustic solo stuff, alongside some sitar playing from Rohit, an array of live visuals from Liam Blendstate, and with the sound and lights being expertly handled by Subvert Sounds.

The venue is owned by the lovely couple who hosted Epic Skate Park last year and they have now restored and even improved the Prince, hosting the best beer garden in the locality with marquees, a video screen, and a proper kitchen, which serves all manner of real food (not microwave or typical steak and a pint menu’s either), whilst having 9 real ales to choose from.

All of this had enticed the locals back, and made the place one of the nicest places to relax on a summer day, so if you’re not going away this weekend, we hope you can join us.

P.s For any that fancy dancing afterward, we will be going to the Hare and Hounds for custom made….All in all, it should be a great bank holiday weekend.

One Love

Mr Elephant

To everyone who came to our first birthday bash! We are all quite amazed at the response, and just how much fun it was all weekend long. Here’s a quick rundown of the night for anyone who missed it.

After a relatively easy setup (thanks to the in house engineers, and help from Christy), we welcomed the first guests at 9.01 pm, who received their free cd and choice of kazoo from our delectable door hosts, Pyn and Shelly.

In room 2, Robin from Jam Jah kicked it off with some choice roots and reggae, against a backdrop Keir’s inspired visuals mash ups on a 6ft Plasma Screen, whilst Manic Organic prepared tasters from their menu to serve up to any hungry guests.

In room 1, Mr Elephant mixtapes provided the soundtrack to a late leon setting up, and much creativity, with the mask decorating table which were all feverishly surrounded by 9.30.

By 11.15 both rooms were bustling with birthday merriment, and it was time for our headline band to don the main stage. Mama Matrix once again showing why they are one of the most exciting bands in the city, delivering a blistering set of balkan gypsy jazz. Their performance even grabbing the attention of one of Birmingham’s most respected music promotor’s, and igniting many questions as to where they were from!

While Dj Christy was keeping room two on fire with more reggae and some old jungle, Room 1 saw people don their masks, and raise their kazoos, ready for the midnight mask parade. Marc announced it using his voice changer, (which unfortunatly made the announcement somewhat hard to distinguish!), but nevertheless the tribal sound of 8 of the city’s local percussionists (who had never played together before the night) commanded the focus of the party goers, and led by Issabella and Katie, who were in character as victorian ladies, the midnight mask parade journeyed around the top floor of the venue, before settling in the main room for a percussion jam that got the whole room moving.

Some people joined in on the kazoo, and our professional mask maker followed in hot pursuit, selecting 3 winners and notifying them with specially made golden tickets. Marc announced the winners, (thankfully in his normal voice!), who each won a cuddly version of me, (with the top prize being an addition of a bottle of smirnoff). Marc dropped his first record (Arthur Conley’s sweet soul music), and it was back to more dancing and merriment for the rest of the evening.

A mix of music from the mr elephant radio shows got the crowd nicely loose and ready for some big breaks, and the arrival of Khalgani Belly Dancers on stage raised the heat even more.

Birthday Boy Lopan took over, and kept the crowd rockin, before a back to back finale of huge breaks, that rock tune from Steve, and a couple of drum and bass favourites. The last two tracks were Harry Belafonte’s Daylight Come, and Don’t Worry Be Happy, leaving everyone with warm feelings and positive vibes as they journeyed to the after party at the last ever weekend sessions of the Church Inn.

A truly memorable night, (and a most suitably celebratory weekend!

Dave Piper took some fantastic pictures of the evening, and here’s a little video we hashed together.

We hope you can join us for something a lot more relaxing at our Free Bank Holiday Family Alldayer at the Prince on Saturday May 24th 2008.

One Love
Mr Elephant

With the birthday bash almost here, here’s a run down of the expected evening’s entertainment.

9 pm - Doors Open - Free Cds for 1st 100 people / Free Kazoo’s for first 200 people

Room 1 - Mr Elephant’s Birthday Room / Room 2 - hosted all night by Jam Jah & Friendly Fire Crew

( Mask Decorating Tables open in both room - (Decorate your mask ready for the midnight mask parade) )

10pm - Manic Organic start serving a range of organic food from around the world til 12am

Film Crew and performers play and investigate your top tips and messages of inspiration

10.30 pm - Possible Party Games like Hit The Pinyada

11 pm - Mama Matrix Live on Stage

12 am - Midnight Mask Parade led by 4 Local Percussionists on stage & 6 percussionists parading the room.

Feel free to join in with you kazoo / Prizes giving for best mask made/worn

12.30 am - Dj Marc Reck, Vj Chromatouch, Khalgani Belly Dance & Percussionist Drummond

1.30 am - Dj Steve Lopan & Drummond & Vj Chromatouch

2.15 am - Back to Back 30th Mash Up

3 am - Close (Free afterparty sorted, so let us know if you want to come

Hope you can be there

Industrial belts like Digbeth that were once the guts of our nation, now lie in states of limbo as Government and private developers grapple with the complexities of regenerating spaces and local identities.

Investment should not disregard existing ways and means of living and would be advised to support rather than engulf active communities. Realistic planning benefits from grass-roots intervention as the professional consultation process remains disconnected from communities and isolates individuals.

Walking, talking and standing still are important to the outcome of my work and in the influence we have on the fabric of our communities - finding commonality and sharing experience reliant on our contact. Today’s pace of life often leads us to forget the power of a smile or spoken word.

Development of up-market residential zones and the expansion of all considered ‘Creative’ and ‘Cultural’ threaten the growth of independent economies outside these sectors- loud and lively elements discouraged in favour of appropriated art. Digbeth High Street seemingly split down the middle into a ‘Creative side of the street’ and a potential residential zone. The suppression of popular entertainment and activities will only extinguish the vibrancy that already exists.

As an artist I should be rubbing my hands together. Instead I am concerned that yet again the activities of an existing working community will be disregarded in favour of preferred bourgeois lifestyle options. The research and outreach in Digbeth will focus on the workers of the area. Responding to current debate and the predominant issues surrounding the invention of a place called Eastside.

“Here’s a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If your alive, it isn’t” - James B (Shrewsbury)

“Live in the moment, Not for the Moment” - Rich Batsford (Kings Heath) - www.richbatsford.com

“Life is short, so lets have another one!” - Paul Pushkin (Kings Heath)

“Most inspirational thing anyone’s ever said to me is “Huh” from James Brown!” John Mostyn (Moseley) - www.mostyn.net

“The most boring thing in the entire world is nudity. The second most boring thing is honesty!” - James L (Kings Heath)
“The tradegy of life is not what men suffer,but rather what they miss” - Steve Farrington (Kings Heath)- www.myspace.com/thesexuallstars

“What keeps me on track is the poster on my wall which i wake up to each day which says ” You must be the change you wish to see in the world” and is by Mahatma Ghandi :)” - Sofia A (Moseley)

“When you are present, you can allow the mind to be as it is without getting entangled in it. The mind in itself is a wonderful tool. Dysfunction sets in when you seek your self in it and mistake it for who you are” (Exchart Tolle) - Marc Reck - www.marcreck.com