So Cool Beans is reaching the ripe old age of 3 years this autumn, something that we are all genuinely surprised at and impressed with. It’s fair to say we’ve come a long way since our inaugural show at the Raynor Lounge back in October 2011, in which the highlight of that event was a Twister mat and blue monkey costume. A very long way indeed.
Cool Beans has become a festival touring, tour-booking, podcast-producing, video-making, bean-enchilada-baking, party-starting Sheffield-based institution. 2013 really has been special – the sounds of the Beans have been heard in places as far as the Scottish Highlands, the French Alps, Glastonbury Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe and more recently the naked-party island of Ibiza.
First and foremost – a huge THANK YOU to anyone who’s come to any of our shows, listened to any of our podcasts, booked any of our acts or simply complimented Ham Pocket on one of their lacklustre performances. It means a huge amount, your support is what keeps Cool Beans going and without you this whole operation would be one lonely man typing nonsense on the internet.
In celebrating 3 years of Cool Beans, we’ve made a new mix, a new podcast and are putting on a massive party!
MIX
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PODCAST
PARTY
Now, earlier this year we put on the incredible King Porter Stomp at the Riverside. The mood and atmosphere in venue that night was frankly unbelievable, and we knew that we had to return at some point – what better occasion then than our 3rd birthday celebrations.
So without further ado, here’s what we have planned..
THE HACKNEY COLLIERY BAND
We are extremely proud to be bringing the mighty Hackney Colliery Band to Sheffield for the FIRST TIME EVER! You may have heard this 9-piece brass extravaganza on BBC 6Music with Craig Charles and Huey Morgan, you may have spotted them on stage as part of the Olympics Closing Ceremony last year, you may have caught them blowing the roof off a festival tent in a field somewhere or even caught a DJ spinning their phenomenal takes on Toto’s ‘Africa’ or Blackstreet’s ‘No Diggity’.
Wherever or whenever you’ve heard them the breadth of musical talent is clearly on display in their eclectic repertoire. Mining nuggets of funk, hip-hop and high-octane rock from the musical coalface and throwing in a few chunks of Balkan brass, ska and contemporary jazz for good measure, the Hackney Colliery Band’s setlist is as diverse as the London borough that gave them their name. Add the fact that the band stays true to its roots by bringing the tradition of mobile marching bands firmly into the 21st Century and you know that every gig’s sure to be unique.
Whether playing to a global audience of hundreds of millions or to a few hundred in a club, you can be certain of one thing: this is high-energy, good-time music that’ll make you want to move your feet.
Plainly and simply – this is the perfect headline act in rounding off 3 years of eclectic good times party music.
DEXTER DEXTROUS & THE FINGERSMITHS
As main support we have enlisted the funky sounds of Dexter Dextrous & his band of merry men. They’ve been taking their energetic show all over the UK this year and their Cool Beans appearance in fact marks the first show of their Autumn Tour.
Their latest video “Devil Drives” is also a perfect, pre-Halloween warm up. Expect a raucous set of funk, swing, ska & soul!
THE BONE LAB
Another Cool Beans debut, very happy to be welcoming the fresh, new, exciting delights of the Bone Lab. They claim to be the best Funk/Rap/Dance/Blues/Drone/Folk/RnB band in the world. Get down early and find out yourself!
JACK ATHEY & ANDREW DUXFIELD
Early evening entertainment courtesy of two of our favourite acoustic artists. The soulful, jazz-esque stylings of Jack Athey followed by the skill-full, finger-picking sounds of Andrew Duxfield. Absolutely delightful!
+ Poetry from Lonesome Dom
+ DJ sets from Thirsty Ear, Soulful Sally & us!
6PM – 1AM
£4 before 8PM – £6 afterwards
The Riverside, Mowbray Street
So there you go. It would be an honour and a pleasure if you would all join us for a massive evening of dancing, sweating and swancing (the ultimate combination of dancing and sweating).
No advance tickets for this one, show up early to guarantee entry. Last one with King Porter Stomp was a sellout!
Much love and thanks again for the good times,
Cool Beans. xx
