Give Opa! a try this Saturday night - if Andy's faith in Cardiff's musical taste is proved right it could be the start of something big.
Curated by DJ Andy Roberts of Radio Cardiff
Opa! is a celebration of some of the most uplifting and vibrant music you’ll ever hear – Balkan beats, gypsy grooves, klezmer cuts and more. You’ll have heard it on the soundtrack to the Borat movie, at a bar mitzvah, maybe on a vodka advert. It’s an antidote to the formulaic pop, rock and dance scenes, and the po-faced, chin-stroking, crate-digging alternative.
Andy’s background in jazz as a radio presenter and saxophonist with the adventurous funky big band Wonderbrass has led him on a musical journey through Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. It’s inspired him to host a series of themed nights around south Wales over the last decade including Arabesq, A Night in Tunisia and the Jazz Connection. This time the inspiration is the brassy, beaty, meaty sound of the Balkans.
“I’m simply putting on gigs that I want to see myself, but trying not to replicate what’s already out there,” says Andy. “The Jazz Connection nights went on the backburner when it became clear that up-and-coming jazz bands were able to get bookings without my help. Arabesq and A Night in Tunisia have been public showcases for the thriving bellydance scene. Now I’m hoping to create an audience for my favourite Balkan and klezmer bands – when I’ve seen them in London, Bristol and elsewhere I’m so motivated I simply want to spread the word!”
At a time when Andy was feeling a little disillusioned with the live music scene, fresh inspiration came along in the shape of Newport’s Georgian gypsy punks Rogora Khart. “A work colleague casually mentioned that her husband had just started a band playing Eastern European music. I went to see them play in front of half a dozen people on a Sunday night in TJ’s – a poor turn out but for me it was a revelation, like hearing the Ramones for the first time. I had been thinking of giving up promotion but basically I decided I had to build a night around them and give them the audience they deserved. The resulting gig went down a storm!”
On the face of it, Georgian gypsy punk sounds like a mish-mash, but Andy describes Rogora Khart as a perfectly crafted presentation of a band from the former Soviet republic inspired by the Pixies, Jesus and Mary Chain, Dick Dale and more, with wry lyrics reflecting life at home and abroad. Members of the band have some musical history from their days in Mekons-era punk outfit Ralph and the Ponytails but barely a year old in their new guise they’ve already supported Hawkwind and have attracted interest from leading figures on the world music scene in London.
Give Opa! a try this Saturday night – if Andy’s faith in Cardiff’s musical taste is proved right it could be the start of something big.
doors 8pm
For a taste of what to expect, check out http://www.myspace.com/rogorakhart