There once was a rather more predictable time when the August Bank Holiday signalled the final breath of summer, when we would suddenly shift from gorgeous sunshine to an overcast Autumn within the space of a few hours. Okay so maybe it never was that clear cut but nowadays our summer’s all over the place. It can be a little confusing at times but despite all the rain and wind you can be sure of one thing, it’s not over yet!!! So we’re having a total summer celebration down at CAI. Think Pool Party (but without the pool) or Beach Party (okay without the beach either).

Dust off your shorts, shades, flip-flops, bikinis and Barry Island visors for a night of pure sunshine, cos we’ve scoured the Holiday Camps of the land for the best quality entertainment possible.

Ukulele Nights
Celebrating that most famous of Hawaiian instruments in style. A collection of Cardiff’s most dedicated players of all shapes, sizes, ages and intelligence from the various Ukulele Nights jam sessions across the city bring us a selection of favourites transformed from Rock masterpieces into little nylon stringed sonnets of joy.

Barry Hole’s Hitlist

Taking their name from a famous footie player who broke the family mould by playing for the Bluebirds rather than the Jacks, this Swansea duo also defy the traditional by playing rehashed Bontempi Keyboard classics in their own unique interpretations. Think Kraftwerk meets the Chuckle Brothers.

http://www.myspace.com/barrieholeshitlistpresents

Benji & The Greats
Everytime we’ve booked a Reggae band alongside an After Party for some event or other, the Cardiff Arts Institute has been rammed out. So the powers that be told us to get more Reggae Bands and more After Parties and so here you go. Celebrating the aftermath of Sunday Dinner and Julian Castaldi’s Top 100, a fantastic new group with the sole intention of getting some serious Bank Holiday Sunday skank action.

Le Santos (DJ Set – Rockabilly / Rhythm N Blues)
For some people Rockabilly is not a style of music but a dedicated lifestyle, enter Le Santos who takes the spirit of dancefloors gone by and blasts them right into the here and now.

Kaptin
There seems to be a certain rule in Cardiff that it isn’t a proper party unless Kaptin’s deejaying. We’re pretty sure that Kaptin made this rule in the first place or at least has been its main advocate but either way he shall be on hand to ensure that you all remember… the Summer is NOT over.

We are also currently gathering teams for a spot of Beach Volleyball out the back. Anyone interested let us know.

 He doesn’t want to frighten people away from his “All time top 100″ and promises to only play one Motley Crue track.

For the birthday party we have some of the artists who are making us most excited at the moment.

Blue Daisy (Black Acre)

The latest sensation from the Black Acre stable (Von D, Martlow, Akira Kiteshi) who strives to be a ‘representation of individuality’ and he’s not doing too badly. His beautifully crunchy digital ‘crackle inspired mutant funk music’ is packed full of meaning and emotion and has gathered praise from all corners of the bass music world. Mary Anne Hobbs in particular is a big fan, inviting the Camden dweller into the BBC Radio 1 studios for a mix and interview early on in his career.

Benjamin One

Who has cropped up many a time on the pages of Chrome Kids and his crooked bass driven productions have seen him sharing the stage alongside the likes of Glitch Mob, Anti Pop Consortium, Gaslamp Killer and Blackalicious. Ben was also featured on the DJ Shadow remix CD and is part of the Vertebrae crew alongside Awkward.

Friday 27th August: DJ Krust – Belief System (Benjamin One Remix) by cardiffartsinstitute

Monky

Part of the Chrome Kids family and an active force on the Cardiff scene since his turntablist days with Optimas Prime, he truly found his calling however with the advent of Dubstep. Both him and long term partner in Prime – Stagga, have developed sounds that are unique to the scene and have gained them a strong reputation, with Radio 1 plays from the likes of Mary Anne Hobbs, Rob Da Bank and Huw Stephens. With a sound that is hard to pin down and floats around the outskirts of Dubstep and into the future, Monky has a lot of love from the scene’s heavy hitters such as N Type and Starkey and if recent shows in the US are anything to go by, there’s a definite worldwide appreciation for the sound he’s bringing.

Mr Healan

Starting in Cardiff’s Drum N Bass scene under the name Haze he was resident DJ alongside High Contrast at nights such as Silent Running and Enthusiasm, he has a great ear for subs and drum patterns and has definitely taken in the journeys of Hip-hop’s post Dilla producers as well as the current Dubstep generation. He has recently cropped up on Rinse FM, Sub FM and BBC 1Xtra, staking his name into the general arena like a flag in a battle zone.

Kaptin

Yes moi…Chrome Kids helmsman, part time DJ, semi-retired rapper and full time party provider.

Janice Graham Band

For this month we have sent our dedicated team of national scouts on a quest of Herculean proportions to bring to surface one of the finest indie-ska-jazz diamond mines hitherto unexplored. They are The Janice Graham Band. They are from Manchester. And endearingly so. Their songs are brimming with Northern pathos and a breezy provincial cool. Their live shows are crackles of youthful vigour – comprising refined sing-a-long choruses with imaginative, often minimalist ska residues. The end result is a hell of a lot of knees feeling the inevitable pressure to buckle to the beat. We implore you to listen to the slinky, dark little number Easy available on their website – www.janicegrahamband.com/songs – hear their sleek, measured trumpet parps. Their smart lyrics. Their subtly sinister undertones. Hear them for yourselves, goddamnit.

If that doesn’t even vaguely interest you, then you are very miserly indeed.

August 26th isn’t historically renowned for wonderful things happening.

Let’s change that for 2010. It’s our duty.
……………………………………
www.janicegrahamband.com
www.myspace.com/janicegrahamband

26/08/10 Cardiff Arts Institute / Free Entry!

LOVE MMP!

These Brighton reggae maestros are proof that the spirit of the original roots sound is alive and well, whilst still bringing a modern, creative edge to the live scene. Music so memorable and timeless that you could imagine it being played in the dancehalls of sixties Jamaica if it wasn’t awash with mysterious, futuristic sounds. . Fronted by two soulful and innovative female vocalists, this 8-piece troupe, whose members have ja…mmed with the likes of The Wailers, Horace Andy, Lee Perry and Derrick Morgan to name a few, generates a sound which is equally strong and sweet, conscious and fun and are One of the most highly-regarded reggae acts in the UK right now who we’re lucky enough to grab on their way back from the Green Man Festival.

Saturday 21st August: The Resonators – Mandrake by cardiffartsinstitute

This will also be the After Party for the Roxe Jam Graf Jam event. Check the other post for more details on that.

10pm – 4am
£2 Before 11pm // £4 After
Cheaper Still with a CAI Regulars Card.

The Welsh Hip Hop Festival /Roxe Jam was set up in 2007 by Lou Lockwood as memorial to her son Bill aka Roxe a young writer, who died in a road accident.

This event highlights and brings together all elements of hip hop culture as a two day free event in one of the capitals largest city parks with support from Cardiff Council and with the help countless Welsh hip hop artists who are performing for the love.

Roxe Jam brings together Wales’ most talented in all aspects of hiphop culture from graffiti art to beat boxing.

The line up for the Roxe Jam @ Severnoaks park in Grangetown:

Metabeats
Skamma
Joe Blow
Don Leisure
DJ Killer tomato
DJ Jaffa
Skunkadelic
Dirty Dyce
Louis Vines
Shadowlaw
DJ Risk 1
Oort Kuiper
Connections
Inferno
Aisling
Trindaddy
Alicia Scott
Truth

We @ CAI are hosting the afterparty with hiphop/party djs:

DJ Killer Tomato
Kaptin

+ incredible reggae band from Brighton, The Resonators see other posts for more deets!

http://roxejam.co.uk/

“He has a kinda strange and tender magic that is just truly enchanting” Mary Anne Hobbs (BBC Radio 1) on Hyetal.

Growing out of Bristol’s second wave of Dubstep starlets alongside producers such as Joker, Gemmy and Julio Bashmore, Hyetal makes music that blurs boundaries, builds dancefloors and ‘drips with colour’. Infact much has been made of the visual nature of Hyetals music, like a kaleidoscope for the ears drums or a synesthesiac’s wet dream. Since relocating from his native Southampton he has been fully embraced by his new home, and releases on Bristol labels such as Punch Drunk and Soul Motive, both solo and with Shortstuff, have gathered him a healthy following worldwide. His mixes for Mary Anne Hobbs (BBC Radio 1), Fabric Live, FACT, LuckyMe and Electronic Explorations help to showcase the sound of this next generation of ‘post’ Dubstep artists and firmly sits Hyetal right in the middle of them. We’re truly happy to bring him over the bridge for some big Friday fun.

10pm – 4am
£2 Before 11pm // £4 After
Cheaper with Regulars Card

Friday 20th August: Hyetal – Neon Speech by cardiffartsinstitute

There will be a glorious Music quiz (not too trickey!), raffle (everyones a winner!), cakes (tempting treats!), special GreenMan DJ set, oh and some prizes to boot!
Our special musical quiz will be interspersed between the acts, so come on down to support these ‘Green Manners’ and help raise some funds for the Oxjam Cardiff team.

(Oxjam is Oxfam’s nationwide, volunteer-led festival that takes place every October).
*£3 entry/Free to play the quiz! Teams of up to 5 people/ 8pm start

The Gentle Good is also known as Cardiff born Gareth Bonello, a Welsh folk singer and songwriter. His honest and tender vocals are well matched to an intricate guitar style that owes much to the great guitarists of the 60s folk revival. A dedicated multi-instrumentalist his recordings are layered with subtle string arrangements as well as banjos, mandolins and glockenspiels.

http://www.myspace.com/thegentlegood

Hail! The Planes is a post-folk band from Cardiff. Things began in October 2007 when four friends got together and made a folky racket in a small room above an estate agents. Since then we have written some songs, played some shows, met some nice people and had a bass player go and live in Japan. ”Post-rock collides with folk in an intrepid romance. It’s beautiful, smart and lyrical. Just plain super” Miniature Music Press