Bixiga 70 return to Dublin

Bixiga 70 at The Sugar Club, Dublin, 25 July 2024

To quote Martin Luther King, 'I had a dream....'. My dream had nothing to do with civil rights, however, instead it centred on music. It was back in 2017, when reading through the pages of a reputable music magazine (few of them left now and at exorbitant prices too!), that I chanced upon a piece about Brazilian Afrobeat ensemble, Bixiga 70. The band had completed gigs in the UK, but nowhere was there any mention of them coming across to Ireland to play. This, I thought, was astonishing. 

Dublin now being home to much of Ireland's estimated 70,000 Brazilian community (admittedly many of whom are students on short-term visas), I felt an immediate urge to try and bring Bixiga 70 over here for a gig. The ex-pat Brazilians would go wild for this kind of entertainment. The only snag was I have little experience of promoting gigs and where to begin? A plan had to be put in place.

My initial idea was to try to contact the band themselves through their management. I sent off an email to their European tour manager and they replied saying they'd be happy to come to Dublin. Finding a venue to accommodate them was the only issue. So I got in touch with The Sugar Club in Dublin's Leeson St . Finally - without the promoters contacting me - in 2018 the Southside venue, known as 'the home of culture', booked the São Paulo outfit. 

The ensuing gig was a riot of horns and other effects all leading to a massive party vibe. I was correct in my assumption - the Brazilian community came out in force for what was a memorable occasion. Since then the band have returned to Dublin, most recently last night. They have now performed here three times, plus gigs in Galway and Cork to boot. . Sometimes dreams do come true!

Bixiga 70's latest LP, 'Vapor' is out now on Glitterbeat Records https://bixiga70.bandcamp.com/album/vapor

Organic Vibes 04.07.2024

 PLAY LIST

AUGUSTUS PABLO - East of the River Nile/Intro

SANAM - Bell ('Live at Cafe Oto' LP/Mais Um; 2024)

YEMANJO - Baobab ('La Misma Fuente' LP/Wonderwheel Recordings; 2024)

LINVAL THOMPSON, JONQUAN & VICTOR RICE - Cultivator (Single/Easy Star Records; 2024)

LINVAL THOMPSON, JONQUAN & VICTOR RICE - Ganja Dub 

CHOUK BWA & THE ANGSTROMERS - Somanti ('Somanti' LP/Les Disques Bongo Joe; 2023)

HAJ BELAID WITH A NEW RHYTHM - Track 5 ('Silent Music' LP/Hive Mind Records; 2024)

JUDY & THE JERKS - Bug Boys

JUDY & THE JERKS - Criminal

JUDY & THE JERKS - Rumpus ('Free Violence' LP)

ALPHA STEPPA & WELLETTE SEYON - Giving Thanks

ALPHA STEPPA & WELLETTE SEYON - Giving Thanks Dub ('Balance' LP/Steppas Records; 2023)

K.O.G. (KWEKU OF GHANA) - Live For Today (Single/Heavenly Sweetness; 2024)

MDOU MOCTAR - Oh France ('Funeral For Justice' LP/Matador Records; 2024)

THE FLAIRS - She Wants To Rock ('Dust My Rhythm & Blues: The Flair Records R'n'B Story 1953-1955' LP/Ace Records)

L'ENTOURLOOP Feat. THE ARCHITECT & SCARRA MUCCI - Dreader Than Dread ('From DJs To DJs' LP/X Ray Production; 2024)

LONNIE HOLLEY Feat. JEFF PARKER - I Can't Hush ('Oh Me Oh My' LP/Jagjaguwar; 2023)

SANAM - 94 ('Live At Cafe Oto' LP/Mais Um; 2024)