Back in 2010, I had the pleasure of doing a load of gigs with the wonderful Randa Khamis before she headed back to Australia to work on her second album with The Bamboos’ main man Lance Ferguson. The album is now hear, and certainly worth the wait.

Purchase on CD, Vinyl and Digi via the Freestyle site here.
Listen back to myself and Randa on Skanks Radio here.

Further info about the new album below…

Randa & The Soul Kingdom are back – with producer Lance Ferguson (The Bamboos, Cookin On 3 Burners, Lanu, Black Feeling) at the controls.

The buzz on Randa And The Soul Kingdom began after the self titled debut album resulted in a full European tour with label mates Deep Street Soul, a live session for Mark Lamarr on BBC Radio 2. Randa was lauded as a modern day equivalent to Marva Whitney, Ann Sexton and Vicki Anderson in their prime by Mojo Magazine, Blues & Soul and Randa’s music even featuring in the US version of teen TV show Skins.

Instead of flying straight back to Australia after the tour, Randa spent 6 months residing in London, collaborating with lik-minded funk & soul artists to write her second album. Inspired and influenced by the music and musicians in London, this second album What You Need was born. Finally back in Melbourne, Australia she went straight into The Shed Studios where the songs were recorded and produced by Lance Ferguson and John Castle (Megan Washington) once again at the controls.

To help promote the new album, Randa has put together a short mix of her own tracks (new and old) plus some of her inspirations too.

As you may already know, I’ve been doing a few live PA shows with Randa Khamis from Randa And The Soul Kingdom (Freestyle Records).

We will be doing a couple of hours this Friday night at The Westbury, and I’d really love to get a load of people along to check it out. It’s awfully funky, and Randa has an incredible voice!

If you missed our killer aftershow party for Corrina Greyson‘s night at Jazz Cafe, then here’s your second chance!

We’re doing 9pm – 11pm, and there’s DJ’s afterwards to continue the party on.

Check the Facebook Event here.

Email for guestlist here.

For those that missed Corrina Greyson and friends at The Jazz Cafe last Friday night, here’s a couple of little teeny snippets!

Special guest Lenny Beige aka Steve Furst (Little Britain!) was as lively as hell on stage and more than entertaining!

For those that made it along to the afterparty, thanks for coming! I took over from Ian Wright for what was supposed to be a 15 minute PA with Randa Khamis, and ended up playing right through to the end. Two and a half hours of pure new funk music including 9 tracks of live singing from Randa was great fun and a total honour, especially infront of a crowd of pure funk heavyweights!

Nice and lively and generally a great party all-round!

I’m a bit late blogging this, but it’s not too late to pop along to this massive night of Funk and Soul music courtesy of Miss Corrina Greyson and friends!

Expect raw Hammond grooves, soul drenched vocals, some of the best rare funk, soul & northern you’re likely to hear anywhere, plus an utterly brilliant crowd to enjoy it with.

All in attendance at the Jazz Cafe will gain free entry to the after party at a nearby secret location (to be announced at the Jazz Cafe!).

I will be doing a live PA with the mighty Randa Khamis of Randa and the Soul Kingdom at the after party so be sure to swing by!

Full details can be found on the Facebook Event here.

General plan for the night:

19.00-19.45 World renowned rare funk, soul and northern DJ’s, Ian Wright and Guy Hennigan
19.45-20.30 Sven Hammond Soul & Special guest vocalist
20.45-22.30 Corrina Greyson
23.00-02.00 After party @ TBA

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TICKETS £14 adv. Here…
http://www.jazzcafelive.com/newsandevents/templates/bookings.aspx?articleid=1020&zoneid=1

No booking fee applies if you buy directly from box office in advance with cash.
With online booking fees, tickets are still cheaper than they will be on the night.

It is advisable to purchase tickets in advance.
If you want to pay on the night we recommend you arrive at 19.00. There may be a few tickets left but also expect a queue.

If you’ve ever heard me playing a funk set, you will have most definitely heard me play at least one of the many fantsatic tracks from Randa and the Soul Kingdom‘s killer self-titled LP that came out back in 2009, produced by funk suprem Lance Ferguson from The Bamboos.

Fresh off her European tour, Randa is back in the UK to further promote her debut LP (out on Freestyle Records) and will be doing some exclusive live PA shows with myself on the turntables.

Dates to be added to the Gigs section of my blog.

If you’re interested in making a booking please contact me via email here.

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A bit about Randa:
Born in Jordan and raised in Perth, Randa caught the black music bug early, and it shows. Her high octane vocals urge, push and provoke. Think Ann Sexton, Sharon Jones, Marva Whitney, or Betty Harris for starters. Randa & The Soul Kingdom absolutely bristles with edgy, gritty funk and horn-heavy soul. This is another killer addition to what is now truly a golden age for Australian funk and soul music.

“Randa & The Soul Kingdom have a vocalist in Randa Khamis who has the bombast power of Marva Whitney and Vicki Anderson in their prime…”
Lois Wilson – Mojo

“A really good album – top quality from beginning to end”
BBC Radio 2 Mark Lamarr

Randa also recently did a live studio session on Mark Lamarr’s BBC Radio 2 show. You may be able to check it out here still.