Born in Bitetto, Italy, the son of a popular song singer, during his youth sang in various small choirs. Years after he accompanied Franco Califano, Peppino Di Capri, Fred Bongusto, Rosario Fiorello and others on their Concert tours. After a long series of participations with Italian and international artists, and a small production of disco music, during 2006 he achieved success with the Schema Records album Handful of Soul. In November 2009 Mario Biondi released "If" and the first single "Be Lonely" on the Tattica label. The album shot up the charts and went triple - platinum.
Since then he has gone from strength to strength packing auditoriums across the world. His deep and warm voice recalls the legendary interpreters of soul and rhythm and blues music. Referencing greats like Barry White, Issac Hayes and Lou Rawls, at the same time he gives his own spin to the soul and jazz genres.
Filmed by Band on the Wall AV Uint ( Panasonic pan & tilt camera and handheld) Clive Hunte
Angélique Kidjo performs at Royal Northern College of Music with Manchester World Voices Choir, led by Audrey Mattis. This was a trailer event for the We Face Forward Festival of Music and Art from West Africa taking place in Manchester as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad events.
Grammy award-winning singer Angélique Kidjo from Benin, is one of Africa's most powerful and charismatic stars, mixing driving dance rhythms and passionate political lyrics with her own extraordinary stage presence. She reaches huge numbers internationally with her recordings, tours and philanthropic work, her joy and passion embodying the spirit of Africa.
Angélique Kidjo performs at Royal Northern College of Music with Manchester World Voices Choir, led by Audrey Mattis. This was a trailer event for the We Face Forward Festival of Music and Art from West Africa taking place in Manchester as part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad events.
Grammy award-winning singer Angélique Kidjo from Benin, is one of Africa's most powerful and charismatic stars, mixing driving dance rhythms and passionate political lyrics with her own extraordinary stage presence. She reaches huge numbers internationally with her recordings, tours and philanthropic work, her joy and passion embodying the spirit of Africa.
A Band on the Wall TV production.
Dele Sosimi was musical director of the critically acclaimed Fela! at London's National Theatre, and Band on the Wall is thrilled to announce that he'll be performing on our stage with his very own Afrobeat Orchestra as part of We Face Forward. This clip was filmed during his rehearsal in London.
Grupo Lokito fuse contemporary Congoese and Latin music creating a modern day cocktail of two of the great world musics.
Formed in 2006 by British Latin pianist Sara McGuiness and Congolese singer Jose Hendrix Ndelo (both featured on this video) the group is a mix of Congolese, Latin and British artists who have made London their home.
Cuban Rumba was a hot trend in West-African music in the 50s, and the group brings this style back to life with their own fresh take. There is a charming sweetness to their sound, a relaxed yet infectious groove along with cool soukous dance routines,
A Making Tracks concert presentation, filmed by Band on the Wall AV Unit on 19 May 2011.
Manchester-based singer/songwriter Najia Bagi has been singing since the age of 15 and writing for 15 years or so. Her influences range from Billie Holiday to Anthony and the Johnsons, classical musics and Arabic music (her name is Libyan -- she has an Arabic father and English mother). She sings with various groups in Manchester and elsewhere but this was her first solo performance in over 5 years and the first time the songs had been performed in public. Too Much, the song featured here, is about two things, a tragic journey to the sun and destructive relationships.
Filmed by Band on the Wall AV on 18 April 2011.
Feast of Fiddles is a musical entertainment like no other. As the name implies there are many fiddlers but also just about as many musical genres are covered. The range of styles and well-known songs is huge - from traditional pieces to their own arrangements of songs by Fairport Convention, Deep Purple, The Shadows and Abba! Their concert at Band on the Wall was part of their 16th annual tour with 14 concerts in as many days.
The founder and leader of the band is Hugh Crabtree who plays melodeon, sings and comperes the shows.
The line-up of band is:
Dave Mattacks, Garry Blakeley, Brian McNeill, Tom Leary. Ian Cutler. Phil Beer, Peter Knight, Chris Leslie, Dave Harding, Martin Vincent, John Underwood & Hugh Crabtree.
Filmed by Band on the Wall AV Unit on 14 April 2011. The entire show was filmed by the AV Unit and recorded in multi-track audio in the venue's digital studio -- for possible future release.
Celebrating 30 years as one of the most lauded jazz bands of modern times, Band on the Wall is delighted to present their first live concert in Manchester since their concert here in 1994.
Yellowjackets self titled 1981 debut album made serious waves in jazz radio, garnering public and critical acclaim. Since those days the band has gone from strength to strength with their latest album Timeline receiving international critical acclaim. Performing music from their 30-year repertoire and with William Kennedy back in the fold in the drum chair,
Band on the Wall is proud to welcome this magnificent band for what promises to be a superlative night of contemporary jazz.
The Yellowjackets
Russell Ferrante - keyboards, synthesizers
Jimmy Haslip - bass
Bob Mintzer - saxophones, bass clarinet, EWI
Will Kennedy - drums, percussion
Archived on 15th November 2011
Filmed by the Band on the Wall AV Unit
Los Angeles-born vibraphonist and vocalist Roy Ayers, in his fifth decade in the music business, continues to bridge the gap between generations of music fans. Recognized as a thrilling performer and entertainer, he also has been a significant influence in popular music -- in several different genres.
A precocious musical talent, Ayers was playing boogie woogie piano by ear at the age of five. He was proficient on the steel guitar at age nine and in his teens played flute, trumpet and drums, before settling on vibraphone. He was to bring the instrument into the frontline of modern, popular music.
In the 60s he made a name for himself as a jazz vibraphonist and in the 70s and 80s became a renowned R & B band leader and producer. Today (2011) at the age of 70 he is known as the godfather of neo-soul and prophet of acid jazz.
For his two-nights Manchester appearance he was joined by hip hop specialist Pete Rock (beats & rhymes) and the other members of his group are John Pressley, voice & percussion, and Ray Gaskins, saxophone & keyboards.
This excerpt was filmed by Band on the Wall AV Unit on 18th July 2011.
Band on the Wall welcomes back The Bays, with a unique and exclusive interactive multimedia performance with a specially commissioned Jukebox style set where the audience control the performance.
The Bays have taken the world by storm with their fusion of driving electronic compositions and cutting edge improvised jazz. Live performance is everything for a band who have never recorded in a studio or released a single note commercially. This unique show will sees the launch of Gigzine including Audience Juke Box and AudienceVJ -- brand new software that puts the audience in control of the band.
Gigzine is a free mobile application that provides you with a live stream of exclusive content during concerts and events. With the Gigzine software enabled, you can interact with the venue and artist's performance, and download exclusive film, text, images and audio of the event, as it is happening in real time.
AudienceVJ allows the audience to control the images that are projected alongside the performance. At this concert The Bays will control the rate at which images change, but the audience will be able to control the loops of images that are displayed. This is controlled by the Gigzine software (available free on the iOS App Store).
Audience Jukebox lies at the heart of this event with the set is divided into 'playlists'. The audience vote for the tracks they want to hear whilst the Bays navigate the playlists providing a continuous coherent experience.
Gigzine has been developed by Steve Symons, who has been working with Band on the Wall through the New Music Plus scheme from the PRSforMusic Foundation. The Gigzine launch event with The Bays has been supported by Grants for the Arts, Arts Council of England
Dubbed "the Hendrix of the Sahara", Vieux Farka Toure is one of the hottest talents on the contemporary African music scene.
Son of the late maestro and two-time Grammy Award-winner Ali Farka Toure, his music heralds a new generation of Malian desert blues. A highly gifted guitarist, singer, songwriter and percussionist, Vieux has reinvented the fusion music his father created—bringing funk, reggae, and jam music to the desert-blues genre and carrying this new sound worldwide. Utterly astonishing live, Band on the Wall is delighted to bring one of Africa's greatest new stars to Manchester for this very special concert.
Filmed By Band on the Wall AV Unit
Tue 14th February 2012
Geordie electronic duo Smoove & Turrell are at the head of the pack of the new UK funk and soul scene. Fronted by the fabulously gutsy and gravelly voice of Turrell, they mix up contemporary electronic soul rhythms with old school stylings to wonderful effect. With an obvious love and northern soul and deep, dancefloor-bumping funk.
Filmed by Band on the Wall AV Unit
Sat 17th December 2011
Pan & Tilt Camers: Clive Hunte
Handheld Camera: Rose Freedman
Based on the Isle of Skye, the Peatbog Faeries have long been one of Scotland's best known contemporary folk bands. Described as 'the future of Celtic dance music', they incorporate many influences from traditional jigs and reels through to jazz, hip hop and reggae. Famed for their exhilarating, high energy performances, they have twice won Live Act of the Year at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards and have taken their own individual brand of Scottish tunes to audiences around the world, from European Festivals, to Asia, Africa, America, Canada and Australia.
"Powerful melodies are dextrously pumped out with a smart degree of techno attitude, while cross-rhythms ricochet over a heavy bass that hits you forcefully like a massive heart beat. Nothing in the recognisable front line of bagpipes, fiddles, synthesiser, bass and rhythm guitar, with a straight drumkit at the back, prepares you for the high octane music of the Peatbog Faeries." The Scotsman"
Filmed on Thu 1st December 2011
Filmed and edited by Band on the Wall AV Unit
Camera: Clive Hunte
The regular house band for Shake 'n Bake are Baked A La Ska - the heavy heavy sound of Manchester ska: an 11-piece band of assembled oddballs and pranksters brought together by keyboardist and wizard, Mr John Ellis.
Baked A La Ska are fronted by an unholy trio of singers: Mr Frank "the Skank" (smooth Sinatra/punk vocals), Tommy Robot (cyborg sounds) and the deep tones of Country Ranks (MC). Their madness is combined with the soft lilt and harmonica magic of Robin Sunflower (vegan). Baked A La Ska also feature one of the tightest rhythm sections in Manchester with the "chops to make you drop".
Filmed by Band on the Wall AV Unit
Clive Hunte: Pan and Tilt Cameras
Rose Freedman: Handheld
Arts Council England is not responsible for the social media content on this organisation's page
Contact details
Band On The Wall, 25 Swan Street Manchester M4 5JQ
Mario Biondi Sun 25th November 2012
Angélique Kidjo and Manchester World Voices Choir at Royal Northern College of Music
Angélique Kidjo and Manchester World Voices Choir at Royal Northern College of Music
Dele Sosimi rehearsal in London.mov
FEAST OF FIDDLES -- 14 April 2011
Yellowjackets 15th November 2011
Eric Roberson - Band on the Wall
Roy Ayers and Pete Rock live at band on the Wall 18th july 2011
The Bays & World Launch of Gigzine 21st January 2011
Peatbog Faeries Thursday 1st December 2011
Shake n Bake feat. Baked A La Ska 19th November 2011
