The Secret Showcase Presents… Oh! Gun Quit at Floripa.

After Seeing Oh! Gun Quit perform on the big stage last summer we are more than excited to tell you that you are most certainly in for a treat this Wednesday! We will be getting our freak on to the glorious sound and visual spectacle that are… Oh! Gun Quit.

Oh! Gunquit are a London based Rumble Bop Trash Blitz Voodoo band who concoct a brew of Surf, Exotica, Garagepunk, and Twisted Freak-a-Billy. Their unique show is a blur of Horns, Hula Hoops, and rock ‘n’ roll fun. Lead Singer Tina Bopper bawls, grinds, and plays trumpet with added Hula like a tranced out she-devil, Simonte twangs guitar & growls with glorious abandon, Dr Zoom blasts his honking sax & doubles on bass, and Tico-Tico rumbles the voodoo toms toms,They formed the band around the idea of creating a new brew of 50’s R&B, 60’s Psych/Garage, & 70’s Punk music into something fresh and vibrant. They are named in part to a town in Maine US which was an Artists Colony in the 1800’s originally coined by the Abenaki Indians and also named in part to the idea of all guns quitting. With songs about Peeping Toms, She-Wolfs, & Cindy’s Tiger, they urge you to escape and join them on a cool ride to anywhere

They have released two 7″ singles through Rough Trade which have had much play on BBC 6 and 2nd single being ‘single of the week’ in Artrocker. Live the band have played at many events/festivals all over UK and in Europe including Field Day, Offset, Hop Farm, and Farm Festivals. Also shows in Amsterdam, Berlin, Belgium, & a tour of Portugal. Recently supporting King Khan and Andrew Weatherall at a sold out XOYO & have a residency at the Blues Kitchen (Camden), gigs with Dirty Water Records, and very recently played the after party for the Winter Shuffle Film Festival with Jarvis Cocker & Nicholas Roeg. Their track ‘Bad Bad Milk’ has recently been featured & released in Japan on a compilation of UK garage rock ‘n’ roll bands and OGQ this year also recorded a live session on the legendary Resonance FM radio station. The band are currently booked at East London studios Gizzard to record their 1st Album starting in Feb 2014.

Oh! Gunquit are that rare breed of band that make you want to dance, just as they’ve barely begun to play: tribal tom toms beat wildly, fingers snap, guitars twang while high-spirited vocals bawl and purr across each song with attitude. One listen and you’re transported into a world of B-movies, grindhouse, killers and adventuring.

After the Band have finished Samantha Pink Panther will take to the decks to play an ever eclectic bag of 45s

All This for FREE!

Doors Open at 5. Come early if you want to secure a table and take advantage of Happy Hour 5-7.  91-93 Great Eastern Street EC2A 3HZ.

Wednesday Special food offer: Buy Two Steak Meals and get a bottle of hour wine Free!

Here is what we are looking forward to… Dare you not to nod your head and slap your leg!

The Secret Showcase Presents… The Draytones at Floripa 26/03/2014

 

We are incredibly excited and delighted to have the Draytones back to grace our stage once again after being the first band to play for us almost 5 years ago and boy have they been busy since then.

The Draytones are an English four piece psychedelic/garage rock group formed in London in 2006 currently lined up by two Argentinian members Gabriel Boccazzi (guitar and lead vocals) and Pablo Scopinaro (bass and backing vocals) and two English musicians Andy Pickering (organs, rhythm guitars and backing vocals) and drummer Steve Dawson.

That same year, with only a handful of songs and three gigs under their belts they signed a record deal with 1965 Records, a new joint venture label between Sony BMG and former Rough Trader A&R executive James Endeacott, becoming label mates with No.1 artists The View.

2007 saw the release of The Draytones 1st single, a limited edition 7” vinyl called “Keep Loving Me” as well as the bands debut 6 Track EP entitled “Forever On” recorded with Stan Kybert (Oasis, Verve, Bjork). The single was Radio 1’s Zane Lowe’s ‘Fresh Meat’ single of the week and was the most played track of the year on Radio 2 legend Bob Harris’ show. It was subsequently snapped up by MTV, Topshop TV, Tony and Guy TV, Celtic Football Club, Channel 4 drama “Skins” and the video game “Shaun White Snowboarding” to name but a few.

The band made the cover of both Mojo (The Best British bands 2007) and NME magazines with cover-mount CD’s bringing their music into the hands of thousands worldwide.

They toured throughout the year playing many headline shows as well as support slots with Little Man Tate, The Dead 60’s, The Hoosiers, The View and many others. They headlined the Thursday night at Glastonbury as well as several further festival appearances in UK, Spain and a final triumphant Summer Sonic festival appearance which made network television in Japan.

In 2008 the band returned to the studio with Stan Kybert to release their debut LP “Up In My Head”. Single “Turn It Down” received national radio play including including heavy coverage and a live sessions from Radio 2’s Radcliffe and Marconie’s and BBC 6 Music’s Tom Robinson to name but a few.

The release caught the imagination of Paul Weller, who invited the band to support his 2008 summer UK tour playing all main venues of the likes of The Empress Ballroom (Blackpool) and Hammersmith Apollo. This coincided with the band’s own tours and festival spots in UK, France, Spain and finally to Argentina on the back of the Sony Argentina release of the album in South America.

Having caught the attention of national radio and MTV Latin America the band secured a five week tour of Argentina, including their now historic tour of The Falkland Islands – becoming the first ever Anglo-Argentine band to do so. The tour caught the attention of the media worldwide, including several major South American news networks and a feature on Argentine evening news seen by over 15 million people.

In 2012 The Draytones decided to self release their new album “Today’s Memories” recorded at the legendary Sawmills Studio in Cornwall and produced once again by Stan Kybert. Creating for this purpose their own label Forever On Records to fund and push the release.
Summer same year, Strawberry Fields Festival invites the band to perform on the main stage to support The Charlatans.

By the end of 2012 The Draytones see two of the founder members leaving, Gabriel Boccazzi together with Andy Pickering keep heads up writing new material, and convocated Steve Dawson on the drums and Pablo Scopinaro on the bass guitar and backing vocals.
2013 started with the make of new material and the new line up great come back gig at the legendary 100 Club in London with the premier of brand new set list and of course some of their catalogue most celebrated.

Come along and celebrate the Draytones Adventures with us for a special free mid week party

After the live entertainment TSSP. Resident DJ Samantha Pink Panther and friends will spin the very best vinyl.

As always Floripa have a great selection of cocktails on offer during happy hour between 5-7 and you can also sample Floripa’s new Brazilian influenced menu with mouth watering dishes perfect for sharing.

Doors at 5.00
Free Entry – Come early to avoid queues and to secure a table.

91 -93 Great Eastern St. EC2A 3HZ

The Big Pancake Party – Thank you!

At the beginning of this month we hosted a Pancake Party in association with Home Spun Sessions to help raise funds for The Big Issue Foundation.

This post is to thank all involved and to let you all know that we raised £187.50 which is almost the average cost of an outcome for a big issue  vendor and so could help move someone on into housing, support them to get into college or employment. It’s only a small amount raised but to think that having such an enjoyable night because of time, money and talent donated by those in a position to do so could help turn a life around, makes it very special indeed.

 

I would like to thank Nic Hilman and Moira Hornik and Ram (The Floripa Chef) for there pancake cooking expertise and Sainsburys in Whitechaple (1 Cambridge Heath Rd, London E1 5SD) and The Co-op (Old Street 185 Old St, London EC1V 9NP) who both donated £10 towards the ingredients used to make the pancakes. Thank you to Whom By Fire and Severed Limb who both gave merchandise towards the raffle and played blinding sets for our entertainment for the night and Simon Landin of Home Spun Sessions who, played some amazing vinyl and made sure as ever that the sound was spot on.  Thank you also to Floripa and all the staff.

And lastly, Thank you to you all who came and supported the cause. We had tremendous fun! We’ll be doing it all again next year.

 

The Big Pancake Party 2014

In association with Homespun Sessions, The Secret Showcase Presents… The Big Pancake Party! To Raise money for the Big Issue Foundation.

This is our third year running this very fun and incredibly worthwhile fund-raiser for The Big Issue Foundation.

On Shrove Tuesday the 4th of March we want you to come and join us at Floripa 91-93 great Eastern Street EC2A 3HZ for a pancake extravaganza. You can enjoy lots of pancake fun and live performances from three wonderfully talented and kindly charitable acts…

The Severed Limb at 9.30pm

The Severed Limb are a young six-piece band from London who play roots influenced music for a contemporary audience. Their skiffle-style line up includes washboard, guitars, double bass, drums and accordion.

Their music has been championed by Steve Lamacq and Mark Radcliffe on BBC Radio 2, Gideon Coe on BBC 6 Music, John Kennedy on XFM, Andrew Weatherall on XOYO, and Dave Gorman on Absolute Radio.

In April 2011 Steve Lamacq invited the band into the famous BBC Maida Vale Studio to record four tracks for a BBC 6 Music session. The tracks were filmed (see video section of this website).

The band have also performed live on Clive Anderson’s ‘Loose Ends’ radio show on BBC Radio 4.

In May 2012 The Severed Limb performed at the Royal Albert Hall, supporting Imelda May who personally invited them to play.

In September 2013 as part of BBC Radio 4’s British New Wave season several Severed Limb songs were used to soundtrack Robert Rigby’s acclaimed dramatisation of Alan Sillitoe’s 1958 novel ‘Saturday Night and Sunday Morning’.

The Severed Limb’s unique style encompasses a wide variety of musical styles including skiffle, folk, punk, zydeco, cumbia and rock and roll.

Whom By Fire at 8.45

Heavy haunting fairytale blues. Inspired by dreams, Lynch, Herzog, Cobain and Cohen they usher you into a world of dark romantic tragedy.

Our new single “Rope” is now available to download from iTunes! Here –http://bit.ly/1ilYtgN or listen on Spotify – http://bit.ly/18IRrLG

Seraphim Kelly at 8.00

Seraphim Kelly is an exciting up and coming singer songwriter from Belfast, Ireland. He moved to London in April 2013 and in between working on new material you can often still find him busking on the streets of Camden. With a rich and diverse background in music that took Seraphim on a journey of self, he
re-discovered his roots in folk and country. Adding his own personal touch and delivered with a voice so powerful and rich, listening to Seraphim perform his songs is always a deeply emotional experience. His inspiration stems from often simple but meaningful experiences and encounters, connecting with people from all sorts of backgrounds which lead to an emotionally driven delivery that reflects his heart and passion for life and song every time.

+ DJ Samantha Pink Panther & Friends will be spinning some dance floor classics late into the night.

Door at 5, Come early to avoid queues and secure a table.

The Secret Showcase Presents… The Dirty Gentlemen at Floripa

The Secret Showcase Presents… is delighted to announce that on Wednesday the 26th of February we will be hosting a show with The Dirty Gentlemen at Floripa and boy we can’t wait!

Do Not miss out on this FREE amazing mid week party.

The 9 piece Dirty Gentlemen orchestra is providing a fight back for the old school standing defiant against the ‘autotune industry’. They have spent their first few years together playing Swamp Pop, Soul and New Orleans Rhythm and Blues and are now conjuring up their own rhythms in any way, shape or form that feels right.

Guitarist and singer George Elliot discovered his passion for the music of New Orleans whilst recording in the swamps of Louisiana with band ‘Scoundrels’. Here he got to meet and work with some of the pioneers of the genre and got the chance to soak up the sounds and rhythms of the bayou. On his return to london he realised the sounds that he fell in love with in the swamps were missing. Gathering together a combination of old bandmates from school and other talented blues loving musicians from london blues hub, ‘Ain’t nothing but the blues bar’, Dirty Gentlemen emerged out of the urban swamp and ploughed on with front room party style gigs.

They have now moved into a warehouse in the depths of north-east London where they are building their HQ and recording studio so that they can play from dawn till dusk. With a combination of gritty guitar, growling Hammonds, punching horns, kicking drums and bass, and heartfelt vocals from George as well as the formidable Phil Hughes, Dirty Gentlemen have had an amazing year and a half of bringing this music to the ears of young and old music lovers who can’t help but feel good, stomp their feet and keep coming back for more deep fried music.

After the live entertainment TSSP. Resident DJ Samantha Pink Panther will spin the very best Jazz and Rhythm & Blues 45s

Fancy a treat? Floripa have a great selection of cocktails on offer during happy hour between 5-7 and you can also sample Floripa’s brand new Brazilian influenced menu with mouth watering dishes perfect for sharing.

Doors at 5.00
Free Entry – Come early to avoid queues and to secure a table.

91 -93 Great Eastern St. EC2A 3HZ

The Secret Showcase Presents… Rose Betts and Rosie May

We are delighted to announce the first of our shows to be hosted at The Elgin. Our first line up will showcase the wonderful talents of… Rose Betts and Rosie May.

The Show will start at 8.30 sharp at the beautifully intimate setting of The Elgin 96 Ladbrook Grove W11 1PY

Rose Betts – Rose Betts, is a twin and eldest of 4 children, from a very musical family where falling asleep on the floor of the proms and touring France, stopping at every cathedral to sing with her family was completely normal. She was inspired to play the piano after watching the snowman at the age of 6 and at 12, she picked up the guitar after being ‘snowed in’.

It is aptly so that Rose Betts is a truly gifted melody maker and rather poetic storyteller with tales based on truths and music that befittingly warms and comforts you like a cosy as can be moment on a cold winters night.

Her voice is distinctly English with a sound that could draw warmth from the coldest of hearts. It is almost as if everything she creates is done so with warm heartedness but also with a memory that harks back to the cold winter months. Mindful of fragility, yet brutally honest.

Her music could be compared to the likes of Regina Specktor, but with a unique tone comparisons would stop at the crystal clarity in vocal delivery and beautiful Piano Playing. Rose Betts has a magical way about her and her live performance belies comparisons.

Rose sits on the margins of popular music as her beautiful piano led epic Folk with great Pop sensibilities is exactly the kind of music you could imagine to be the theme tune to the perfect winter romance.

Rosie May –  As previously written in our 2012 post ‘To Far To Swim EP – Rosie May’ ‘Rosie’s voice which yearns and resolves with such hopefulness, is something that anyone who is unsatisfied with a situation, but knows they must get on for things to be OK, will relate to. There is beauty in patience. So if your feeling like giving up on something, have a listen to Rosie first. You might change your mind.’

Rosie has independently released two beautiful EP’s in the last year and a half  ‘Too Far To Swim’ and ‘Roof Over Our Heads (Below) which should both be adored. For a sneak preview of what to expect for Rosie and to purchase both EP’s visit her band camp page. https://rosiemaymusic.bandcamp.com/

 

The Elgin serve a delicious hot food menu and have a wide selection of beers ales and spirits, Tables are limited in the performance area so come early to secure a table and enjoy the night of wonderment.

The Secret Showcase Presents… Franky And The Jacks ‘Yes We Do’ EP Launch

The Secret Showcase Presents… are delighted to announce that on Tuesday the 28th of January we will be having a party to celebrate the official launch of Franky and the Jacks EP “Yes We Do”

Expect raucous rhythms and frenzied crazy shapes when you get down to cut a rug with fun time Franky and The Jacks at Floripa.

 

Set within the walls of the wailing harmonica and the screeching fiddle, the sometimes dark and often caustic lyrics belie the foot stomping swing of the double bass and guitar. Here is where comedy and tragedy meet head to head to deliver a full spirited testament to Franky and the Jacks’ one and only mantra …“Make ‘em dance”

You can expect this and more…

So there you have it, Don your BEST dancing shoes!

After the live entertainment TSSP Resident DJ Samantha Pink Panther will spin the very best Jazz and Rhythm & Blues 45s

As if that wasn’t enough info to take in Floripa have a great selection of cocktails on offer during happy hour between 5-7 and you can also sample Floripa’s brand new Brazilian influenced menu with mouth watering dishes perfect for sharing.

Doors at 5.00
Free Entry – Come early to avoid queues and to secure a table.

91 -93 Great Eastern St. EC2A 3HZ

Kansas Smitty NYE gig at Ribeira is Cancelled.

Having something beyond your control fail at the last minute is certainly the worst part of being a promoter and unfortunately due to an issue with the late licence at Ribeira this is exactly what has occurred.

Therefore we are absolutely devastated to announce that because of this, The Secret Showcase Presents NYE Party with The Kansas Smitty House Band will not be happening. We will however, be hosting a Kansas Smitty Gig in the new year, tho we can’t apologise enough to anyone who had made plans to come to our NYE party. If you have purchased a ticket you will have received an email explaining that you will receive a refund.

Ribeira will still be open till 12.30 with free entry but there will be no live music provided by TSSP. People can have a 3 course dinner with a glass of bubbly for £35 if they wish. If interested they can book tables directly through Ribeira (0203 119 0037)

DJ Samantha Pink Panther will still be playing some 50s Rhythm & Blues early which will be followed by The Fossey Shuffle band who will be playing a live set of Motown, soul and jazz covers as Ribeira say goodbye to 2013 to welcome in 2014!

We are so crushed to learn of this disaster at such short notice after we have worked so hard to plan something we were really looking forward to, tho we are confident we will soon have an alternative date confirmed for a Kansas Smitty party and also glad that Ribeira is able to offer something for NYE. With this in mind we would like to thank you all for your continued support and wish you a very happy New Year, Whatever you decide to do.

Please accept our most sincere apologies again. We are absolute gutted! Please do not hesitate to contacts us with any queries you might have at thesecretshowcasepresents@gmail.com

The Secret Showcase Presents…A New Years Eve Party with Kansas Smitty’s House Band

I’m incredibly delighted to announce that The Secret Showcase Presents… will be hosting a very exciting New Years Eve Party at Ribeira

After a successful year featuring illustrious acts The Golden Boys and CC Smugglers. We are delighted to announce that The Kansas Smitty’s House Band will transport us back in time and provide us with a number of tremendous live sets to celebrate.

Inspired by the swinging, hedonistic atmosphere of the one American city that overcame the Great Depression. The Kansas Smitty’s House Band are the fresh answer to London’s booming ‘speakeasy jazz’ scene. The Smitty’s House Band features an ever shifting line up of London’s best musicians put together by band leader on alto sax and clarinet Giacomo Smith. Hot off the back of sold out shows at Ronnie Scotts, The Vortex, Peckham Liberal Club & The Servants Jazz Quarters and unfettered by pretensions of academic authenticity, it is not just another vintage dress up party. They’re putting danger back in jazz.

What’s more, host and resident DJ Samantha Pink Panther will feature an assortment of the best old time Jazz, Swing, Jump ‘n’ Jive, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Soul and Rhythm & Blues dancing tunes on 45s, accompanied by a compilation of silent films.

Fancy something tasty! Grab yourself a refreshing Mint Julep, Kansas Smitty’s very own special recipe or something else equally as mouthwatering from Ribeira’s South American inspired food and drinks menu. Food service finishes early but resumes again in time for breakfast.

Dust of your threads and dig out your best dancing shoes. Please come and join us in our magnificent celebrations for a truly unforgeable start to the new year.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Guarantee your place at the party now and Book your tickets HERE at Design My Night for £10 or pay £15 on the door subject to availability

The Secret Showcase Proudly Presents… The Golden Boys Christmas Special at Floripa

The Secret Showcase Presents team are please to announce the return of the Golden Boys for a Christmas special.

Expect Irresistible disco grooves, heart-wrenching bossa ballads, immaculate song craft and seemingly impossible commitment and energy. Add to the mix eight gold sequinned jackets, some skin-tight gold leggings and a never-say-no attitude and you have something resembling the Golden Boys.

The Golden Boys, originally a 4 piece, have been bringing verve and exuberance to venues since 2010 and as the popularity for the band grew so did the band itself. Now boasting eight members they are able to create illustrious textures and realise ambitious sounds. Silky smooth horn lines, sweeping synth hooks and blazing guitars combine to create a unique and compelling sound that will have you dancing all night.

After the live entertainment TSSP. Resident DJ’s will play a selection of Jazz, Soul, Rhythm & Blues & Rock n Roll on 45′s

And if there weren’t already enough temptations for one evening, Floripa have a great selection of cocktails on offer during happy hour between 5-7 and you can also sample Floripa’s brand new Brazilian influenced menu with mouth watering dishes perfect for sharing.

Doors at 5.00
Free Entry – Come early to avoid queues and to secure a table.

91 -93 Great Eastern St. EC2A 3HZ