“Born out of a small town in Basildon, Essex, HNTR are a newly established act that formed in 2013. The band comprises Lee Almeroth on Lead Vocals and Guitar, Glen Clothier on Guitar, Jack Pike on Guitar and Keys, Luie Dransfield on Drums and Matt Scates on Bass.
HNTR has spent relentless hours writing music and developing their popular style of modern indie folk. The band draws influence from a range of different acts most notably Fleet Foxes, Mumford & Sons and Bombay Bicycle Club. Their blend of ambient guitars and vocal harmonies propel the listener into anthemic state of euphoria.
Since their formation, HNTR have performed many gigs around the UK and built up a huge following online. The band recently performed at Upton Fab Festival and are set to take stage at this years Brownstock Festival, out of eight hundred bands they were one of three that was chosen to play.
Their new single is a Double A-Side of the songs Paradise and Bohannon. Mixed and produced by Ollie Girvan, it has a release date set for July, their début album will be launched in August 2014.”
Ben Barritt –
Ben Barritt is a singer-songwriter who also plays guitar for other people. A year ago he relocated from London to Berlin and, having released his first EP ‘Sundial’, feels he’s earned the right to talk about himself in the 3rd person. He writes lyric-driven songs which blend Folk, Jazz and R&B- full of surprising changes of mood but with melody at their core. He plays with some of the best musicians in both cities but is often seen wandering alone with an acoustic. In 2014 he has already wandered through Germany, UK, Czech Republic, The Phillipines, Hong Kong, Italy, Russia and the US
Show starts at 8.30
Floripa London will be open from 5 with happy hour from 5-7 and special offer – Buy two steak dinners get a bottle of house wine free.
We are opening up the Secret Showcase Stage for open Mic in order to scout new talent.
This Wednesday the truly talented and wildly entertaining Oh!Gunquit will be headlining the night as Featured Artists. They will be on stage at 9pm.
If you would like to come and have a go as showcasing your music, Get down to Trapeze Bar bar with your instruments to sign up for 6pm, where you will be given the opportunity to play a couple of numbers between the hours of 6.30 – 8.30pm.
Happy hour 5-7
‘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. Their 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.
On the 25th June we are delighted to present the very talented Matilda Gratte.
Matilda Gratte is a 19 years old singer-songwriter, currently based in London. Born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden.
After seeing Matilda play at Spiritual Caipirinha Bar for Spiritual Sessions, blowing everyone minds with a voice that belies her years and song craft you wouldn’t expect from a first glance. We learned that Matilda has a natural gift of being able to capture experiences and emotion and share them beautifully, and perfectly through song!
The delicate and heartfelt stories that are weaved upon an unsuspecting audience are perfectly contradicted by the strength in the voice that tells them!
Perfection if you ask me!
Matilda will be on stage at 8pm sharp. The venue will be open from 5 with happy hour from 5-7.
We are delighted to announce that Oh! Gun Quit will be performing at St. Moritz for the Friday Night Whoopee
‘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. Their 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 FarmFestivals. 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 afterparty 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 rocknroll 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 and Robert Paul (Severed Limb) will take to the decks to play an ever eclectic bag of vinyl.
Be sure to check the rest of Oh! Gun Quits Videos! Every one of them is amazing.
What a weekend., The Golden Boys were absolutely amazing on Friday at St. Moritz and we can’t wait to have them back. We wish them a very golden festival season knowing that they will be sensational. This week we have two shows for you. Florence Joelle at Trapeze on Wednesday and Oh! Gun Quit, on Friday at St. Moritz. More details on that gig to follow.
After an absolutely Stunning performance at the St. Moritz for the Friday Night Whoopee we couldn’t wait to get Flo back for some more Whoopee only this time on a Wednesday.
Paris-born, London-based, singer / songwriter / blues harpist Florence Joelle was bred on jazz at home, and on the music of the Paris streets, the Gypsy art of Django Reinhardt, bal musette, and North African rai, Florence started collecting rock’n’roll, doo-wop, Latin jazz, and early blues as a girl. Her music draws from all these influences, carving out a unique sound that, although deeply rooted in the past, vibrates in the present
A twee retro singer she is not, though. Ever socially conscious, her songs depict what happens around her. The gritty ’29 Bus Blues’ tells of an assault witnessed on a London night bus, while ‘The God Of Things’, written during the riots of August 2011, warns of the materialistic world we live in.
Released last May, her second album, Stealing Flowers, has won four star reviews in the Independent, Daily Mirror and Jazzwise, amongst others, and her song ’29 Bus Blues’ was included in Tom Robinson’s Best of 2013 on BBC6 Music.
A direct to stereo analogue recording, the album was made using vintage microphones and analogue processing, and captured in four days, straight to 2″ reel to reel tape, “This is another beauty of analogue recording,” Florence muses, “much studio time and money can be saved that way, as long as everyone knows what to play on the day.”
And they certainly know what to play on the day… Her line-up boasts lead guitarist Paul Seacroft on acoustic, electric guitar and lap steel (The Tiger Lillies, The Specials, The Selecter and Slim Zydeco), double bass / flamenco guitar Chris Clavo and drummer / percussionist Matt Jackson. And what musicians! They also arrange her compositions. “I write the melody, lyrics and chord structure of my songs on an acoustic guitar. It all sounds very bare, so I need my fellow band members to work their magic”, Joelle admits.
Stealing Flowers, Florence Joelle’s second album, takes the analogue theme further, not only on recording, but also with an image shot by photographic artist Jayne Taylor using old film stock and a vintage Hasselblad camera. “Everything we see and hear now is airbrushed and over-altered, from the photographs in magazines to much of the music on the radio. Showing things as they are makes them almost futuristic.” Florence says. “Back in the day, music was recorded live, and there weren’t many ways, apart from reverb and echo, to alter sound. The best take was kept, and that was all. We went the same way with the cover artwork. Nothing was added, there was no stylist, I am wearing a £10 dress from a thrift shop which I took in myself, the records on the floor are mine, and I bought the flowers too. It’s all about Jayne Taylor’s composition. There is something beautiful about capturing moments of reality, unembellished. What is the point of creating something that isn’t yours?” – And this is all very much hers. Despite its title, nothing is lifted on Stealing Flowers.
What the press say:
“Joelle’s sensuous purred vocals and sprightly jazzy songs lend proceedings a contemporary edge while circumventing mere nostalgia.” – The Independent****
“Florence is a rare jewel and this second album captures her captivating style. She boasts deliciously suave vocal phrasing framed by a hot and agile band. Her savvy originals and jumping jazz standards are an unaffected joy. Blooming lovely.” – The Daily Mirror****
“A genuine talent, and definitely one to watch.” – Classic Rock – Blues Edition
“Stealing Flowers is a record to cherish.” – Jazzwise****
“Sultry, sexy and French, she was born with a voice tailor-made to pour out enticing cocktails of chanson, r’n’b and jazz.” – R2 Rock’n’Reel ****
“Florence Joelle sings rock ’n’ roll like Billie Holiday might, croons a torch ballad as Wanda Jackson may, and spices it all with a bit of Patti Smith attitude.” – Vintage Guitar Magazine
“Florence Joelle’s Kiss of Fire Paris-born, Camden-based, her music has a heady, jazzy swing of the hips, the sultry tango of ‘I’ll Come Running’ the perfect soundtrack to any Martini-fuelled, Mad Men-themed party.” Q Magazine
“It’s her voice that smacks you around the head. It’s utterly unique.” Ruth Barnes’ Pick Of the Week, Tom Robinson’s Show, BBC 6 music
Florence Will be on stage around 9.pm
Samantha Pink Panther will be spinning some of her finest discs well into the night! Come join us and enjoy this fine evening of free entertainment.
The Secret Showcase Presents are delighted to announce the return of the Golden Boys and welcomes the bootylicious Tasty Lopez as DJ for The Friday Night Whoopee at St. Moritz Club soho.
“Irresistible disco grooves, immaculate song craft and seemingly impossible commitment and energy. Add to the mix eight sequinned jackets and a never-say-no attitude and you have something resembling the Golden Boys. Pounding disco bass, silky smooth horn lines and shimmering house piano combine to create a unique and compelling sound that will have you dancing all night.” – Latitude festival 2013
Originally formed off the back of a weekend of busking in the red light district of Amsterdam, the skeleton of The Golden Boys took shape in 2010.
The line-up fluctuated for a couple years until the recording and release of The Golden Curry EP in late 2012, during which a core team emerged out of the growing squad of musical contributors.
With a settled line-up and clear musical direction the ‘Triple A Side’ EP was recorded in June 2013, just in time to be unleashed on audiences for the 2013 UK festival season…
After proving themselves as ‘festival favourites’ at Latitude with their five shows across the site (including headlining the Outdoor Theatre Stage) as well as performances at Secret Garden Party, Festibelly (main stage), Standon Calling and more, The Golden Boys emerged back on the London scene with a hard-earned tightness and a swelling fan-base.
Since then the band have been writing and road testing material for a new record, as well as further developing their live act with shows in London and beyond, one particular highlight being a sold out headline show at Hootananny, Brixton.
Before and after the live Music Samantha Pink Panther and Tasty Lopez will playing some classic Disco, Soul and Funk tunes to keep the groove a movin’.
Doors at 10pm Band on around midnight, club closes at 3.30.
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.
“I’m not sure about their name but I do love their records!” Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2
“Rampant and joyful … an infectious
mix of rock and roll styles playfully
twisted for 2011” – Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music
What are you doing This Friday? The Secret Showcase Presents… are delighted to announce that Smitty’s Big Four will be taking to the stage at St. Moritz Club London for The Friday Night Whoopee on the 30th May and we can’t wait!
Smitty’s Big Four is the feisty little brother of the Kansas Smitty’s House Band. While the House Band draws its main inspiration from Count Basie’s hard swinging late night jam sessions in 1930s Kansas City, the Big Four is interested in the music of Sidney Bechet and the upbeat swing of New Orleans. The Big Four’s unique combination of trumpet, soprano sax/clarinet, guitar and bass, separates the group from traditional Dixieland groups with the omission of drums and piano. This streamlined formation allows the band to navigate New Orleans and swing standards with unparalleled energy and tightness while maintaining the melodic integrity of the canon. The band features Pete Horsfall, Giacomo Smith, Dave Archer, and Ferg Ireland.
Join Samantha Pink Panther and friends for the best live music in town and the hottest 45s, Special Guests include Tim Hellzapoppin of Hellzapoppin Club.
Doors at 10pm, band will be on around midnight and we will be partying till 3.30am.
£6 before 11.30 £8 After. Advance Tickets available here
Here is what The Kansas Smitty House Band feel like in full swing!
So, with all the bank holiday delights and frolics out the way we’ve got yet more fun in store for you. Were delighted to announce an outstanding newcomer to The Secret Showcase Presents… Stage. We are getting our blues on this Wednesday at Floripa, to The Black Train Blues Band.
Black Train started casually many years ago when Joseph Miller and Teo Treska met in college. After realising they had a very similar taste in music they decided they worked together rather well, thus Black Train was born. Over the years the duo has gradually become more serious and recently incorporated band members Enzo Strano and Adriano Siani to pull together a full band.
Black Train’s music is eclectic and draws on a variety of influences, but is best described as a mixture of blues, folk and roots music, with a strong penchant for the blues.
Doors are at 5 with Happy hour at 5-7.
Special offer buy two steak meals and get a bottle of house wine free.
After the live music, Samantha Pink Panther will take to the decks to spin some moody blues.
So things have been hotting up this week which really makes us want to party harder in the run up to summer. This Friday we have a very special show lined up and we can’t wait to get steaming hot dancing to the rhythms of the Dirty Gents! These guys are a class act that will really hit you hard with their carnival vibes!
Whether a trio or 9 piece The 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 band mates 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.
The band are on around midnight and and we’re partying till 3.30 in the morning with the hottest vinyl classics played by Samantha Pink Panther and Friends.
159 Wardour Street W1F 8WH
Doors open at 10pm £6 before 11.30pm £8 after. Advance tickets available for guaranteed entrance any-time of the night.
The Secret Showcase Presents... 