Line-up

Venue

FOLD

Gillian House, Stephenson St, E16 4SA, London, UK

View upcoming concerts

Additional details

Doors open: 23:00

Concert in your area for Electronic, R&B, Funk & Soul, and Hip-Hop.

Find out more about Electronic and Hip-Hop.

A Guy Called Gerald biography

A Guy Called Gerald is a producer and DJ hailing from Manchester, England who was born on February 16th, 1967. Since debuting in 1988 he has released eleven studio albums and become one of the most influential British electronica artists to have ever worked the decks.

Growing up in the Moss Side area of Manchester, Gerald Simpson was surrounded by music from an early age, taking in everything from his father's beloved ska and reggae, the church sessions that his mother would take him to and the Jamaican sound system parties that were rampant around his local area. Once he hit his teens, he discovered electro music and the burgeoning hip-hop culture being imported from the USA, and the combination of both changed his life forever. Soon after he heard it, Simpson began experimenting with the music itself, borrowing a drum machine, learning how to use it and making his first forays into tape editing as well. Soon, he and his mates formed The Scratchbeat Masters, which later evolved into the first incarnation of 808 State, who released one album before Simpson left to pursue his solo career.

It's safe to say that Simpson's solo career had one hell of a debut. Taking the creative stage name A Guy Called Gerald, Simpson released “Voodoo Ray” in 1988, a track that was first played at the Hacienda itself and would later become one of Acid House's first major hits, climbing to number 12 in the charts on its release and becoming the highest selling independent single release of the year. After the success of “Voodoo Ray” and it's accompanying album “Hot Lemonade”, Simpson signed a deal with Columbia/CBS for the release of his second album “Automanikk”. Ever since then, Simpson has become a founding influence on UK dance music, pioneering jungle and, by extension, drum and bass as a whole. Electronica owes something of a debt to A Guy Named Gerald, but considering that he's kept such a high standard of quality up to this day, it's not a laurel that he's going to rest on any time soon. For that, he comes highly recommended.

Live reviews

Gerald Rydel Simpson otherwise known as A Guy Called Gerald has been a long term DJ and producer in the Manchester and worldwide dance scene, rising to critical acclaim in the 80s with the introduction of the acid house scene and his unforgettably brilliant track Voodoo Ray. He has been a genre-defining disciple of that scene and arguably the creator of modern drum and bass with his creative influences stemming from ska and trojan reggae to hip hop and more, he has even done remixes for the like of David Bowie and the Stone Roses.

The beauty of A Guy Called Gerald is his musical honesty and openness, no tricks or gimmicks, Gerald came here to chew bubblegum and play some fantastic dance tracks and he’s all out of bubblegum. No software needed, he feels out the music and carries us along with him, it’s like a drug how he maintains the rhythm Gerald live contributes to an outer body experience. He was smiling throughout and chatting with fans, and producing that steady beat continuing on endlessly and effortlessly like a heart monitor on his synthesiser and drum machine, I really believe if it did go on endlessly I could listen forever.

Report

nicky-preston

The American R&B girl group, Total, garnered a strong reputation in the late ‘90s with several hits on the billboard charts such as “Can’t You See?” and “Trippin”, but the group called it quits in the early 2000s to the dismay of fans who were wanting more from the group. Fortunately the year 2014 showed Total reuniting for some tour dates that were a “total” thrill to fans. Total was quick to receive mainstream notoriety when they signed to Sean Combs’ (aka, Puff Daddy’s) record label, Bad Boy Records, which launched the careers of several R&B acts. They also gained recognition in the R&B world when they provided vocals on the catchy hook that was in The Notorious B.I.G. single, “Juicy”. Total’s most recent performances have shown audiences that they still have the energy and charisma that they possessed over a decade ago. Kima, Keisha, and Pam convey their fashion sense on stage by all dressing in tight leather outfits that are also used as a way to unify the appearance of the group. The group is constantly seen dancing to their music and strutting around stage to the deep R&B bass lines while singing their smooth melodies and harmonies. Most of their background music is provided by a backing track, but their live shows do contain an acoustic drum set that adds a lively sound to the performance. Total is currently on a tour that is reminiscing the glory days of Puff Daddy’s label, Bad Boy Records, which features groups like Faith Evans, Carl Thomas, and 112 who will also be on the tour. Anyone who is serious about R&B knows that Total are serious performers who can pump out the hits and put on a great show.

Report