THE REAL DEAL ROUND UP

It has been an eventual month here at the Just Elemental Music towers and of course within the worldwide music community. There were celebrations as J.E.M's first lady came of age with a special birthday tweet from none other than ?uestlove of The Roots! We partied on the Croatian shore where we caught up with artists such as Little Dragon (pictured). On a more sombre note, sadly there were tragic commiserations as we remembered the talented but troubled songstress Amy Winehouse with a series of tribute interviews: http://justelementalmusic.blogspot.com/2011/07/frank-to-black-fond-farewell-to-amy.html

The hobbit and I have been taking on the airwaves with Rich's Just Elemental Music Radio Show on http://www.blogger.com/www.spaceinvaderradio.com, and my guest appearances on Colourful Radio and BBC London 94.9 Kath Melandri Show - watch this space there will be more where that came from!

J.E.M has gone from our usual haunts of the Jazz Cafe to catch the Last Poets (10 July), and indigO2 for a real treat in the form of Ice Cube and Naughty by Nature (Tuesday 12 July) marking 20 years in the hip hop game, to the beautiful shores of Petrcane in Croatia for the Soundwave Festival! A Super time was had! There was plenty of backstage action and great interviews with Channel One Sound System, Swedish sensation Little Dragon and one of my favourite DJs, Mr. Thing (check out my full British hip hop Mr. Thing feature: http://www.britishhiphop.co.uk/features/interviews/mr_thing_-_it_s_a_dj_thing.html
There are more Soundwave goodies to come in the next in our J.E.M Festival Special and a reminder of how we got down at Wireless which kicked off our festival season. This week marked the start of Sziget (8-15 August) with an mega line up of world class artists from home grown favourites The Prodigy and Dizzee to mega star headliners such as Prince (or what ever he is calling himself these days).

J.E.M does indeed have a Sziget festival pass, and there is still almost a week of festivities to go so watch this space…..

No sooner had I touched down back in Blighty, I was treated to a chat with drummer, producer and member of The Roots ?uestlove about the groups forthcoming London show at HMV Hammersmith Apollo (19 August), his love affair with the capital which he calls his 'third home' and his special musical bond and friendship with Amy Winehouse. Check out my ?uestlove interview and this month's extra special Tooty's Booty – coming real soon!

Just Elemental Music is not just all hip hop, reggae, jazz, house and electro, we can mix and blend as we proved by hob knobbing with glitterati at Glyndebourne for a modern twist to Handel's classic opera, Rinaldo. Continuing our jaunt with the Arts, it was straight down to The Barbican for BBE: Touch - mesmerising. See the full J.E.M Live review: http://justelementalmusic.blogspot.com/2011/08/jem-live-review-bbe-touch.html

On the music release front there was the re-release of UK Soul legend Omar's Sing (if you want it) 18 July 2011, which thanks to the lovely guys at Tru Thoughts I was treated to a copy. The album is a mix of Omar's signature style and new material adding a fresh dimension with his floor filler ‘Dancing’ which sees him collaborate with UK bass artist Zed Bias. This week it's all about Jay Z and Kanye West and Watch The Throne (watch full stream right here on J.E.M).

Finally as reported first right here on Just Elemental Music, sadly there will be no Q Tip at the indigO2 on 26 August. Due to 'unforeseen circumstances' ATCQ founding member has had to cancel his hotly anticipated show. It is also looking like there is a question mark over whether Notting Hill Carnival will go ahead this year following the widespread rioting and destruction that has rocked not only my home town of London but has spread as far as Birmingham and West Midlands, Bristol, Liverpool, Manchester and Salford. This is not what brother Malcolm meant when he said 'by any means necessary' - this is entirely something else!

If you want to help and come together to make a positive contribution to this situation, follow @Riotcleanup on Twitter as well as @CleanUpTheEndz, @RiotCleanUpManc and @riotcleanupwolv.

People can also donate bedding, clothes etc to help those made homeless by the London riots at Apex House, 820 Seven Sisters Road, London N15 5PQ, and Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, Town Hall Approach Road, Tottenham N15.

The ‘End the Violence Campaign’ founded by artist, producer, writer and teacher Artcha, was formed specifically to ‘educate young children and adults about focusing their energy in a positive way’ across several London boroughs. The hope of the campaign is to address issues such as gang violence and the kind of scenes we have been witnessing up and down the country in recent days. Check out the ‘End the Violence Campaign’ on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/etvcampaign/

There is a really interesting article and petition circulating entitled, ‘A CALL FOR MORE UNDERSTANDING AND LESS MORALISING’ which seeks to ask the fundamental questions in understanding the bigger picture behind the rioting which has swept across several of the UK’s major cities. As scholar and anti-racist activist Paul Gilroy so eloquently tweeted: ‘When did ritual condemnation become the entry ticket into official public discourse?’ check out the full article and petition: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/a-call-for-more-understanding-and-less-moralising.html

Spread the positivity good people!

Until next time.........

Peace, Toots x

Photography ©

Ice Cube – Akin Aworan, Last Poets – Thuto Mali, Soundwave - Rob Percy & Thuto Mali, BBE: Touch – Jonnie Malachi