A concert by The Brand New Heavies - a funk and acid jazz pioneers who gained a cult following in London’s club scene in the late 80s and early 90s - will mark the reopening of one of the capital’s top music restaurants Boisdale of Canary Wharf on Wednesday 4 November.
Best known for producing sixteen top forty hit singles including Dream On Dreamer, You Have Got a Friend, Midnight At The Oasis, Never Stop, DreamCome True, Brother Sister, You Are The Universe, Sometimes Stay this Way and selling over 2.5 million records, The Brand New Heavies will play four gigs at the stunning music venue from Wed 4 until Sat 7 November. The concerts will take place in association with Yamaha Music London with a 2-course dinner & show from £89.50 and show only from £49.50.
Formed in 1985 in Ealing, West London, The Brand New Heavies revolutionised the London acid jazz scene by creating their own new sound - a fusion of the 70s funk grove and classic soul. Following the release of Stay This Way, Dream Come True and Never Stop the band entered the American R&B charts and gained the title of the first British group to accomplish such an achievement with a debut single since Soul II Soul.
The 1992 hip-hop inspired Heavy Rhyme Experience Vol. 1 studio album went platinum in Britain whilst 1994 brought Best Dance Act at the BRIT Awards and R&B Video of the Year at the MTV Awards for single Dream on Dreamer.
The 2020 “fresh off the press” album called TBNH released in September features guest appearances from Beverley Knight, N'Dea Davenport, Angie Stone, Siedah Garret, Laville, Angel Ricci with the main single (a cover of the Kendrick Lamar’s song These Walls) produced by longtime friend Mark Ronson.
Throughout their thirty-year run of developing original sounds and continuous genre bending the group have gained worldwide recognition amongst DJ, music critics and fans alike.
Simon Bartholomew commented on the concert: “We can’t wait to play on Boisdale’s stage again after a sell-out concert in February this year. The majority of live music venues are not expected to open until 2021 so we are very excited to be able to share our new and old material with our fans. During lockdown we got many messages from people saying our albums or singles helped them through this tough time. Some even shared photos of cakes baked to thesound of our tracks. I hope, with dinner & music tickets at Boisdale they'll be able to have their cake and eat it too!”
The band’s energetic and unique take on jazz, funk and soul set in a unique setting of the most beautiful music venue in London and reopening its doors after seven months is a must-see concert of 2020!
