10pm Saturday 25th May at Queens Bar Venue, Dunedin
After a 16 year hiatus Zef returns to Dunedin for a one off exclusive show at Queens Bar Venue playing live improvised techno in collaboration with his brother Toki as The Itchy Brothers.
A prominent Dunedin music promoter, radio DJ and performer in the 1990s, Zef was known as “DJ Fiesta” and “DJ Java”. As Fiesta he fronted Radio One’s popular show ‘Global Groove’, while as Java he performed tribal-fused electronica at clubs and festivals throughout the country.
Since then Zef has been based in Wellington. He pulled the plug on his decks in the late 90s but had his interest recently revived in electronic music after recording a track with his brother over summer and attending a stonking performance by top Detroit DJ Derrick May.
“I’ve always been inspired by the minimalist techno movement and sought out techno-pioneer Jeff Mills when he performed in Sydney in 1997. His stripped-down aesthetic, peppered with ethnic samples and classical music melodies blended like magic”.
“The Itchy Brothers will be tapping into that distinctive minimalist soundscape to form the basis of our live improvised performance at Queens. I’ll be tweaking the beats while Toki provides the textures and synchronized itching powder to get your groove on.”
The evening’s stellar lineup also features special guest Swampy, ISO12, Danny Brady and Big Fat Raro.
Grant Ramsay, a.k.a. Swampy, fuses guitar, keyboards, accordion, harmonica, percussion and electronic samples. As our wildcard guest expect some dance fusion freestyling.
ISO12 plays korg in legend band THE FUTURIANS is half of the notorious MURDERBIKE and latest project LASER COOLING (with Bigfatraro). Using analogue and digital gears expect a mash-up of drum machines, samplers, synths and free wheeled components.
Danny Brady has a long career spanning such acts as ‘THOUGHT CREATURE’ ‘GUCCI GOO’ ‘SNAPPER’ and ‘DEATH AND THE MAIDEN’. His love of dance music has become more apparent after a recent stint in Berlin’s vibrant club scene.
Big Fat Raro is a freestyle rapper with lean linguistics and long musical lineage including MC LADY GRAY and MENTAL HEALTH TRIANGLE, the IRIE EYES, noise musician in DIRTROOM and NOT EVEN OWLS. You can expect the unexpected with Raro in the room!
Motoko Kikkawa Plays violin and sometimes sings, an important player in many bands, CHILDREN OF THE SUNTAN LOTION, 1000 GOLDEN HUES, RADIO CEGESTE, with LEE NOYES and currently in THE LADDER IS PART OF THE PIT.
RAKULA From such bands as the dynamic MURDERBIKE, RISE OF THE CITY CAT CULT and DIRTROOM, RAKULA rocks a synth, guitar or microphone with ease.
