Barfly

Black Diamond Bay are a six piece slo mo house band of no fixed abode. They are named after a song by Bob Dylan about empathy. Empathy is the thing that makes us human. At least that’s what Philip K Dick thought when he wrote the book ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’ In that book, technology is so advanced it creates androids who seem human in all aspects but their capacity to empathise. Technology makes us remote from ourselves. BDB make music that expresses this, the impossibility of being human in the age of online social networking.

 

Their ominous, brooding sound blends violins, guitars, synths, pianos, vocals and live electric drums that beat somewhere between 95 and 118 BPM. Any faster would break their rules. They could go slower, there are no rules about that, they just haven't tried it yet. They have been described as a 'searing, strutting motorik funk charge' and combine handsome melodies with stone grooves that draw on many influences to produce a sound that can genuinely be called theirs and theirs alone. They were chosen to play the BBC Introducing stages at Leeds and Reading festivals this year and were subsequently playlisted on Radio 1

UPSTAIRS: DJs playing classic guitar cuts from then 'til now, joining the musical dots between the Stones, Smiths & Strokes, etc.

Gabriel Kain & The Ables (Live @ 11:15pm)
- Gabriel Kain & The Ables are London-based troupe of multinational vagabonds serving spell-binding sonic cocktail of gypsy-ridden grooves, peppered with wailing violins and gravity-defying choruses that they call Baroque 'n' Roll! Gabriel Kain is singer/songwriter of the darkest breed, boasting recording experience with Gordon Raphael of The Strokes fame, supporting Gary Numan on one of his German tours and playing to electrified audiences at countless venues world over.

Antz in the Jam (Lockstock Festival)
- A face around Camden, Ant's the man behind the Lockstock festival, which takes over Camden Lock Market and its venues in the summer with bands & DJ's until late into the night. A champion of breaking new bands and spinning big tracks. Playing various sets on the festival & club circuit this year, he's got a good ear for the tunes and knows how to keep people moving...


DOWNSTAIRS: It's a riot of 60s garage, northern soul, psychedelia from:

Magnetic Paul (96 Tears)
- After years DJing 60s garage/psych/soul night Funhouse in Glasgow, with Radio 1 's Vic Galloway, Paul travelled South and now plays at Barfly's Between The Buttons night, 96 Tears at Stoke Newington's Jackalope and at The Camden Head. He specialises in rock'n'roll, psych, garage, and soul from the 1950s-70s and also plays bass for The Magnetic Mind.

Vinyl Sue
- Playing a mix of rock and roll, 50s/60s rhythm and blues, 60s pop, beat, soul, psych, Motown, Northern Soul, ska, reggae, 70s rock (but only the good stuff!), 70s punk and sometimes even some disco/dance, Sue has made a name for herself at The Enterprise and, of course, at Casino Royale, where she's one of our irregular residents!

Plus, flamboyant host Victor de Milo hands out his own bank notes so that everyone can have a free go on our "Monte Carlo-style Roulette table", with the chance to win drinks!