One night brings three huge live acts to the Hootananny stage, with 11-piece afrobeat upstarts Agbeko, the Congolese bass and guitars of Kongo Dia Ntotila, plus slow-motion dub explosion Kosmo Sound.

AGBEKO

Drawing their inspiration and energy from the golden age of 1970s' Nigerian, Ghanaian and Ethiopian dancefloors, AGBEKO command a wealth of powerful sing-along originals and unique arrangements of afrobeat and ethiojazz rarities. Expect punchy horns, choppy guitars and wailing organs, all underpinned by a powerful groove, infectious enthusiasm and a healthy dose of sub-standard dancing.

Since their formation in 2015, AGBEKO have enjoyed enthusiastically received performances at festivals including Secret Garden Party, Green Man, Kendal Calling, Tramlines and at the Manchester Jazz Festival. Airplay on US online radio shows followed, along with plans next summer for their first foray onto mainland Europe. They recently celebrated their first release at Archspace in Hoxton.

KONGO DIA NTOTILA

Kongo Dia Ntotila is a fusion of Afrikan roots inspired beats and bass grooves with jazz detours on a journey through the musical motherland; with sunshine sounds of Kongolese seben guitars and horns reminiscent of the golden age of rumba odemba that keep you dancing along the way.

The group formed in Leeds and recorded their first album as Congo Dia Ntotila. Released in July 2012, 'Seben Steps to Heaven' was based on Central Afrikan dance floor riffs combined with lively Kongolese style vocals and 'animation'.

After a break and a relocation to the capital, original founders Mulele Matondo (bass), John Kelly (guitar), and David Lessie (drums/vocals) reformed the band, inviting a tiny but mighty horn section to join them. William Scott (saxophone) and Mike Soper (trumpet) bring the brass to the forefront of the musical conversation, and a new synergy to the Kongo Dia Ntotila core sound. 

With old album favourites remixed and a refreshingly unforced fusion through their new material drawing on jazz, reggae, afro-beat and more, the renamed Kongo Dia Ntotila is expanding their appeal and bringing more fire to the dance floors.

"Wherever they go they bring a raucously joyful party with them." 
Max Reinhardt, BBC Introducing Mixtape 22/8/16

KOSMO SOUND

KOSMO SOUND is the new instrumental dub project of Mattias Geernaert (bass) and Marius Couvreur (drums), who have enlisted the help of four sound magicians to complete their orchestra. Edmund Lauret and Cyriel Vandenabeele on guitars, Ambroos De Schepper on saxes and flute and Bos Debusscher on piano.

DJ HOT BREAD

ENTRY

Free before 9pm, £5 after