BLOW UP BLOG

The Bongolian live at Blow Up, December 2010

Following his show in France, The Bongolian (aka Big Boss Man's Nasser Bouzida) and his band drop into London for a rare Christmas show at Blow Up. They will be previewing tracks from his forthcoming 4th album (early 2011) alongside tracks from 2008′s critically acclaimed 'Outer Bongolia' and early classics such as Bongohead. Funk and Spaced-out Latin Soul - 100% Heavy Bongo Vibes guaranteed! Followed by resident Blow Up DJs Paul Tunkin & Ian Jackson bringing you a mix of Orgasmic Pop 60s Mod Soul New Wave action.

Since his 2001 eponymous debut, THE BONGOLIAN's albums have become recordbox essentials for DJs, finding a wide appeal from Dance and Hip-Hop to rare groove and funky 45s fans, and to date The Bongolian and his band have toured USA, UK and Europe:

Nasser Bouzida is a man with talent to spare. A Latin-flavoured jazz-funk odyssey Q

Totally mind-blowing WHAT'S ON

Mightily funky, Hammond driven bongo rhythms… part mod, part Sergio Mendes TIME OUT

Event Links: Facebook Event / THE BONGOLIAN:

Following the release of their critically acclaimed 2nd album 'Railway Architecture' this August, London artrockers Silvery play two intimate shows at Blow Up on Saturday 21st August and Saturday 11th September. Silvery founder and singer-songwriter James Orman is still immersed in Bowie, Blur, XTC and all things eccentrically English, The Silvery sound is based around an amalgamation of non fiction, childhood memories, love of historic machinery, 70′s TV detective-isms and a musical philosophy of 'anything goes'. From the glam rock assault of previous single 'Devil In The Detail', New Wave blast of debut 'Horrors', neo Bond theme drama of 'Will Self', through brief snatches of ska to music hall and spoken word, there is very little left untouched in between.

Silvery will be doing an exclusive live in-store at Rough Trade East next Friday 6th August - get down early to buy a copy of their new album 'Railway Architecture'.

Just confirmed for Saturday 5th December are Louis Eliot & The Embers. Heralded by Vogue magazine as a "country troubadour" and the Times as a "true pop genius", Louis Eliot is the former main man of 1990s Britpop Romantics, Rialto, who enjoyed three UK top 40 hits and a top 20 album read more…

This Saturday 31st October - Hallowe'en special for Blow Up in its new basement venue at 4 Denmark St., with 60s horror flicks and creepy drinks. Expect the usual mix of orgasmic pop 60s mod soul new wave action from Blow Up DJs with some spooky soundtracks thrown in for good measure!

Event Info
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Blow Up are pleased to announce that Blow Up club will reconvene for its Saturday night residency in London from Saturday 12th September 2009. The new basement venue is a stone's throw from the Metro Club (RIP) in London's legendary Denmark Street aka 'Tin Pan Alley'. The first night will have live guests Blow Up Records very own Big Boss Man who will be playing tracks from their third album 'Full English Beat Breakfast'.

Blow Up Metro Club: 2001-2009

Saturday the 17th January 2009 was last night ever of the Metro Club, 19-23 Oxford Street, London W1. Thank you to everybody who celebrated our last night with us and helped us go out with a bang! (more about the venue closure here). A very special and very memorable night (photos to be uploaded soon). Apologies to everyone who queued in the rain and didn't manage to get in!

Tomorrow on Saturday 24th January 2009, Blow Up will start a new Saturday night residency at Bar Rumba, 36 Shaftesbury Avenue. This is an exciting move for the club, signalling another new era with a shift back to the Wag-era concept of Blow Up - a bigger capacity with 2 sound systems once again, lights, visuals - and essentially a return to the larger weekly 'special event' featuring weekly live showcases as part of the club itself. Blow Up DJs Paul Tunkin and Ian Jackson will be also be joined by weekly guests DJs including some familiar names from over the club's history.

Take part in history - this will be the LAST EVER NIGHT at The Metro due to the venue's CPO for Crossrail. The Metro Club has been open as a club (under various names) since the 1950s - this will be your last chance ever to come to the venue. Tickets will not be on sale for tonight. Doors will open early - very early arrival recommended!

Blow Up will continue the following week on Saturday 24th January at Bar Rumba.

Sat. 17th January 2009 - Blow Up - Last Ever Night of The Metro Club (details below)
Sat. 24th January 2009 - Blow Up - Opening Night at Bar Rumba - (details below)

A bona-fide legendary club night, and now in its 15th year, Blow Up was the centre of the early to mid Nineties Brit Pop explosion, influencing the style and sound of a generation, and voted No.4 in Time Out's Top Ten Clubs of the 90s. From its original venue The Laurel Tree, Camden Town (1993-1996), to the Wag Club (1996-2001) and then to the Metro Club (2002-2009), Blow Up has continued its long run of sold out nights for over 15 years in an unbroken run. And now, after a seven year residency at the Metro Club, Blow Up will be held here for the very last time on Saturday 17th January 2009, which will also be the last ever night for the Metro Club itself, after which its doors will close forever as a live venue and club (for press release re. venue closure see: www.blowupmetro.com/closure.aspx).

The following week, on Saturday 24th January 2009, Blow Up will start a new Saturday night residency at Bar Rumba, 36 Shaftesbury Avenue. This is an exciting move for the club, signalling another new era with a shift back to the Wag-era concept of Blow Up - a bigger capacity with 2 sound systems once again, lights, visuals - and essentially a return to the larger weekly 'special event' featuring weekly live showcases as part of the club itself. Blow Up DJs Paul Tunkin and Ian Jackson will be also be joined by weekly guests DJs including some familiar names from over the club's history .

Blow Up was founded by DJ and promoter Paul Tunkin in a Camden pub in Oct 1993. Records were played from the emerging 'British pop' scene (that came to be known as Brit Pop) together with Brit-centric 60s and 70s moves and grooves; swinging soundtracks to Mod Beat and Soul; classic pop from The Beatles to Bowie to Blur. The club still stays true to its early ideals - you will hear a selection of indie pop, new wave, pop electronique, underground 60s instrumentals, experimental grooves and easy listening - all sitting nicely alongside a selection of the current favs from artists such as MGMT and Vampire Weekend. Despite its love of buried treasures, Blow Up remains an accessible yet essential night that is always a great party, week after week, year after year.