Friday 10 April 2009

Stephanie McKay LIVE @ The Mint Lounge, Manchester, Thursday May 7th


Early bird tickets just £6 (£1 booking fee) available here:http://www.skiddle.com/events/11276137Standard price £8 (+BF)


***skiddle tickets are e-tickets. You will bring a confirmation text / email print out to the venue***Tickets are also available at Fat City and Piccadilly Records


Stephanie McKay is no stranger to Manchester. Many of you will recognize Stephanie as the eye catching backing singer with Amp Fiddler at his shows at the Band on The Wall and the Academy.


However, it was her role as Kelis’s bass player that gave her first break as a solo artist. Whilst filming for Jools Holland’s Later show with Kelis Stephanie met Portishead’s Geoff Barrow. This meeting led to Stephanie’s 2003 debut album, McKay, produced by Barrow for Go Beat/Polydor, a project that provoked a mountain of critical approval across the media.


In the mean time Stephanie has found herself collaborating with a wide range of soul / hip hop / funk and jazz artists including:



  • Talib Kwali and Mos Def

  • Roy Hargroves (RH Factor)

  • Brooklyn Funk Essentials

  • Tricky

  • SoulLive

  • DJ Spinna

Fast forward to 2008 and Stephanie releases her 2nd album 'Tell It Like It Is' and a PA tour supporting Lyrics Born across the UK commences. It was at one of these shows, Friends and Family, that Stephanie’s vocal prowess and stage presence was witnessed, delighting the crowd with just a guitarist and laptop as backing. It was decided that Stephanie must be brought back with a full live band.


Supporting Stephanie on the night will be Manchester’s very own Jamie Finlay and his band. Jamie is currently receiving acclaim for his own brand of soul and funk and has just released his 4th single for Wah Wah 45’s. Live appearances in Manchester are rare for Jamie, maybe because he is too busy headlining at London’s Jazz CafĂ© or supporting Roy Ayers at the same venue.


http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=52557845


Before and after the live music you will be entertained by DJ’s Hewan Clarke and Mike O’Mara.Soul music fans of a certain age will need no introduction to Hewan from his legendary sets at the Reno, The Playpen, The Gallery and Berlin. He is, of course, generally credited as taking the Hacienda musically from an indie music venue and setting it on it’s course to be one of the most famous and influential nightclubs in the world post 1988.


If you’re too young to remember any of this then check Greg Wilson’s conversation with Hewan for a better idea of his statushttp://www.electrofunkroots.co.uk/interviews/hewan_clarke.html


Accompanying Hewan on the decks will be Mike O’Mara. Known through Manchester and beyond as a house DJ with the Development crew. Mike’s music tastes go beyond this to cover soul music classic and new and he always delivers and excellent set