HEY NEGRITA: Biog
Described as a twisted cross between Johnny Cash and The Rolling Stones, Hey Negrita blend raw Americana with old school British rock ‘n’ roll to create a unique brew of transatlantic music.
Hey Negrita’s journey began when singer/songwriter, Felix, moved to South Florida in 2000, where he spent his nights jamming with one of Ray Charles’ backing singers and a fifty-five year-old cowboy junky who had worked with Gram Parsons and Little Feat. Having left London in search of a new life, Felix embraced the dark humour, warm weather and earthy music of the Deep South. Within a few weeks of arriving in Delray Beach he secured a residency at the bohemian Da Da Lounge where he began writing and performing the songs that would evolve into Hey Negrita’s debut album ‘We Are Catfish’ some five years later.
In July 2005 Hey Negrita released the 7” single ‘Devil In My Shoes’ on London indie Fat Fox Records, followed by their full-length debut ‘We Are Catfish’. The album quickly crossed over the Atlantic, gaining strong support from key radio stations and DJ’s across the US, including Nic Harcourt’s tastemaker show ‘Morning Becomes Eclectic’ on KCRW in LA.
In March 2006 the band embarked on their first US tour, which included a performance at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas. Footage from the tour formed the core of a mini-documentary aired on national TV in the UK (Channel 4) in August that year which coincided with the release of the band’s second album ‘The Buzz Above’.
Hey Negrita topped off 2006 with performances at a number of UK festivals, a 19-date UK tour with Alabama 3 and a second US tour (with Tony Joe White).
In 2007 the band re-emerged with a new and revitalised lineup and returned to the studio to record their third album with and spent the summer playing festivals and touring UK prisons as well as taking part in the music documentary ‘We Dreamed America’.
So far 2008 has seen Hey Negrita return to the States for 5 gigs at the SXSW Music Festival, a support slot for The Beach Boys in Germany and the release of a limited edition 7” ‘Rope’.
The rest of the year sees the band appear at numerous festivals as well as embarking on a UK headline tour following the release of their new album ‘You Can Kick’ in September.
The debut album WE ARE CATFISH and 2006’s THE BUZZ ABOVE are both out now (available in Zavvi, HMV, Amazon, iTunes etc. etc.).
New Single ‘ROPE’ with Alabama 3 Remix is now available from iTunes, rough Trade Records and Piccadilly in Manchester.
27 June: Glastonbury (Leftfield Stage and Last Man Standing Saloon)
18 July: Larmer Tree Festival, Dorset
20 July: Latitude Festival, Suffolk
25 July: Trowbridge Festival, Wiltshire
3 August: Cambridge Folk Festival (Club Tent, Mojo Tent and Main Bar)
30 August: Rhythm Festival, Bedford
5 September: Bestival, Isle Of Wight
14 September: End Of The Road Festival, Dorset
New Single:
‘Rope’ the first single off the new album is out now on 7” vinyl and download. The mighty Alabama 3 have done a sick and twisted remix for the B-side. The video for the song was filmed after the band’s performance at a hippy commune in Austin’s Enchanted forest during their recent stint at the SXSW Music and Film Festival in Austin, Texas.
New Album:
The new album YOU CAN KICK will be hitting the shops in September. The record is dedicated to Chuck Sanders, who passed away just before Christmas last year.
The album was recorded with producer Steve Ancliffe at Big Blue Music in London and mixed by Greg Duffin at CTS in New York. The record was cut pretty much as live, with Neil in the drum room, Matt and Felix in the living room, Pauli in the upstairs bedroom and Captain Bliss in the corridor. It was mixed to half-inch tape via some great vintage gear, avoiding computers wherever possible.
What people have said:
“A joyful sourmash-sodden affair, blending country, rockabilly and honky tonk. One of the main talking points of this year’s SXSW festival in Austin.” MOJO
“Intensely personal and refreshingly honest, like slipping on your favourite jeans.” THE SUN
“Sung with feeling and dripping with emotion. The music just takes you.” CHRIS COCO (BBC RADIO 1)
“Beautifully detailed songs.” DAILY MIRROR
“London’s Creedence Clearwater Revival” AUSTIN CHRONICLE
“No other act has such a biting lyrical edge Songs of this quality just dont happen every day.” BLUES MATTERS
“A warm, thoughtful and musical album.” BOB HARRIS (BBC RADIO 2)
“Best Southern fried music. Dark but melodic Americana. Sometimes Dylan, sometimes Tom Waits.” SUNDAY EXPRESS
“A breath of fresh air in amongst shoe-gazing guitar bands.” MUSIC WEEK
“Delightful set of acoustic-driven country rock full of insidious melodies and harmonies.” CLASSIC ROCK
“A strong brew of mixed styles, all informed by their talent and extreme lives lived.” CLASH
“Who would have thought that the old west would have collided so spectacularly with England’s very own capital?” ROCK CITY
“One of the most surprising albums of the year, which looks set to become an entry on many critics top albums of 2006.” BRISTOL EVENING POST
“An excellent second album from a truly exciting band.” MAVERICK
“Can’t stop humming these irresistable tunes.” AMERICANA UK
“I love Hey Negrita. It goes with beer.” BILLY BUTLER (BBC MERSEYSIDE)
