Paul McCartney and Fela Kuti circa 1973

Paul McCartney and Fela Kuti circa 1973

Fela Soul: Fela Kuti x De La Soul

Gummy Soul artist "Amerigo Gazaway" combined Fela Kuti and De La Soul in a 30+ minute, hodgepodge of afrobeat rhythms and classic hip-hop. The American (Nashville, Tenn) producer uses samples from Fela‘s vast catalog and combined them with eight acapellas that span over a fifteen years of De La Soul classics.

Redman, MF DOOM and Gorillaz also made the cut. For more head over to Gummy Soul

Shayo - Sept. 3rd in Sinibar at The Shrine.

SHAYO!

A new party experience....only at The Shrine!!!

Music by DJ Fineboy!

Hosted by Hammed Sunmola!

#SHAYO

Osunlade - Pyrography preview & video interview

Good news and Bad news family,

Bad news first; Osunlade's upcoming album "Pyrography" is his final album in the house music genre. Osunlade feels that he has done every thing possible in the genre, stating that there are only 13 notes in house and has made every sound possible, and that now he is at a perfect time to move on.

The good news is Osunlade's album is set to drop on Yoruba Records TODAY. The world cannot wait for “Pyrography” to drop! Braced with more vocal tracks than any of his previous endeavors it includes the recent club smash "Idiocyncracy", the infectious "Envision" and the Yoruba chat of Ser Al Santismo. Check out the video featuring artist Scott Marr who did the artwork for Pyrography, via the art of pyrography lol!

Pyrography by Osunlade

FELAbration: A musical tribute to the life & music of Fela Kuti

On Oct. 13th we are having a celebration called "FELAbration". If you love Afrobeat and Fela's music, or just plain ol' curious please join us on Wednesday, Oct. 13th.

Buy your tix here!

Featuring live music by the CHICAGO AFROBEAT PROJECT!

And the DJ's of the night are Joe Bryl and Tone B. Nimble!

FELA! on Broadway "Dance of the Orisas" from Shilo on Vimeo.

"Water No Get Enemy" from FELA! Original Broadway Cast Recording from Fela Kuti on Vimeo.

April 15th: 2Face Idibia live in concert (Backed by Zzaje & DJ Dee Money)

AFRO BEAT Productions & THE SHRINE presents 2Face Idibia!!!

Naija's (Nigeria) own 2Face Idibia will be live in concert at the Shrine, he will be backed by Zzaje! All the African Queens fall in!

Innocent Ujah Idibia (born in Jos, Plateau State) best known as 2face Idibia is a Nigerian hip hop musician and songwriter. He was a member of the defunct R&B/hip hop group Plantashun Boyz. His award winning hit track African Queen was used as the sound track of the 2006 comedy film, Phat Girlz. This made him even more recognized internationally.

Also featuring the #1 DJ in Chicago/Nigeria DJ Dee Money!

Also featuring a live performance by Black Slang, featuring Yaw!

Doors open at 9pm!

$25 at the door!

Bottle Service: RSVP@TheShrineChicago.com

2109 S. Wabash Chicago IL 60616 (Valet Available)
Red line to Cermak.

21+

Site: http://theshrinechicago.com
Blog: http://theshrinechi.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/theshrinechi
Myspace: http://myspace.com/TheShrineChi
Going: http://going.com/TheShrineChicago
Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/channels/theshrinechicago
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/theShrineChicago

Lagos to Chicago - Shrine 101

Now lots of people are already in the know, but some folks may not be aware that The Shrine owes its name to Fela Kuti, or simply Fela as he is known to millions of fans worldwide. Fela (1938-1997) was a Nigerian born multi-instumentalist, composer, political and human rights activist. He was a pioneer of Afrobeat music, a fusion of African rhythms with jazz and funk. Fela regularly performed with his band, Nigeria '70 at his personal nightclub, The Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria. Lagos to Chicago. The name is in homage to The Original Black President, Mr. Fela Kuti.

Fela kicked out the jams in his all too short lifetime. Here is a short list of essential Fela or Fela related albums.... In no particular order.

Fela Kuti - Expensive Sh*t (1975) Contains 'Water No Get Enemy' This will cause a riot on the dance floor - ask Timbuck2

Fela Kuti - He Miss Road (1975) Produced by Cream drummer Ginger Baker. (Who also recorded two records with Fela worth checking. One under each man's name respectively.)

Fela Kuti - Zombi (1977) Fela rips the Nigerian army for brainwashing its soldiers..."Music is the weapon"

Fela Kuti & Roy Ayers - Music of Many Colors (1980) Contains '2000 Black'. Afrobeat meets Ayers funky jazz vibes - classic!

Fela Kuti - Lagos Baby 1963-69 (2008) Compilation shows the evolution of sound from Highlife to Afrobeat with his original Koola Lobitos band.

Fela Kuti - Shakara (1971) With 'Lady' and 'Shakara', long time fan favorites. The cover is worth price alone.

Tony Allen - No Discrimination (1979) Fela's funky drummer and band leader for twelve years. (He was relpaced with FOUR drummers.) Contains 'Love Is A Natural Thing'. Afrobeat with some squishy synth lines ala Parliament.

Tony Allen - Black Voices (1999) Tony comes back with a modern dubbed out sound with bits of electronics and Parliament's Mike 'Cop' Payne & Gary 'Mudbone' Cooper, too.

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 - Seun Kuti & Fela's Egypt 80 (2008) Fela's son continues the Afrobeat sound with his father's band. He is monster live too, just like dad!

Femi Kuti - African Shrine (2004) Femi cooks on this live set with both originals and a cover of his father's 'Water get No Enemy'!

Bottle Service: RSVP@TheShrineChicago.com

2109 S. Wabash Chicago IL 60616 (Valet Available)
Red line to Cermak.

21+

Site: http://theshrinechicago.com
Blog: http://theshrinechi.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/theshrinechi
Myspace: http://myspace.com/TheShrineChi
Going: http://going.com/TheShrineChicago
Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/channels/theshrinechicago
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/theShrineChicago

Marquee for April/May at The Shrine

The only club in Chicago....

(click image to enlarge)