BERT (Well Overdue Recordings) + Tiger Edison 19/03/23 @ Hyde Park Book Club

Brighton-born, Leeds-based multi-talented artist Bert brings his lo-fi hip-hop vibes to Hyde Park Book Club Leeds for another great "DJ Lubi Presents" session. After releasing his debut EP “It’s all gd dw” on Well Overdue Recordings last summer, he's been working on new material for 2023. Tonight, it will get it's first showcase in Leeds.

Bert is a real hidden gem rising out of the emerging alternative hip-hop scene of the UK at the moment. Having recently graduated from Leeds College of Music, it’s clear already that there is something very special about this man that sets him aside from his contemporaries in the same musical space at the moment. His natural tone and blasé, matter-of-fact delivery is supported by his music production which effortlessly spins catchy choruses that draw the listener close into sometimes poignant yet innocently relatable narratives. The playful, easy going nature of his music is as inviting as it is refreshing, offering a fresh direction in a genre often saturated with similar narratives, lyrical direction and production styles.

Bert’s musical influences come from across the musical spectrum – hip hop, singer/ songwriter music, indie music, jazz. In a recent interview he names acts that have inspired him and they include A Tribe Called Quest, Mac Miller, The Streets, Little Simz, Laura Marling, Nick Drake, Thom Yorke to name a few. So Bert’s music is a mix of headnodding beats and cool chords that underpin his easy going vocal style, weaving bars about his journey as a young person through modern life today, with all it’s ups, downs and sideways movements. He is a great story teller and those stories are instantly recognised by all of us. They mention stubbing your toe on the door, drinking lemon honey tea, cooking tagliatelle, finding a fiver on the floor, young folk romances, life in student digs, etc….everything we’ve all been through at some time. A lo-fi hip hop people’s poet. Pass through and catch him showcasing his brand new material alongside some old favourites with his super heavy band (Glen Leach keys, Hannah Willwood vocals, Luca Ferrara drums, Sam Palizian aka APLTN bass).

DJ Lubi's policy of giving a platform to new and emerging artists from Leeds Conservatoire continues tonight with the support act Tiger Edison. A singer who effortlessly blurs the lines between jazz, soul and indie-folk with musical influences as varied as Billie Holiday and Erykah Badu shining through her original compositions. She's written a whole set of original songs titled the "Pink Matter Apartment" demos which she'll be showcasing tonight with her 7 piece band. They include some of the best new rising stars of the Leeds Conservatoire jazz course :
Pedraum Agahi: guitar - Toby Freeman: bass - Reece Fogg: alto sax - Maisie Parlane: trumpet - Charlie Davis: tenor sax - Cam Gilson: keys - Scarlett Baxter: drums
Come down early and check her and the band out. Definitely "ones to watch for in 2023" on the Leeds jazz/alt-soul scene.