RARE SOLO GIG FOR BEN WATT
Playing songs from Hendra, the UK artist’s first album in over 30 years, Ben Watt will grace Sydney for one night only. August 21st Watt will be performing solo, acoustic and electric at The Basement, tickets for this rare evening are now on sale.
His second studio album Hendra, released in April 2014, has received positive reviews from critics. The record is a collaboration with former Suede member Bernard Butler and features a guest appearance from David Gilmour. Butler and Watt toured the album earlier this year, performing eight shows around the UK. But only Watt himself will be performing in Sydney on the 21st.
So get in quick and catch this prolific artist, Ben Watt, perform at Sydney’s The Basement for one night only on 21st of August.
WHO: Ben Watt
WHERE:The Basement, Sydney
WHEN:Thursday 21st August
Born in London 1962, Ben Watt first broke onto the scene at age 19 on the indie label Cherry Red, as a young experimental folk artist. Collaborating with alt-folk icon Robert Wyatt, Watt’s 1982 EP Summer into Winter had the press drawing comparisons between his work and that of Tim Buckley and John Martyn. His early career is highlighted by the release of North Marine Drive, his 1983 debut album.
Meeting his now partner Tracey Thorn at Hull University in 1981, Watt halted his solo project in 1983 and with Thorn became alt-pop duo Everything but the Girl. Making their last appearance at Montreux Jazz Festival in 2001, the pair received several international awards over the two decades performing, including one platinum and six gold discs in the UK. During his time in Everything but the Girl, Ben Watt’s musical style evolved from folk guitarist to orchestral arranger and furthermore into electronic production and sampling.
Watt was thirty-two when he started mixing freestyle sets in London 1995. His style include mixes of jazz, deep house and drum’n’bass. Three years later Watt began seminal Sunday day-night club and compilation Lazy Dog with Jay Hannan from Blackmarket, focusing on deep house. After five years of sell out parties and compilation sales in the 100,000s Lazy Dog came to an end. With a solid reputation as DJ and promoter, in 2002 Watt went of as a part-owner-founder of London clubs Neighborhood and Cherry Jam. Under his three year leadership these venues were at the fore front of London’s night club scene, host acts such as Groova Armada, the Rough Trade Records 25th Anniversary and the inaugural House Music Awards.
In April 2003, Watt launched his own independent record label Buzzin’ Fly. Oriented toward under-ground house and techno, the label was focused on seeking new talent and responsible for unearthing Justin Martin, Rodamaal and Flowers and Sea Creatures. In 2006 expanding their musical output, Buzzin’ Fly launched it’s sister imprint Strange Feelings, which sought out up and coming artists in the alternative pop genre. On the 10th anniversary (March 2013) of Buzzin’ Fly Watt announced he would be suspending all operation of the label so he could have time to work on his new project, a book about his parents and first album North Marine Drive.
Alongside working at his record label, from 2006-2008, Watt hosted a weekly Internet radio show, focusing on house and electronica. In 2010 he took on the role of resident DJ at BBC 6Music’s electronic music show, the 6mix. Although Watt doesn’t DJ live anymore, he still enjoys mixing for the airwaves.