Mighty Djevara lives

March 8th sees the official release of part 1 of our new record.  For those who’ve been sleeping at the back of the class (it’s been a long winter after all!), the main reason we decided to do it like this is primarily to document two quite different phases in the history of the band and so release something in what seemed an intellectually honest way.  Which leads me on to a warning to our friends/fans/followers - we are proud of what we have produced in “Corsa Al Ribasso”, but we have to acknowledge it is not an easy record to listen to or to appreciate.  We make no apologies, but I feel it fair to warn those who have supported us thus far and may not quite be expecting it.  The period leading up to and right into recording this record was a difficult time in the lives of the members of the band and the band itself, amidst all the familiar characters of disappointment, frustration and betrayal in our personal lives and ambitions, and in recording it we opted for honesty instead of beauty.  To say this record was (is) in some ways an exercise in catharsis would be to understate it.  It is the document of band of members having survived (metaphorical) Armageddon, stared oblivion in the face and jumped into the abyss regardless, re-learning who they are and re-acquainting themselves with what even seemed alien instruments at times.  So-  sorry, definitely no singles or anything approaching easy listening here.  I’m not even sure we were still trying to provide ‘entertainment’ in the same sense as before, pretentious as that sounds.  It’s fucked up, weird, hard work and challenging you to invest in it enough just to GET it.  I fully expect most won’t.  That’s ok.  That’s what part 2’s for.”CORSA AL RIBASSO” AVAILABLE TO ORDER NOW FROM www.genin.co.uk

Our last show/party of the year at our wonderful warehouse, The Low Fidelity Disconnect. Expect the usual eye-and-mouth-watering spread of music, arts and creative people. This time round we have sets from Djevara, Let Our Enemies Beware and Thumpermonkey Lives!

Facebook event:http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=210716197745

CD PRE-LAUNCH SHOW & BIRTHDAY BASH!We will Gin Panic, The andy k Show and some very special *SECRET GUESTS* for a rocking night to celebrate the completion of our new CD (as well as celebrate one more year survived for me)! £5* in.Come join us!BassXDJEVARA NEW RECORD:Djevara are pleased to announce the imminent release of “The Rising Tide (Part 1) : Corsa Al Ribasso”.  Though not officially out til Mon 1st Feb 2010 (though limited pre-release copies will be available to purchase at the gig), we’ve decided to celebrate the conclusion of this chapter in the band’s history in conjunction with birthday celebrations this Friday 4th Dec 2009. In tune with the changing dynamics of the band line-up as well as the freer, more creative possibilities offered by the digital age, Djevara have decided to release their newest album in two parts - this is the first!The CD pre-launch party will be on Friday 4th December and will also be my birthday party bash! It’ll be held downstairs at The Cross Kings in King’s Cross in London (126 York Way). We’ll also have live sets from the fantastic Caretaker (Rock Sound single-of-the-month), Gin Panic and The andy k Show - ensuring it’s going to be an absolutely amazing night - come join us! :D*NOTE: Free entry to the show with all pre-orders!Available to pre-order NOW from www.genin.co.uk or www.djevara.co.uk

Thank you so so much to EVERYONE who came and was part of FREEDOM FESTIVAL, which is probably the single the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.  I’m so amazingly chuffed.  A huge number of my/our favourite bands and artists and closest friends, amazing people and venues, and great, great memories.  A special HUGE thanks to my bandmates Malcolm and Geoff, representing also Orange & Blue Music and The Low Fidelity Disconnect respectively, and also Gemma Gayner (O&B) and Dina Karklina (LFD).  It’s absolutely true that without them it just would not have been what it was.  You’re brilliant, guys Big thanks also to Laura for helping me document it all!

I also want to thank all at Krankenhaus and The Foundry and all of the performers and artists: Armed Response Unit, Evenflowerskill, Pig With The Face Of A Boy, The Super Nashwan Kids, Gin Panic, Roll Call For The Second Site, Orders Of The British Empire, Djevara, Let Our Enemies Beware, The Display Team, Silent Front, Gemma Gayner, Andy K, She Makes War, Mal Faloon, Mike Freedman, Niall Spooner-Harvery, Stuart Turner, Son Of Man, Babar Luck, Thumpermonkey Lives!, Caretaker, SP Howarth, Chris Getliffe, Geoff, Dina Karklina

Goodness, what an amazing weekend with so many of my favourite people/bands.  Can’t tell you how chuffed I am - thanks for being part of it.  I can only feel sorry for anyone who missed it.

Thanks again - and watch this space for more!

Bass
X

ps If you were there, look out for a video with your face in it soon
pps please link all flickr pictures to the last.fm event:
DAY 1 : http://www.last.fm/event/1228061
DAY 2 : http://www.last.fm/event/1228066
And also please send to me to put in a nice, big document-y stylee thingummy if you don’t mind
pps Our next event is GENIN LIVES! @ 333 Basement on 22 October.  There or square dudes!

Djevara would like to invite you to:
FREEDOM FESTIVAL 2
A celebration and defence of civil liberties.

Once again we feel the need to shout and make a stand in the face of increasing authoritarian government and diminishing freedoms: CCTV everywhere, compulsory ID cards, national databases, “anti-terror” laws used for everything except fighting terror, ridiculous anti-protest laws (arrested for baking a cake, anyone?), more & more music restrictions, arbitrary arrest, extra-ordinary renditions and 28/42/92 days detention without charge or trial… Stop already.

Of course, we’ll be instigating this by having a rocking good time with a whole bunch of our friends: plenty of bands, visual and spoken word artists, film… come join us as we quite literally fight for our right to party. The festival is spread over two venues with overlapping bills, so if you can’t make one day you can come to the other - there’s no excuses! Saturday will have much more music, while the emphasis on the Sunday will be more art… though both will have plenty of each!

The program (subject to change):
FREEDOM FESTIVAL 2
PROGRAMME 3/4 Oct 2009:

DAY 1: Krankenhouse

THE SIMULACRUM (LOUD STAGE):
02:00 PM Armed Response Unit
03:00 PM Evenflowerskill
04:00 PM Pig With The Face Of A Boy
05:00 PM The Super Nashwan Kids
06:00 PM Gin Panic
07:00 PM Roll Call For The Second Site
08:00 PM Orders Of The British Empire
09:00 PM Djevara
10:00 PM Let Our Enemies Beware
11:00 PM SPECIAL GUESTS – TBC
12:00 AM The Display Team
01.00AM SPECIAL GUESTS – TBC

THE CUBE (GALLERY):
02:40 PM Gemma
04.40 PM Andy K
06:40 PM She Makes War
08:40 PM Mal Faloon & Tony Booysen
09:40 PM Yap Barry
10:40 PM Mike Freedman & Mocha
11:40 PM Brent Lee Regan

THE REBELLION (THE CAMPFIRE):
03:40 PM Stuart Turner
05:40 PM Tom
07:40 PM Babar Luck

DAY 2: The Foundry

THE DUNGEON (music):
04.00PM Gemma
04.30PM She Makes War
05:00 PM Thumpermonkey Lives!
06:00 PM Djevara
07:00 PM Babar Luck
08:00 PM Caretaker
09:00 PM Pig With The Face Of A Boy
10:00 PM

THE DUNGEON (spoken word):
04:45 PM Mike Freedman
05:45 PM Tony Booysen
06:45 PM Mal Faloon
07:45 PM SP Howarth
08:45 PM Brent Lee Regan
09:45 PM Yap Barry

And, to the cynics and the sceptics and the apathetic, remember Martin Niemöller’s warning : “First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist; Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist; Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew; Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.”*

(Big thanks to Adam Hartshorne for the wicked posters/flyers )

EVENT ON LAST.FM : http://www.last.fm/event/1228061

FAQs:
Q: Is it free?
A: Day 1 is entry on donation, Day 2 is free. All money will go towards the costs and towards artists (if enough).

Q: Is it outdoors?
A: No, the venues are indoors primarily apart from the campfire and some extra fun stuff we’ll be doing at Krankenhouse. So yes, we’ll be doing this even if it rains.

Q: What is the difference between the days given that there is an overlap in artists?
A: The Saturday has more of an emphasis on music with a huge bill of artists playing, while the Sunday will have an artier emphasis. They are in very different locations with different characteristics and we’ll be doing different stuff at each

Q: This is nonsense. The government and police are great, always act in our best interest, full of both the most competent and most benevolent people (and will be forevermore). What is more, they can be trusted with all our data, as can all the third party companies contracted to use it - all of this stuff is absolutely necessary to protect us from terrorists. 9-11 would never have happened if they had ID cards. What the heck’s a festival going to change anyway? Nothing to hide, nothing to fear, I say! I’m not coming!
A: I’ll try to hide my tears.

Q: Did you make that last question up?
A: Yes.

Just reporting that we’re having a great time writing material for our next record (even though we’re still in the middle of recording our EP -  no rest for the wickedly inclined ).  We’ve been holed up in the studio all week, in the middle of a crass background semi-industrial site that health&safety forgot, playing increasingly aggressive and progressive music and trying to push the boundaries of how much breadth you can get from a three-piece band.  We’ve played well over 40 hours of music this week and I’m already raring to go with today’s session - I think some of this stuff is gonna be absolutely immense once we can play it properly! :D  We’re hoping to be able to showcase some of this stuff sooner than you might have thought… exciting times indeed at Camp Djevara!

GENIN RECORDS and ORANGE & BLUE MUSIC are proud to present a
variety of acts for the first ever Roar Festival taking place at The
Red Lion, Gravesend from Friday 11th Sept through to Sunday 13th Sept.

We’ll be showcasing, among others:
Djevara,
The Display Team, Elephant vs Leopard, Babar Luck, Let Our Enemies
Beware, Roll Call For The Second Site, She Makes War, The Prhyme, David
Goo, many more…
*** DJEVARA ARE PLAYING AT 7pM ON SAT 12TH SEPT on MANE STAGE ***

(note: all stage times subject to change up to about an hour either way)

In addition other promoters will be showcasing
a huge range of artists both local and national. It’s sure to be a
great event with over 100 acts playing at Kent’s most exciting emerging
venue.
Myspace: http://myspace.com/redroarfestival
Facebook group & event:
Group - Facebook group
Event - Facebook event

Come join us for a great weekend!

*look out for details of cheap train tickets on the official facebook group

Djevara are preparing to document (record) the material written during Sandro’s tenure on the drums with a new EP, so in the middle of death-defying heat and insomnia I’m sitting here listening to the old records and trying to work out where we’ve come from and where we’re going.  I’m obviously supposed to be working.  Anyway, it’s more fun than I thought, but my how time flies - even I’m almost shocked at how different we sound to those days and am almost nostalgic.  I’ve also finally got round to sorting out our online digital streaming/download page (thanks to those amazing people at Bandcamp).  So now you can stream and purchase digital versions of both our records from one nice, easy place:

http://djevara.bandcamp.com

If I get time I may add some selected tracks from the older EPs, and we’ll definitely be having some bonus free downloads for fans who make it to shows or buy our merch so watch this space.  Meanwhile, for those of you more embedded into the 21st century than myself, you may be interested to note that I’ve set up a twitter you can follow:

http://twitter.com/DjevBunny

No doubt you’ll soon be able to follow our death-defying and ridiculous adventures in real-time once it really gets going…

That’s it for now - hopefully see y’all at the first GENIN LIVES! on 9th July (see previous post)…