Horace X in session for a Friday night – recorded for Andy Kershaw at BBC Radio 1 on January 8, 2006.
Producer, composer and drummer, Mark A Russell, formed Horace X with ethnomusicologist and fiddle player Hazel Fairbairn in 1994 with the original intention of combining Russell’s contemporary dance rhythms with material from obscure European folk tune archives. Described as boisterous, freewheeling, celebratory, irreverent and exuberant, they evolved into one of Britain’s liveliest festival bands, known for their danceable fusion of ‘music from everywhere’, charged stage presence and striking UV costumes. Russell’s production fused EDM, Reggae, Afrobeat, Jazz and World Folk, and was praised for its unique and inimitable style and sound by New York Village Voice veteran reviewer, Robert Christgau.
Horace X were signed by Amok Artist Agency in Canada in 2002, and with ragga-style vocalist Simon Twitchin, Sax/Clarinet virtuoso Pete Newman and Godfather’s Bassman Fabian Bonner, they toured Canada coast to coast with main stage spots at Winnipeg, Vancouver, Calgary and Salmon Arm Folk festivals, also appearing at Montreal and Halifax Jazz festivals with dates in the US in 2005. Horace X also toured the UK extensively, as well as Germany, Holland, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, France and the US, and their reputation spread as far as Russia. They have recorded 4 full length studio CDs and 2 EPs, featuring guests including Michael McGoldrick and Martin Green and were signed by Omnium Records in the US and Vielklang in Germany. Media work has included live TV performances in Sweden and the Big Breakfast in Canada, and a UK BBC Radio 1 live radio session with Andy Kershaw.
Of course, without the visuals you’re only getting half the show — which is why you should see them on their next tour if you want the full Horace experience.
In the meantime – crank it up and get ready for the weekend.
