News & Updates — Afrobeat

One of West Africa's (and indeed the planet's) most unique and independent musicians was the Nigerian synth-funk artist William Onyeabor, who passed away earlier this year. Born in Enugu, southeastern Nigeria, he studied cinematography in Russia and upon returning to Nigeria attempted to produce movies but found better luck when he opened a record pressing plant, recording studio, publishing company and record label. In the late '70s and into about 1985, he self-produced several unique, avant-garde records driven by synthesizers, drum machines, sequencers and very funky, groovy psych-disco rhythms. It has been speculated that he acquired all his expensive and...

We're excited to be returning to one of our favorite spots -- The Alvah Stone! This fantastic restaurant, located in an old mill overlooking a falling river, is a perfect rural spot for a lively party! The restaurant is celebrating three years and the week-long festivities will be capped off by a tropical-funk dance party featuring DJs Andujar and Bongohead of Peace & Rhythm Records. The Alvah Stone offers incredible food, a great bar with plenty of local drafts and hand-crafted cocktails and a wonderful staff. The DJs will be spinning groovy international flavors, all from vinyl -- from cumbia...

Here's a brand new mixtape put together by DJ Studebaker Hawk of tunes found on Peace & Rhythm releases to date, from the very first 7" to the freshest! Give it a listen, check out the links, buy some records, support independent music!! A huge thank you to all the artists we've had the pleasure of working with, Studebaker Hawk for the mix, Margot Glass for the art, and YOU for listening!! Track list: 0:00 Peliroja - Situaciones (comp: J. Batista, M. Eckroth, J. Plasse) - from Situaciones / Ciudad de Nadie 7" P&R-45-002  (OUT OF PRINT) band website, official...

The Burkinabé singer Amadou Balaké had a long and varied career, recording Mandé music, soul, afro-cuban, salsa, highlife, afrobeat/funk and various West African regional styles. He was among the artists who explicitly bridged Afro-Cuban sounds with contemporary African music in the '60s & '70s into the 2000s. He was a taxi driver in Mali before joining Harmonie Voltaiqüe and scoring big with the tune he changed his name to ("Balaké"). He joined Super Volta before launching his solo career in the mid-'70s. He also sang in Les 5 Consuls. He went to NYC in the late '70s to cut a...

For the third time in six months, the NY funk behemoth Big Mean Sound Machine and the Peace & Rhythm DJs will team up for a night at The Root Cellar, P&R's home base in Greenfield, Massachusetts. But this time the party will celebrate the arrival of the brand new album by Big Mean, Runnin' For The Ghost, due out April 7 on Peace & Rhythm and Blank Slate. The Root Cellar will be jumping yet again as we sweat to the extended psych-funk explorations of B.M.S.M. with a full dancefloor entranced in the deep grooves. P&R DJs Andujar and...