Jarvis and the beatboxers

Artists perform for
anti-knife crime benefit

14 December 2008 - Jarvis Cocker, Martina Topley-Bird, Teddy Thompson, The Guillemots and Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly were just a few of the artists to perform at the South Bank Centre in London last night.

The gig was curated by beatboxer extraordinaire Shlomo, who organised the event in aid of anti-knife crime schemes in inner city London.

Since Glastonbury this year Shlomo has been working on a project called Music Through Unconventional Means which gathers artists to perform their songs without the backing of a band. Instead they are accompanied by a beatbox orchestra.

Jarvis Cocker was drafted in last night to sing his single Fat Children with a choir of beatbox artists mimicking the guitar, bass and drum parts of the original recording.

Martina Topley-Bird performed Mirror In The Bathroom and Fyfe Dangerfield performed Made Up Love Song No. 43 – many of the artists were brought together on the day of the performance and much of the music was improvised or rehearsed only the afternoon before the live show. For Jarvis Cocker this way of doing things is right up his street:

"All my life has been lived doing things at the last minute. I pack my suitcase to go on holiday at the last minute. I always did my homework at the last minute when I was at school. I'm a last minute guy."

And as for having his band replaced by a beatbox choir? Jarvis was all for the idea:

"It makes you think of your songs in a completely different way and I really liked it because when we tried it, it sounded great. I'm really pleased."

Many of the acts on the bill had met Shlomo on a recent expedition to the Antarctic, which was to raise awareness for climate change. The scheme was called Cape Farewell and although the cause on this occasion was slightly different, the musicians were united by the belief that music can bring about social change.

"It was one of the best evenings I have ever had in London"

Shlomo explained the thinking behind MTUM:

"I was hearing a lot of about Knife Crime and I thought lets put on a massive show, lets put on a benefit gig and get loads of people to perform and get some of the young people [from the knife crime projects] to perform as well and it can be a big collaborative moment.”

The show incorporated performances from teenagers who have benefited from anti-knife crime schemes in inner city London. These kids had been taught to beatbox by Shlomo and they explained to 6 Music how they had been give opportunity to learn skills like beatboxing:

“It gives us a chance to perform and afterwards we think glad of ourselves 'cause we've done it and the more we do it the more we learn."

Fans were also blown away by the results, with one telling 6 Music: "It was absolutely phenomenal. It was really impressive to see what the kids could do because they are not professionals."

Another member of the audience was impressed with the calibre of acts that had come together to support the cause:

“Jarvis, Teddy Thompson, Cleveland Watkiss, Get Cape. Wear Cape. – a real mix of up and coming names and established names. An event like this makes kids realise they don't need money to buy instruments they can make amazing sounds with their voices. And it gives them a focus."

Simon Hughes, Liberal Democrat MP for North Southwark and Bermondsey was also backing the gig. He said it as a great way to raise awareness:

"It was one of the best evenings I have ever had in London. Everyone was engaged everyone was involved but it was aimed at making young people realise that music can be for them."


Elizabeth Alker