Shlomo’s blog

1989 represent!!

Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra are the UK’s only beatbox choir.

After a festival run that included a two hour show at Glastonbury, the Vocal Orchestra hit the road in October for their first ever UK tour, kicking off at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on October 17th.

For full dates and ticket info please check out the events page.

this made me LOL

One of my favourite things about being ‘in residence’ at Southbank is hanging around in the Riverside Room. It’s a hub of activity set up by Southbank for all the residents to work from.

There are a few of us resident artists now, so whenever I am in, there are others in too.

We’re right by the London Eye

and just above the skate park

This is my desk… note the recent addition of a piano! (loving that)

This is Lemn Sissay who is writer in residence. He has writing on the walls.

Creative Connections are also based here - they are a team of speed artists who create ‘visual minutes’ at meetings.

Also based here are Gauri Sharma Tripathi who is a stunning Kathak dancer, and Bellowhead, the folk collective. They weren’t in today but these lovely people above are the team from Cape Farewell. They take artists out to the Arctic to get them thinking about climate change. Got some exciting news about these guys coming soon!

One problem with the office being right by the river amongst all the Southbank art galleries, public concert halls and theatres, is that people often think we are some kind of public space. They come in asking for a table for two, or just wander in during a meeting to just ‘browse’.

I’ve hardly been in lately because of the festivals but I am really looking forward to when the next season of unconventional means kicks off so i can hide in here and drink peppermint tea.

Episode 3 of Shlomo’s Babelbox Podcast is out now, and it’s a Glastonbury special.

The podcast includes a backstage audio diary following Shlomo’s performances on the main stage in front of tens of thousands of people, plus highlights from the two-hour show on Park Stage. Features music and interviews from DJ Yoda, Get Cape Wear Cape Fly, Martha Wainwright, Martina Topley-Bird, Ed Harcourt and loads more.

Yo.. I just got back from the Big Chill festival, lots of fun.

Played on the Saturday night as part of the Mighty Boosh curates. It was totally insane, the tent was so rammed, people were trying to climb under the tent’s walls..

Here’s a video, not best quality !

Womad was one of the best festivals I’ve been to. Did a guest spot with Nathan Flutebox Lee on the Friday night and another with Martha Wainwright on the Saturday.

Saw some amazing music too, highlights being Monobloco’s samba school version of Superstition, and the amazing modern Taiko act GoCoo.

Weirdest moment was being asked by Peter Gabriel for a business card, realising I didn’t have one and making him wait while I ran to the dressing room. How embarrassing.

Here’s a couple of videos of me performing during Nathan’s gig:

I love summer. I love festivals. This weekend was Latitude in Suffolk.

I was there to do a guest spot with MW on the Friday

Backstage at Martha’s gig bumped into Fyfe from the Guillemots, we talked about collaborating.

The awesome Sigur Ros headlined.

No trip to the Suffolk coast would be complete without a visit to the beach on the way home.

Next week is Womad, then Big Chill and Bestival. This country has so many festivals I am up for them ALL.

Last night I was at London Liming at the London Literature Festival.

It’s a spoken word event which mixes up music, film and carnival vibes. It was the first time I have played to the ‘words’ crowd but i really enjoyed it.

The magnificent Ursula Rucker headlined, but highlight for me was Stacy Makishi. Her piece was moving and had the whole room in stitches.

Check out RJ Fernandez’s shots from the 2 hour Unconventional Means show at Glastonbury. See the full photo set here.