The Filthy Six are the most exciting, authentic Soul Jazz outfit in the UK today and have established themselves as one of the most electric live acts on the scene. Their soaring horns, blistering guitar and gut-wrenching Hammond are fuelled by one of the hardest grooving rhythm sections around producing a hip-shakingly powerful mixture of jazz, funk and boogaloo totally in keeping with the finest traditions of the Blue Note sound. These instrumental groove merchants fuse boundless energy and incredible musicianship to create tight, funky music that moves the mind, body and soul whilst simultaneously tearing the roof off every venue they play!
Led by trumpeter Nick Etwell (Tom Jones, David Axelrod, Mumford & Sons) this crack unit of erudite musical gunslingers have graced the bands of some of the biggest names in music including Amy Winehouse, Jill Scott, Beck, Mark Ronson, Jack White, Dionne Warwick, Pee Wee Ellis, Ronnie Spector, Basement Jaxx, Spiritualized, 4hero, Atomic Bomb Band, Madness, Galactic and the James Taylor Quartet to name but a few. From their literal ‘underground’ beginnings down at the infamous Tatty Bogle Club, deep beneath the heart of London’s Soho, the band built up a faithful following at their monthly ‘Thursday Boogaloo’ sessions in the mid 00’s. Moving above ground and into venues across London and beyond they gained notoriety for the intensity of their live shows. This reputation took them up and down the country and out into the festival arena, spreading the Filthy gospel even further afield as they went. After signing to Acid Jazz Records in 2009 the boys released their debut LP ‘The Filthy Six’ in June 2010, attracting new fans and good reviews in the process. The next couple of years saw the recording of ‘live’ sessions for Mark Lamarr (Radio2) and the Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show (6Music) for BBC Radio as well as performing a series of scintillating festival sets including the London, Marlborough, Greenwich, Ealing, Reading and Isle of Wight Jazz Festivals; Vintage at Goodwood (where they also backed up Northern Soul legend Ann Sexton), Edinburgh Festival, St Paul Soul Jazz Festival (France) and a headline slot at the Jazz Lounge, Glastonbury. The Filthy horns also squeezed in a little hop across the pond to join Brit funkateers The New Mastersounds at one of their legendary ‘House Of Blues’ (NOLA) sets at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. In between all of this they topped the bill at the Acid Jazz 21st Anniversary show, recorded a second album and still found time to bring the house down at some of London’s most discerning music venues; Jazz Café, Pizza Express Jazz Club, Cargo, Vortex and the world famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. 2012 saw the bands second release for Acid Jazz – ‘The Fox’ – garner plaudits from scenesters and critics alike, including ‘Album of the week’ on Jazz FM. An 11 date tour of the UK and Ireland followed, proving to further their reputation as a live act not to be missed.
2014 was a busy year for The Filthy Six with over 50 gigs. Highlights of which included 3 *Sold Out* shows for the Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club – in London (twice) and Manchester; a *Sold Out* show at the Pizza Express Jazz Club, London; a headline slot at the Isle Of Wight Festival (Jazz Stage) as well as their first gigs in the USA. The band completed 3 Tours over 6 months in the US – two extended trips across the ‘Dirty South’ and a 4 date run around New York – recording ‘live’ sessions for KUT Radio (Austin TX), Daytrotter (Nashville TN), The Birthplace Sessions (Tupelo MS), Spectra Sonic Sound Sessions (Birmingham AL) and the Echo Sessions, set in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. These will be available for listening/viewing early 2015.
2015 will see the release of 3 short films documenting their Filthy fun and frolics across the US (with the help of their good friends at Stetson), as well as the release of their 3rd album and shows to follow throughout the year. The new record is undoubtedly their Filthiest yet, having been scientifically engineered to have you moving and grooving so hard you’ll burn holes in not 1 but 2 pairs of boots and a large chunk of that dancefloor too… Bad. Ass.
Stay Filthy X
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