Dr Meaker is a 7 headed, live drum & bass animal from that place over the bridge. Appearances at Glastonbury and Radio 1 have all led to The Globe for this special MMP endorsed night of fun. Supporting them are The Word Virus Essay, Cardiff’s answer to the Bristol wave of experimental dance mayhem.
What is it about Bristol that’s made it produce so many envelope pushing dance acts over the years? Maybe it’s just one of those mysteries like Bigfoot and James Blunt’s career. However, while we all know about the Massive Attacks, Portisheads and Trickys of this world, time moves on. Who shall inherit the crown of Bristol? Who are the young pretenders? One of them seems to be crowdsurfing to the front of the queue in a vessel made of massive beats and high profile accolades. Meet Dr Meaker. He wants to make you dance.
He claimed the Glastonbury Festival Unsigned Dance Act Award in 2007 where his 7-piece, groove machine was dubbed ‘brilliant’ by festival curator Michael Eavis. Live sessions recorded at Maida Vale Studios for BBC Radio 1 earned him yet more plaudits, this time from the likes of Pete Tong and Huw Stephens. He was beginning to get what every artist needs and craves, access to lots of pairs of ears.
It’s easy to understand why. A Lesson From The Speaker, three years in the making, is an impressive debut. Its slick brand of playful but hard hitting drum & bass combines a whole goodie-bag of soul, jazz and reggae influences mixed with sublime vocals and riff-cut bass lines. More recent collaborations with William Orbit and Massive Attack singer Yolanda Quartey all point to a man realising his considerable ambition. Now it’s our turn, the good people of Cardiff, to meet the doctor and find out what all the fuss is about. Bring it on!
Accolades include:
- Winning BBC’s New Talent Urban Bursary Award 2006;
- Winning the Glastonbury Festival Unsigned Dance Act Award 2007
- BBC Radio 1 – Gods of the Pods 2007
- Performed a live session at Maida Vale studios for BBC Radio 1 – June 2008;
- XFM Live Session Jon Kennedy August 2008
- BBC 6 Music Live Acoustic Session w/ Tom Robinson September 2009
- Radio support from Zane Lowe, Pete Tong, Rob Da Bank, Huw Stephens, and Mista Jam;
….it is no wonder Dr Meaker has been dubbed “Brilliant” by Michael Eavis and “The heir apparent to Massive Attack’s ongoing legacy”, by Venue magazine.
Dr Meaker’s debut album A Lesson from the Speaker, is out now in all good record stores and online.
DR MEAKER
Live @ The Globe, Cardiff
Saturday 20th February
Doors: 8:30pm / £6
Support: WORD VIRUS ESSAY
Plus: Guest DJs
