Slamboree Soundsystem return to Manchester!

Slamboree Soundsystem consists of DJ Mike Freear & the vocal powerhouse that is Kathika (Kathy) ... immensely popular on the UK festival circuit and beyond, they bring their own unique blend of bass and vocal harmony to the masses!

They've recently been featured in a hugely popular BBC Documentary, aptly titled 'The Long Game'... Hot off the back of their on screen success, comes their annual tour of the UK! We are lucky enough to be hosting the Manchester show, and we can't wait!!

Chris Nanook caught up with Mike and Kathy to find out more......
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CN - Tell the readers a little bit about yourself. ...where did you meet? ... how did the whole project form?

Kathika - I joined in 2012. (Mike) Freear sent me a text asking me if I wanted to get on the main stage at Beatherder.... I never left.

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CN ? Ha! That's a nice text to get eh?!!
And for those that don't know... what's the difference between Slamboree and Slamboree SoundSystem?.

Kathika - Slamboree is the fire breathing behemoth that is the full live band and all the performers, playing a totally original show with tracks and immersive theatre... Slamboree Soundsystem is the destructive filthy child that likes to go in hard and heavy. Usually the two of us (ed - Mike Freear and Kathy), getting back to our roots...playing absolute filthy bangers and some originals.

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CN - Nice nice. Now that's cleared up.. What made you decide to start writing tunes?

Freear - Personally there's a lot going on in my brain that I need to release. Cliché I know, but its like therapy. Writing a good track, being proud of it and completing it has the same feel as being on stage, utter exhilaration.

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CN - I know that feeling! Nothing like boxing off a project!
Talking of stages...You've played in LOADS of great places.
Any you'd care to shout out as particularly awesome, or ones that will forever stand out in your memory?

Kathika - I think we can all agree that Glastonbury and Boomtown are always a favourite. Festival de Neoules in France is a personal favourite also anywhere in Australia and Tribal Gathering in Panama was a treat also. Nothing can go wrong sipping rum in the blazing sunshine, dipping toes in the sea and then spitting some fire on the mic out to the ocean and the crowd, in the evening!

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CN ? That's a heavy weight selection right there! Good work!!
How do you find time to write new material, in amongst your busy schedule?

K and MF - We write apart as well as together. Quite often we will bounce little ideas off each other and they evolve into tunes. Theres always time to write, I always have my Dictaphone on, to record bars or melodies and general nonsense!

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CN ? That's the way to do it!
For those that follow you, will have seen the recent documentary...

Tell us about it (no spoilers please haha) - How did that come about?

Kathika - The magnificently multi-talented Leora and Lucas of Farelight productions have been secretly (and not so secretly) filming us for years, since before I started!

Freear - They filmed so many occasions I had forgotten all about! Definitely a lot of laugh out loud moments in the doc that's for sure!

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CN ? I can imagine ? That is a LOT of gigs, studio and traveling time to absorb on camera. Editing it must have been a mammoth task!

Moving on....Who would you say your main musical influences are...

Top 3 past artists... Top 3 current artists...

Kathika - Man that's tough, coz Prodigy are still going and still the biggest influence! Im a big fan of the Stranglers, Massive Attack, Missy, Beasties, Chemical Bros, Wu Tang and Run the Jewels, an again they have been out a while are all still playing. As for newish artists? Pengshui are absolute fire, those guys are killing it. Obviously I gotta shout my lovely boys Too Many T's! This is such a hard question! I can't pick 3, there?s so much amazing music coming out at the moment!

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CN ? That's more than 3 haha.. but we'll let you off! Great list!

As those that have read my previous interviews will know...I do like to throw a few curve-balls in... ...so...slight change of pace, question-wise...

Name 3 things you never leave home without, for a gig... (Wallet, keys, instruments dont count!)

Kathika - Crisps, extra pair of shoes, massive earrings.

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CN - Haha. Extra Shoes. Not had that answer before! Haha
You're gradually becoming vanguard of the festival scene... so ... to any aspiring artists just starting out, whats the top piece of advice you could pass on.

Words of wisdom?

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Kathika - Don?t be a complete arsehole!
Freear - For sure!! - In this business promoters, performers, sound engineers and other artists talk ?and you won't get booked again!

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CN - Hell yea they do. The grapevine is rapid too! Haha.

So...wrapping up...What can we expect from Slamboree in the next year or so?

(both) - More fire, bigger tracks and a stage show you'll never forget!

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CN - sounds immense! Looking forward to warming up for you lot at the Prohibition gig, and having a dance to your show afterwards!
Cheers for taking the time to chat, and catch you then!

(both) - Cheers!

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Readers? if you haven?t already, follow Slamboree on Facebook: Here

?and check out their website too!!

And for tickets to their Manchester show?

Tickets are no longer available for this event