HIGHLIFE hosted six parties at the Glasgow School of Art during 2016, where we explored music from various parts of the globe including Brazil, Cuba, the Middle East and Turkey. Here are five of our favourite tracks from the artists who played at these nights – Andrew Thomson
Francis Bebey – Forest Nativity (Red Axes edit)
This track couldn’t be any more of a Highlife record if it tried. We already championed the original Francis Bebey track in the early days of Highlife and then many Red Axes productions in latter years. Their Glasgow debut earlier in the year was a long time in the making – and did not disappoint.
Carrot Green – Ponto Gira
Brazilian Carrot Green has also been another one big in our box in recent years and it was a pleasure to play host to the man himself for our sixth birthday. Thanks to Chinaskis for the great pre-club too. bit.ly/2gWTsQa
Mehmet Aslan & Dario Rohrbach – Gazel
Booking the darling of our label, Mehmet to play in Glasgow resulted in maybe the most memorable Highlife to date. Gazel is one of his finest works to date.
Roberto Fonseca - Bibisa
As part of this year’s Havana Glasgow Film Festival, Auntie Flo played Cuban music for the duration of the night. Drawing from his own travels and interactions with Cuban musicians and producers, he confounded what we might have expected of Cuban music, and a packed dance floor getting down to house, techno and traditional tracks seemed to agree. This was a big highlight.
CAIN – Bakhtin
CAIN has had a decent year getting his music heard from a larger audience thanks in part to his Boiler Room set at the CCA, and also his cracking new productions. There’s some big ones in the works for the next year – watch this space!
Highlife Presents Blip Discs, Auntie Flo and Andrew is on Saturday, December 17, at Glasgow School of Art, 11pm to 3am, £6/7.
Thomson and D'Souza are also in Edinburgh on Boxing Day for Highlife's Boxing Day Bash at Paradise Palms, 11pm to 3am, free.
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