Two For The Weekend: The Tibbs feat. Roxanne Hartog

Check out "Ain't It Funny" & "Give Me A Reason" by The Tibbs off their new album Keep It To Yourself out January 26th. 

Here's the scoop...

Dutch vintage soul combo The Tibbs are back with their highly anticipated new album Keep It to Yourself, to be released on LP, CD and digitally on January 26th via the Milan-based Record Kicks label. Produced by Paul Willemsen and mastered in Nashville by soul veteran Bob Olhsson (who cut vinyl for Motown back in the day), Keep It to Yourself is the band’s third album. It contains 12 vibrant tracks that'll take you back to soul music's golden era. Prepare to be swept away on a groovy odyssey with one of the most sensational and enchanting soul bands from the Netherlands!

From the very first note, The Tibbs’ musical prowess exudes a soulful, funky energy. Among the 12 new tracks on Keep it To Yourself, the high-energy stomper “Ain’t It Funny” sets the tone for the entire album. The New Orleans funk inspired “Can’t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks” and “Chicken Bones, are followed by the ballad “In Orbit” and the Ethio-groove style floor-filler "Give Me A Reason" which in turn allow singer Roxanne Hartog to show off her impressive vocal range. The latter should go down a storm at Northern soul all-nighters. 

Based around Amsterdam, The Tibbs is a group of seasoned musicians who draw inspiration from the timeless music of the 1960s, channeling the emotional depth and raw authenticity of that era’s classics. Led by their charismatic female vocalist and backed by a powerhouse lineup of drums, guitar, bass, organ and a three-piece horn section, they have been wowing audiences with their live performances.

The Tibbs took off in 2012, working right from the start with producer Paul Willemsen (Beans & Fatback, Lefties Soul Connection, Michelle David & The Gospel Sessions). Milan-based Record Kicks, always on the lookout for rising talent with something new to offer, released The Tibbs' head-turning opening salvo Takin’ Over in 2016. In late 2018, singer Elsa Bekman decided to focus on a solo career and The Tibbs duly began their search for a worthy successor, bringing astonishing vocalist Roxanne Hartog into the fold for The Tibbs' 2020 sophomore smash, Another Shot Fired. Now, with their third album Keep It to Yourself, a testament to their dedication to keeping the soulful spirit alive, The Tibbs are poised to fulfill the promise of their debut.

Get a copy of Keep It To Yourself by The Tibbs from Record Kicks right here. Watch their videos for "Ain't It Funny" and the Ethio-style swinger "Give Me A Reason" followed by a performance at Oerkroeg Schiller in Aalten, Netherlands below.

Happy Birthday Bonnie St. Claire!

Celebrating the birthday of Dutch pop star Bonnie St. Claire with her 1968 Nederbeat pounder "I Surrender" and more.

Altin Gün rocks the Danforth Music Hall, Wednesday

Be sure to see Amsterdam-based Turkish psych crew Altin Gün playing songs from "Aşk" at the Danforth Music Hall on August 2. 

Here's the scoop...

Hailing from Amsterdam but coming from various backgrounds, Altın Gün has captured the world’s imagination with an indelible Turkish folk-psych fusion. The band combines psychedelic rock, deep funk, synthpop, cosmic reggae, and more with the rich and incredibly diverse traditions of Anatolian folk music. Altin Gün broke out internationally in 2018 debut album "On" and a year later the band earned a prestigious Grammy nomination for “Best World Album” with it’s second album Gece.

After two years of recording separately from home during the pandemic, Merve Daşdemir (vocals and keyboards), Erdinç Ecevit (vocals and keyboards), Thijs Elzinga (guitar), Jasper Verhulst (bass), Daniel Smienk (drums), Chris Bruining (percussion) convened for a live-in-the-studio session resulting in the new Altin Gün release "Aşk." This album sees Altın Gün swinging away from the electronic, synth-enhanced sound of their home-recorded albums, to capture all the infectious power and urgency of the band’s propulsive live performances. 

Recorded using vintage equipment and techniques, the ten groundbreaking tracks on Aşk all represent visionary new readings of traditional Turkish folk tunes, revealing how these ancient songs remain eternally resonant and ripe for reinterpretation. This results in an exuberant return to the 70s Anatolian folk-rock sound that has characterized Altın Gün’s first two albums. 

Get a copy of Altin Gün's latest album Aşk via Bandcamp right here. Tickets for their Toronto show at Danforth Music Hall on Wednesday (August 2) at 7 pm are available here. Check out the video for "Doktor Civinim" followed by a KEXP performance, their recent appearance at Pinkpop Fest 2023 in Landgraaf, Netherlands and Jasper Verhulst's curated mix of his fave vintage psych-folk gems below.

Altin Gün bassist Jasper Verhulst presents a selection of some of his vintage psych-folk faves right here.

Dutch Treats: The Left Side

Here's a rare clip of Dutch 'palingsound' (or 'eel sound') band Left Side from Volendam doing "Confusion In My Mind" circa 1968.