
4 minute read
Music
All aboard the south London soul Train for its next Grand adventure ―
By Laura Burgoine
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DJ Mickey Smith is creating a concert with a virtual twist, featuring international artists from Black Lives Matter music collaboration







Peckham local Mickey Smith is known around town as the man behind the beloved Bussey Building, which he put on the map with his South London Soul Train club nights, attracting hordes of both local and international followers. He founded and runs the 21st century creative arts company Chronic Love Foundation, the CLF Art Café, record store Rye Wax, and the CLF Art Lounge. He also works as a DJ, music and theatre promoter, designer and writer; if New York is the city that never sleeps, Mickey Smith is the Yorkshire man who never stops.
For his next creative venture, Mickey is hosting a concert-meets-club-night at the freshly refurbished Clapham Grand. With his DJ Jazzheadchronic headphones on, he’ll be playing live sets alongside DJs Perry Louis and Aitch B. But first there’s a live concert headlined by 13 of the artists from the new album Black Lives from Generation to Generation with support from Manchester Jazz Hop artists The 3rd Estate, South London violinist Beca Reid and the Tapp Collective.
The Black Lives from Generation to Generation album features 25 musicians from the US, Caribbean and Africa, who each composed a song to fight against systemic racism. Aged between 20 and 80 years old, the composers are known for their work as leaders but also their collaborations with world famous artists from the ‘60s until today with songs drawing on a number of influences, including African music, hip-hop, jazz, funk, rock, fusion, rap, jungle, nu-jazz, soul, blues, Caribbean jazz, opera, classical music and poetry. The album is designed with a revenue stream structure that generates money for every artist involved to help them further their careers.
Mickey says he was honoured to be approached by Executive Producer Stefany Calembert for the UK part of the project. “It’s a beautiful project with people coming together to confront the black experience of racism,” Mickey says. “Bringing together the world’s great artists in jazz and soul to create a commentary through music is really important. Music is one of the ways we all come together that knows no boundaries.”
“Peckham’s great and London’s great but I’ve always felt we’re a global family that needs to find its way back home,” Mickey continues. “We all come from the same place and music is one of the rare things that transcends all barriers.”
“This is going to be a really special event and if you only want to come for the live concert you can be done by 11pm but then the club night kicks on until 3am for those who want to stay up all night!” Mickey says.
This live concert will also launch Mickey’s newest venture, Chronic Musiquarium, a streaming platform, which goes live in spring 2023. “We’re going to film, record and broadcast music and micro-charge viewers so people can pay £1.50 to watch a 90-minute live concert that we stage. We hope it’ll be a way for people to embrace live music without it costing them the earth,” Mickey says.
“We’ve got numerous countries involved to bring the best music from around the world,” he continues. “I’ve been working on this for a decade. We want to showcase music from more countries and more venues and let music evolve without the pressure of finance.”



South London Soul Train Live Special with Black Lives from Generation to Generation is at Clapham Grand, 21-25 St Johns Hill, SW11 1TT, on Saturday 19 November from 6:30pm-3am. Tickets: £6-£11. https://ra.co/events/1569851








