Four DJs who play live, Birdy Nam Nam are a DJ crew from Paris, France whose members are Crazy B, DJ Pone, DJ Need and Little Mike. Birdy Nam Nam have won several prizes throughout their career, including the DMC Technics 2002 World TEAM Championships. Birdy Nam Nam's goal is to use the turntable player as an actual musical instrument. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2006 on Uncivilized World Records, and, in March of that year, they performed at the internationally renowned music conference South By Southwest (SXSW), in Austin, Texas. The group's name is taken from a line in the 1968 Peter Sellers film The Party, directed by Blake Edwards.

Red Snapper are a British instrumental band founded in London in 1993 by Ali Friend (double bass), Richard Thair (drums), and David Ayers (guitar). The three core members are also joined by various guest musicians and vocalists on different records. According to music journalist, Jason Ankeny (Allmusic) "the British acid jazz trio were notable for their pioneering synthesis of acoustic instruments and electronic textures". Stylistically, Red Snapper's music contains elements of jazz, funk, jungle, trip-hop, hip-hop and breakbeat, as well as references to early psychedelic and progressive rock. The band released three EPs before signing to Warp Records for their debut album, Prince Blimey (1996).[1] The band were a somewhat unusual feature of Warp Records' 1990s roster: in contrast to the studio-oriented IDM the record label primarily dealt in, the band had a live and organic sound: a smoky mixture of dub, jazz and all tempos of breakbeat from trip hop to drum and bass. In 1997, Red Snapper (along with the Foo Fighters) supported The Prodigy on their Fat of the Land tour in the UK For their follow-up Making Bones they were joined by jungle MC Det, Byron Wallen the jazz trumpeter and singer Alison David. The latter was replaced by Karim Kendra by their third album, Our Aim Is to Satisfy (2000). In early 2002, Red Snapper announced its dissolution. Also in 2002 the compilation album It's All Good was released. It included a previously unreleased track, "Ultraviolet".

*Kelpe is Kel Mckeown, from Loughborough, England. As a young teenager, Kel McKeown (AKA Kelpe) decided that sampling and sequencing might provide him with a safer past time than bone splintering skateboarding mishaps. The initial efforts made on a Commodore Amiga with a sampler provided him with a discipline and focus that is of fundamental importance to the creative process that he currently employs in the execution of his distinctive beat creations. Kelpe's influences range from the bleeps & bass of classic Warp artists to the funk of Sly Stone, and the minimalism of Steve Reich Harmonia to the percussive space-scapes of Tortoise Do Make Say Think. The diversity of the music that inspires Kelpe finds reflection in his own sonic adventures, informing his ever evolving sound, combining as map and compass to guide his lunar-bound b-boy throw downs. Coming to the attention of DC Recordings in early 2003, his first release for label was the 12" EP 'The People are Trying to Sleep', a wide eyed carnival of fractured beats and warped electronics. This was followed by the critically acclaimed album 'Sea Inside Body' (September 2004), an album described by The Wire as "One of the most engrossing listens in recent electronic music". In 2005 came bedroom discotheque 12" 'Sunburnt Eyelids' and In 2008 came double LP 'Ex-Aquarium' (2008) and remix companion 'Extraquarium' (featuring Zombie Zombie, Fulgeance, Architeq etc). Most recently, in October 2009 third full length 'Cambio Wechsel' arrived, which BBC Music described "as irresistible as Prefuse 73 or Flying Lotus's most commended collections". In early 2008, to support the release of 'Ex-Aquarium' Kelpe teamed up with ubiquitous drummer Chris Walmsley (Voice of The Seven Woods, Broadcast, Psapp etc) for a new live setup incorporating the traditional drum kit and MPC style beat manipulations whilst not being afraid to embrace modern technology (i.e. a laptop computer!). Within a few months of this new duo's first gig they found themselves in sold out venues supporting the likes of Holy Fuck, To Rococo Rot and others. The explosive live act has travelled far and wide, from Lithuania to California, playing alongside diverse acts such as Aphex Twin, Jaki Liebezeit , Prefuse 73, and Daedelus. Chris Walmsley (AKA 'All Traps Set') also made a guest appearance on latest album 'Cambio Wechsel', providing the heavy rhythmic backdrop to the bass driven 'Closed Cup Headroom'. Kelpe has also shone as an innovative remixer, re-working Red Snapper, Jean Jacques Perrey, The Oscillation (DC), Eliot Lipp (Mush), Fulgeance (Musique Large) Architeq (Tirk) among others.

Bert Joris started studying music at an early age. At first, he played piano and violin, but eventually, at the age of fourteen, he settled on the trumpet. He had a classic education at the Antwerp music conservatory, even though jazz held a greater attraction for him, being a style that was better suited to developing his creative talents. From 1978 to 1987, he worked with the BRT Jazz Orchestra, which was led by Etienne Verscheuren. Initially, he played the trumpet there, but he also attracted notice as a composer and arranger and eventually became a guest conductor. Meanwhile, Bert Joris continued to build on his reputation as a teacher. In 1987, this led to a teaching position at the famous Swiss Jazz School in Bern. At about the same time, he launched a jazz course at the Leuven Lemmensinstituut, which gradually developed into what is now the school's jazz department. From 1990 till 1992, he was a trumpet teacher at the Hilversum Conservatory. In 1992, Bert Joris started up an intense collaboration with the Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine. He has also performed with many other musicians and ensembles. He has toured Europe with the ensembles of Rob van Bavel, Robert Jan Vermeulen, Wolfgang Haffner, Ricardo del Fra, Michel Herr, Enrico Pieranunzi, Joe Haider and Act Big Band. In addition, he formed the Bert Joris Quartet (with pianist Dado Moroni, drummer Dre Pallemaerts and bassist Philippe Aerts). He is often invited as a soloist and/or as a composer-conductor by larger European formations and big hands like those of Klaus Weiss, Al Porcino, the Concertgebouw Jazz Orchestra, the Metropoolorkest and many others. In 1986, he toured Europe together with the renowned drummer and band leader Mel Lewis, which led to an invitation to conduct Lewis's big band at the New York club The Village Vanguard, in a project with his own music. The sudden death of Mel Lewis put an end to this project. In 1998, he travelled to the US, where he scored a great success with the SJS Big Band, with which he conducted work of his own, e.g. in the famous Birdland jazz club, with Clark Terry as guest soloist. This success was confirmed in 2003 when he was invited to come and present his music, together with the BJO, at the most prestigious and international meeting of jazz musicians from all over the world: IJAJE in New York. In 1998, Bert Joris received the Django d'Or Award and in 1998, he was voted the best Belgian jazz trumpet player by the listeners of RTBF and VRT and the French-language Belgian music press. As the house composer of the BJO, he has produced three CDs: September Sessions, The Music of Bert Joris, and Meeting Colours with Philip Catherine. (c)Tom Jannsens, 2006

MAKOSSA & MEGABLAST Marcus Wagner-Lapierre aka MAKOSSA is like the "godfather" of the Viennese Dj culture. He started spinning in the early 80ies and became head of music for Austria's famous and nationwide independent radio station FM4 in 1995. Makossa has influenced and animated thousands of music lovers in and around Austria and is known for his wide range of musical knowledge and taste. His legendary Saturday night show "Swound Sound System" with Mc Sugar B specializes in deep, dope, dubby & dirty funky, afro, cosmic influenced electronica and has been running for more than 13 years now. Makossa has compiled over 20 successful compilations in the last ten years. (Fm4's Soundselections, Sunny Side Up, Dub Club,) After a few remixes & productions for/with Uptight, Sofa Surfers & Peter Kruder in the mid 90ies, he finally teamed up with long-time friend Megablast. Sascha Weisz aka MEGABLAST started in the early 90ies as DJ/Producer. Initially inspired by Dope Beats, Reggae, and Hip Hop, he soon developed a passion for Acid House, Tribal and Electro. Still too young for official parties and clubs, he enjoyed the illegal Tech scene and started showing his individual style of producing with his first project "Luv Lite Massive". Influenced by all these different kinds of music, Megablast developed his own "Viennese" sound presenting the output on his highly acclaimed debut album "Creation" (Stereo Deluxe, 2003). Meanwhile, he has remixed and released for the likes of G-Stone, !K7, Afroart and Pulver. His own tracks have been reinterpreted by such nobilities as Fauna Flash, Yam Who, Stereotyp and Pressure Drop.

Biography Rucker was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA, where she was a graduate of Temple University's journalism program. She is of African-American and Italian descent. Rucker had been writing poetry since adolescence but kept her writings to herself until she read poetry in 1994, at Philadelphia's Zanzibar Blue which is credited as her debut. That very same year, Rucker was invited to collaborate with numerous recording artists, and producers including King Britt, 4 Hero, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Josh Wink and most notably The Roots. Rucker's garnered a reputation for unique poetry techniques and stage presence which were described as "strong, vulnerable, wounded and raging". King Britt gave Rucker recognition and invited her to create her first spoken word recording, the 1994 club hit, Supernatural. Dance music fans and DJ's quickly appreciated Rucker's vocals and rhythm, which was described as "mystical". According to Britt, while the original and remixes of Supernatural were continually used in clubs widespread throughout the United States. Internationally, the most popular mix of the song remains the a capella. Career Rucker's emotion in her work and words, has led some critics to compare her to celebrated writers like Sonia Sanchez and Nikki Giovanni, describing them as "powerful". Coincidentally, when Ntozake Shange was unable to supply The Roots with a spoken word contribution for their debut album Do You Want More?!!?!!, they called on Rucker to do it in her stead. The Unlocking led to subsequent invitations to close The Roots follow-up albums Iladelph Halflife and the certified gold record Things Fall Apart. In numerous reviews, many critics proclaim the value of Rucker's work with The Roots, 4 Hero and other groups. Rucker has had reviews in, URB, Vibe, XXL, Panache, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Straight No Chaser. Rucker has also performed her work at an array of venues, universities and festivals. Among these venues include the Montreal Jazz Festival, the 1999 Winter Music Conference, a performance at Drexel University and the 2005 Amnesty International Australia Freedom Festival which aimed to raise aware of Amnesty's global "Stop Violence against Women" campaign. Rucker has toured with Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Sylk130, and 4 Hero in the United States and internationally in Europe. Rucker also has provided a single Soon for Unbound, which was off a benefit album for Mumia Abu Jamal who is most famous for his 1982 conviction and death sentence for the December 9 murder of officer Daniel Faulkner. Andy Puleston at bbc.co.uk writes in his review of her album Supa Sista: Ursula's vocals...is a silken delivery, that like Michael Franti, demonstrates that a quiet word in the ear can speak volumes above the microphone rant. Paul Sullivan also of bbc.co.uk says in his review of her album Silver or Lead: Ursula's velvety voice...manages to both mollify and add a sinister dimension to the harshness of her subject matter. Discography Supernatural (Single) (1994) Supa Sista (2001) Silver or Lead (2003) Ma' at Mama (2006) Ruckus Soundsysdom (2008)

Moodlex was born in October 2002 as the alter ego of music producer Frank Bongers. Since then, the project has grown into a collaboration of several musicians from Belgium and abroad. At this moment the heart of Moodlex consists of Stefan Wellens (Mr. Mute), Chantal Boes (Ms. Ivory), Peter Van Tichelen (Mr. Manic), Frederik Schnieders (Mr. Ebony), Frank Bongers (Mr. Moodlex) & several guests.

"Jonge Gentenaar die zeer overtuigend in het spoor van DJ Shadow treedt. Of hoe cut en paste tot impressionante sampelhop leidt. Luister naar zijn debuut ""Music for My Instruments""."

Since 1996, Dirk Swartenbroekx (Belgium) is making "warm" records under the name of Buscemi. He called himself after Steve Buscemi, one of his favorite actors. His style is deep and difficult to categorise: nu bossa, nu lounge, house, brazilian grooves, afrobeat, drum 'n bass... "Dancemusic with a latin feel" is maybe the best description of the sound of Buscemi. Buscemi is much in demand as a DJ for his eclectic, warm and deep style, but he can also be booked for a live-act. On stage, Swartenbroekx completes his sound with drummer Luuk Cox, bassist Hans Mullens, Dree Peremans on trombone and Sam Versweyveld on trumpet, and together they serve up a steaming cauldron. Buscemi is no stranger to the live circuit, having appeared on major festivals like Rock Werchter, Pukkelpop, Axion Beach, Lowlands, Dour, I Love Techno, Marktrock, Montreux Jazz, Asparragus Rock, Oppikoppi...

Pretty lights is an umbrella. Under this umbrella stands a shifting collective personality. Sometimes two lights shine, sometimes three lights glow. They emit a strong mechanical hum that fills the emptiness provided by time and divided by imagination. They manipulate the world around, illuminating the dark into a breathing electronic cityscape, casting shadow that carve dusty yesterday into a reanimated paradise. The Pretty Lights album "Taking Up Your Precious Time" was produced by Derek Smith and Michal Menert. Considered the debut PL album, TUYPT was released online for free download in the fall of 2006 and in the first year was downloaded over 5000 times across the globe. Since the release of TUYPT, Michal & Derek have been working on different projects, intending to explore new visions and satisfy their thirst for musical diversity. In the fall of '07, Derek began performing in venues around northern Colorado beside live drummer, Cory Eberhard, with the desire to showcase new solo material intended more for the live setting/dance culture. This combination has pushed the envelope of live electronic music and continues to evolve the sound encompassed by the PL collective.

K'bonus is Bruno Truyens Putting the funk back in it in its own original way!
K'bonus is the project of producer - dj- drummer -funkateer Bruno Truyens.
All of his influences and crazysexyfonky wizardry come together in this project.
Currently working with the Madrid based label Lovemonk Records he's about to release a lot of music in 2010-2011 including an album under Boohgaloo Zoo, some EP's and a new K'bonus album early 2011 and some other projects. On Fire!!!

Some welcome news in a season that could certainly use some: Circlesquare is back. Circlesquare is Vancouver, British Columbia's Jeremy Shaw, now living in Berlin. Don't be surprised, though, if he doesn't sound like any of his citymates: for the length of his career, Circlesquare has never sounded quite like anyone but Circlesquare. Last heard from over two years ago, Circlesquare set hearts racing with a set of records released between 1999 and 2006 on Trevor Jackson's Output label, home to a diverse roster of electronic outsiders like Black Strobe, DK7, and Colder. His 2003 album Pre-Earthquake Anthem came as a revelation: rather than the fluo-funk of his better known labelmates, or the digitized minimalism of the day, Circlesquare came on like a molasses drip laced with Codeine, roping in such unlikely references as Tones on Tail, Leonard Cohen, Pole, Angelo Badalamenti, and even Cat Stevens. Boomkat called it "dense, considered stuff mixing up a brooding and pounding melancholy, bass-fuelled sensory exploration, and purest minimal electronic meltdown." 2006's Fight Sounds EP was even stranger. It moved like snails set on fire, dousing steel guitar in acid sequences and warped keyboard riffing, all overlaid with Jeremy's intimate, ominous voice.