Following from his stunning mainstage appearance at 2007’s Vital Festival, Grammy & BRIT award winning performer Mark Ronson, producer of chart topping Amy Winehouse fronted track ‘Valerie’, returns to Belfast with his huge Version Players live band to play St George’s Market on Wednesday July 23rd.
It’s hard to imagine how producer, DJ, artist, and Allido label boss Mark Ronson found the time to bring his album Version to fruition. Somehow, in the midst of producing some of the most defining sounds of 2006 and 2007: Lily Allen’s debut? Check. Christina Aguilera’s most recent full-length Back To Basics? Check. Amy Winehouse’s stunning album with its hit song “Rehab?” Check. Ronson was able to conceive, curate, create, record and compile an album nothing short of perfect.
Using the same Midas touch that turned Amy Winehouse and Lily Allen into pop gold, Ronson set about recording his album of covers which not only showcases his love of hip hop beats and British alternative rock, but also the soul, funk, psychedelia, pop and disco that his record collection spans. The result re-writes the rulebook on cover versions. The Smiths’ “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before” is reworked as a lush, soulful orchestral R&B track with a sample from The Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hanging On.â€
Coldplay’s “God Put A Smile On Your Face” manifests itself as New Orleans’ funk courtesy of The Dapking Horns, while Britney Spears’ “Toxic” is completely transformed by the soulful crooning of Tiggas and the free form rapping of the late Dirt McGirt (a.k.a. Ol’ Dirty Bastard). His two most recent success stories also make crucial appearances for on Kaiser Chief’s “Oh My God” (Lily Allen) and The Zutons “Valerie” (Amy Winehouse), both songs so ubiquitous in the UK that it took large cojones to revisit them so soon after their own chart success. The fact that it works says much for Ronson’s artistic vision.
Mark will be performing live with The Version Players featuring Alex Greenwald, Daniel Merriweather, Wale, Stuart Zender & more. Support comes from Sketchy DJ Rigsy.
myspace.com/markronson
thestiffkitten.com
MARK RONSON
& THE VERSION PLAYERS (LIVE)
ST GEORGE’S MARKET, BELFAST
WEDNESDAY JULY 23RD
TICKETS £25 ADVANCE
ONSALE 9PM, MONDAY 26 MAY, AVAILABLE FROM TICKETMASTER OUTLETS, ZAVVI (FORMERLY VIRGIN), THE STIFF KITTEN BAR, AND ONLINE AT shine.net
