Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande (NI Film Premiere)

The sons of Windrush parents, Cymande’s music combined influences from funk, calypso, soul and jazz, rock and African rhythms. Their sound ended up being one of the building blocks of hip hop, house and garage, sampled by the likes of De La Soul and Wu-Tang Clan. The story of Cymande is the story of the struggle of black British music, with some banging tunes along the way.

The first British band to play at Harlem’s legendary Apollo, their message of peace, love and funk sailed far beyond Britain’s shores and helped shape music for five decades. Long after they stopped playing in the 1970s, their innovative jazz-rock-funk music played on, with tracks including the iconic ‘Bra’ sampled by the likes of De La Soul, Wu-Tang Clan, the Sugarhill Gang, MC Solaar and the Fugees, so they returned to play some more. In Getting it Back, their story is told on screen for the first time, with tributes from a galaxy of musicians and producers influenced and enthralled by their music, includingMark Ronson, Norman Jay, Jazzie B, DJ Maseo of De la Soul, Jim James and Louie Vega.

Doors 12.30pm | Tickets £5.00