A lot is happening at the Øya office these days, and confirmations are pouring in on e-mail and phone. Nigerian afrobeat-legend Tony Allen is ready to spread good vibes and groovy rhythms under the August sun. This will be another must-see for people who loved Seun Kuti’s performance last year. Allen was the lead drummer and a driving force in Fela Kuti’s band for more than 10 years. The other name released today is Casiokids, a Norwegian band inspired by Allen. Their anticipated debut album is right around the corner, and also an upcoming tour with Hot Chip.

TONY ALLEN (NG)
Afrobeat has had quite a revival lately, and the genre’s greatest living legend is now ready for The Øya festival.

One could say that Nigerian drummer and percussionist Tony Allen has been as important for afrobeat-music as the genre’s founding father and his former bandleader Fela Kuti. It’s definitely a bold statement, but it’s also true. Tony Allen put down the rhythmic foundation in a musical style based precisely on rhythm and beats. He is as relevant today, 70 years old, as he was almost 40 years ago when afrobeat came to life in the sweaty clubs of Lagos. Legend has it that afrobeat made an inspired James Brown push American funk at least seven steps further.

Allen is a true legend and still on top of his game, and he proved that when he visited Oslo World Music Festival last year. Marius Asp, reviewer for Lydverket, was really, really happy with the gig. He wrote that Tony Allen almost sounds too good to be true, and concluded that music doesn’t get any better than this. Well, it gets better: Tony Allen is back to play at The Øya Festival in August.

Ketil Kinden Endresen from Casiokids one of many looking forward to experience Tony Allen at Øya: “I had the pleasure of meeting Tony Allen in October 2008 whilst working on a radio documentary about the legacy of Fela Kuti. I am a great admirer of his work, both as a solo artist and the collaborations with Fela, Jimi Tenor and Damon Albarn.”
MYSPACE

CASIOKIDS
Casiokids’ new album Topp Stemning På Lokal Bar (roughly translated to Good Times At Local Bar) will be released on Universal Music’s label Nighliner on February 15th. The expectations are huge. The record includes all the musical treats released as singles the last couple of years, like Fot I Hose and Finn Bikkjen, and a bonus disc with both other artists’ remixes of Casiokids and vice versa. The band is already writing new material and has promised to put out another album filled with brand new songs in August.

Casiokids’ music is electro-pop made on old analogue synthesizers, plus drums, bass and guitar. The band members are inspired by afrobeat, techno, Paul Simon, bob hund and New Order, but their sound is truly unique. To emphasize their uniqueness, they write somewhat corny and very charming lyrics in Norwegian, and as a result they released the first ever single sung in Norwegian on an English label (Moshi Moshi).
Casiokids will tour UK in February, supporting Hot Chip. The highlight of the tour is the gig at Brixton Academy, with a 5000 capacity. Later the band will play in France, Belgium and The Netherlands. And, in August, at The Øya Festival.

The band says: “Over the years we’ve had the pleasure of playing Øya nights in London, New York and Austin during SXSW. Doing concerts under the Øya flag has meant a lot to us internationally and it’s an honour coming back to play Norway’s best festival.”
MYSPACE