SAVE THE DATE: SABOLAI RADIO THIS DECEMBER

Ind!e Fuse is now Sabolai Radio

Stay tuned.

RECALLING INDIE FUSE 2013: DAYS 2 AND 3

Story by BILLIE MCTERNAN | Photography by SELORM JAY

JAYSO, rapper, producer, CEO of Skillions Records, at IND!E FUSE.

DAY 2

On the second day, i.e. the SABOLAI RADIO Street Party, hordes of music lovers gathered at The Republic Bar & Grill in Osu to witness what some have called the “outdooring” of the new guard. Between the soulful folk bangers of Drunk Beggar Thief, the heavy drum and horn tunes from Fatau Keita and the HighLife-Flamenco fusion mashup of Kyekyeku – the Republic became a dance portal with bodies spiraling everywhere.

Drunk Beggar Thief tunes up-

Kwame Write- takes us to ‘church’.

Afua Asona –

China man Azonto

Dj Steloo up close and mixing it up.

RECALLING INDIE FUSE 2013: DAY 1

Story by BILLIE MCTERNAN | Photography by SELORM JAY

For those that are unfamiliar with IND!E FUSE, you should know that it is the country’s largest concert of independent artists that falls slap-bang in the middle of Ghana’s December party season.

Mensa of FOKN BOIS with the crowd.

When I came to Ghana in December 2012 it had been four years since I’d last visited the country. Up until that time I had been under the guardianship of family, shuttling from one family house to another, missing out on the vibrancy the city had to offer. I was looking forward to discovering an alternative experience. 

IND!E FUSE 2013: Meet Meche KORRECT

Meche Korrect strikes a pose in Accra central

We are so excited to introduce you aliens to MECHE KORRECT. This golden girl comes with rambunctious verve, sick pipes and personality for days. The singer + songwriter hails from the U.S. capital city of Washington, DC. And her sound is infectious. If you’re lucky to see her perform live, you will immediately fall for her quick wit, improv style and funky flow.

IND!E FUSE 2013: Ko-Jo Cue

Story by NANA OSEI KWADWO | Photos by MANTSE ARYEEQUAYE

It’s certified. Ko-Jo Cue is a star.

In the early days of 2013, Kojo Amankwah a.k.a Ko-Jo Cue a.k.a Punch Line King (PLK) had Ghanaians jamming to conscious hip-hop songs from his seventh mixtape, Before We Shine 2 (BWS2). Ko-Jo Cue entered the Ghanaian music scene with a mentality to convert conservative music lovers making the country skip to his lou and jump to something new. With BWS2, Ko-Jo Cue achieved just that.

They don’t call him the Kumasi King for nothing, either. Months after releasing BWS2, we still hear boomboxes and wireless radios blaring his sounds.

His fellow rappers – after listening to his mixtapes – christened Ko-Jo Cue the “Punch Line King” (PLK).

This music dopeness has earned the MC a spot on the Ind!e Fuse 2013 stage. After his energetic performance at this year’s Chale Wote Street Art Festival in James Town, alternative music lovers keep asking for more of the Kumasi hitman.

#theLABS are in Session this Thursday DEC.12th

KYEKYEKU chills in Accra central |Catch him live at IND!E FUSE on Dec 13                              photo by Mantse Aryeequaye

We are so AMPED about this new edition to IND!E FUSE. For the fourth time round, our team thought it necessary to include what we call The LABS – interactive and creative sessions with artists, industry personnel and audiences on how to grow your music game way up.

We’ll provide critical information for musicians on how to build your brand and develop an artistic sound. Learn how to maximize digital networking and expand your fan base internationally.

See the full schedule for The LABS here. The free event kicks off the start of the 3-day IND!E FUSE party on Thursday, December 12th from 8am – 4pm, Alliance Francaise Exhibition Hall.

Sankwas BOIS = Simpol Tinz x Mutombo da Poet. The duo will return as hosts for the final show, Sat. Dec 14 | photo by Mantse Aryeequaye

IND!E FUSE Kicks Off This Week – DEC 12 to 14th

FOKN BOIS + crew close down IND!E FUSE 2012 | photo by OneFotos

ACCRA DOT ALT Presents IND!E FUSE 2013

 The 4th Annual IND!E FUSE alternative music festival returns this December 12^th to 14^th with the coolest artists from Ghana and abroad in an exciting live music concert.

IND!E FUSE is the largest African indie music showcase in West Africa and highlights the best in hip hop, AfroBeat, traditional fusion, soul, electronic and rock music. 22 artists are confirmed for the festival including FOKN BOIS, GYEDU BLAY AMBOLLEY, EFYA, JAYSO, KING AYISOBA, MECHE KORRECT [U.S.], HOLLA BLAK [U.S.] KYEKYEKU, LYRICAL WANZAM, DRUNK BEGGAR THIEF and many more.

This year’s festival starts with The LABS – free creative sessions at Alliance Française on the 12^th of December 9:00am to 4:00pm. These pop-up labs will engage artists, industry experts and audiences to openly share information on digital marketing, brand development, music management, international tour networks and much more. See the full LABS schedule here.

The SABOLAI RADIO Street Party follows on the 13^th of December at The Republic Bar + Grill in Osu with live music acts and DJ sets from Accra’s DJ patrol – DJ Keyzzz, Fui Dogg, Bad Boy Steloo, DJ K3V, Kwaku Ananse and Kobby Graham. 5ghc at the door.

 The final showdown is at Alliance Francaise on December 14^th from 7:00pm to 11:00pm. 10ghc at the door.

IND!E  FUSE 2013 is supported by Institut Francaise, Alliance Francaise, REDD Kat Pictures, Fullish Art, Hello Foods Ghana, Multi TV, One Nation Entertainment, Pidgen Music, Skillions Records, Eric Adjetey Anang + the Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop and The Republic Bar + Grill.

IND!E FUSE 2013: The Official Poster

Hot off the presses…the official poster for the 4th Annual IND!E FUSE 2013 – this December 12 – 14th. Meet the artists at this Friday’s Talk Party Series and find out all about the show before we take off next month.

THE TALK PARTY SERIES is Back Fri. Nov 29th

THE FOKN BOIS are one of the headliners for IND!E FUSE 2013 | photo by Mantse Aryeequaye

The Talk Party Series is back this Friday, November 29th, 2013. We are meeting up at Passions Premium Restaurant in Osu Ring way [two streets behind Country Kitchen and one street behind Pippa’s Gym] from 6:30-9:30pm. Join us for a pre-jam get together for the 4th Annual IND!E FUSE, December 12 – 14, 2013.

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AFRICAN ELECTRONIC MUSIC has become a mutant creature that is changing and adapting into spaces unheard of until a few years back. Ghanaian music producers and DJs have created a pop culture stock exchange with the players looking to be crowned kings and queens.

In Ghana, azonto – in all its hybridity – has risen to the top of the African electronic music scene and reinvented the “Ghana sound” for an increasingly beat-hungry audience. This month’s TALK PARTY will host the artists who have created their own brands of live-electro music from their bedrooms to the streets of Accra.

We toast The Alchemists who have established local and international scenes with their own homegrown genres. Come and party with the artists and creators performing at this year’s edition of IND!E FUSE and find out all you need to know about the December show.

Screening : EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP [2010]
The story of an obsession with street art that leads to a surprising adventure. Thierry Guetta, aka Mr. Brainwash, is an eccentric French shopkeeper and amateur filmmaker who journeys to locate and befriend internationally acclaimed and anonymous street artist, Banksy, only to have the artist turn the camera back on its owner. The film contains footage of Banksy, Shephard Fairey, Invader and many of the world’s most famous graffiti artists at work.

DJ live session | Ice cold drinks on tap | Delicious food | Meet and Greet with cool folk!

Come out this Friday and Jam with us. #free

IND!E FUSE Returns DEC 12 – 14, 2013

by Billie McTernan | photos by Mantse Aryeequaye

*Double-click on images to enlarge.

Wanlov the Kubolor + M3NSA = FOKN BOIS. Photo taken in Central Accra

For those that are unfamiliar with IND!E FUSE, you should know that it is the country’s largest concert of independent artists that falls slap-bang in the middle of Ghana’s December party season.

When I came to Ghana in December 2012 it had been four years since I’d last visited the country. Up until that time I had been under the guardianship of family, shuttling from one family house to another, missing out on the vibrancy the city had to offer. I was looking forward to discovering an alternative experience.

Kojo-Cue keeps it Kumasi in central Accra

I had been in Ghana for less than a week before I attended IND!E FUSE. Many Ghanaians had been speaking about the concert on Twitter for weeks prior and I was curious to know what Accra had to offer.

The vibe was nothing short of electric. With a crucible of genres, I hadn’t realized that Accra was so diverse.