Mazda to bring live music to the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed

At the same time as introducing the all-new Mazda MX-5 to the UK public for the first time, Mazda will bring live music to the world’s most prestigious motoring festival. In addition to celebrating with both the legendary racing cars of its illustrious sporting past and the stylish new models of its current range, Mazda will be demonstrating its Defy Convention spirit with ‘Raise the Roof’ – a four-day open-air music event inspired by the pleasure of music and wind in the hair motoring.

Raise the Roof will showcase 20 innovative artists in the intimate setting of the Goodwood House Stable Yard. From brass bands to a beatboxing flutist, Mazda will present an exciting line-up of boundary-pushing musicians on Goodwood’s only live music stage.

Free and open to everyone attending the Moving Motor Show and Festival of Speed, the ‘Raise the Roof’ stage will sit in a unique open-air space within the classic walls of the Stable Yard where a series of decked areas will interconnect the stages and bar in an MX-5 themed experience zone. Live music will run each afternoon from Thursday 25^th June until Sunday 28^th June, while live DJs will keep the crowds entertained in-between acts.

Hosted by radio DJ Tom Ravenscroft, Mazda’s ‘Raise the Roof’ stage will give Goodwood spectators the chance to see, hear and enjoy up and coming music acts before they go on to perform at major festivals across the summer.  While away from the Stable Yard, the Mazda inspired Central Feature sculpture is set to be an unmistakable addition to the skyline over the Festival of Speed weekend.

With the Moving Motor Show on the 25^th June, the Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from the 26^th to the 28^th June. Please see below for a full list of artists performing at Mazda Raise the Roof.

Note to Editors

Artist Biographies

ANUSHKA

Exploding onto the UK’s dance music scene is Anushka – a Brighton based duo made up of producer Max Wheeler and singer/songwriter Victoria Port.

Drawing on the UK’s rich heritage of scattered snares, sub low rumble and breakbeat culture, Max has the innate ability to create urgent, compulsively danceable rhythm with boisterous drums and melodic hooks with a refreshing futurism (not unlike those of Jacques Greene or Disclosure) simultaneously paying homage to historic melting pots of innovation such as Detroit, Chicago and London. Layering up Victoria’s delicate, graceful vocals on these foundations, the pair have struck upon a golden formula, as her wistful words elevate their productions to alternative modern classics in the vein of MJ Cole, Breakbeat Era and Freeeze.

AYANNA WITTER-JOHNSON

After graduating from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London with a first class degree in Classical Composition, performer and composer Ayanna Witter-Johnson went on to become an Emerging Artist in Residence at London’s Southbank Centre and orchestrated concerts featuring the London Symphony Orchestra.

Following her success in London, she headed to New York in 2009 and became the first non-American to win Amateur Night Live at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem. In 2011, Ayanna completed a Master’s of Music Composition at the Manhattan School of Music. Returning to the UK, she released debut EP ‘Truthfully’ and supported both Natty and Roberto Fonseca on their UK tours. In 2012 she received her first MOBO Award nomination and was played on both BBC Radio 1 and 1 Extra by the likes of Edith Bowman and DJ Target.

She released her second EP ‘Black Panther’ in 2014 and was invited to be a featured vocalist on sitarist Anoushka Shankar’s world tour. Ayanna has orchestrated concerts featuring the BBC Symphony Orchestra and British rappers Ms. Dynamite, Skepta and Devlin.

BRASSROOTS 

Determined to establish a booming brass band scene in London, seven-piece horn and percussion ensemble Brassroots have brought their unique sound to legendary stages around the world, including Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Bestival and Ronnie Scott’s. Over the past seven years, they’ve worked with Coolio, Rudimenal and Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, and have earned global radio play from the likes of Rob Da Bank, Gilles Peterson and USA’s Jeremy Sole. Their cover of Inner City’s Good Life has already seen 1,500 chart appearances. With the aim of changing how the world experiences live music, the band has recently started incorporating new electronic elements into their shows and added vocals into the mix.

CHLOE BLACK

Born in Australia, singer-songwriter Chløë Black brings a love of the dark and mysterious to her music, which she describes as a mix of pop, goth and soul with a French twist. When she moved to Hollywood, the movie industry became a major influence with the film noir aesthetic and legendary directors such as David Lynch, Quentin Tarantino and the Coen Brothers helping Chløë carve her signature sound. Chløë cites her musical influences as everyone from Nina Simone to Nine Inch Nails, by way of fellow jazz-loving female singers Fiona Apple and Amy Winehouse.

Now based in London and signed to Sony/ATV, Chløë has worked with the likes of producer Jim Eliot, Grammy nominated songwriter John Beck, east London production duo Balistiq and Oscar nominated producers The Arcade. Chløë wrote her 2013 single ‘Breaking Bad’, inspired by the TV show, with Isabella Summers from Florence and the Machine.

ESKA

ESKA built her reputation as a songwriter and performer through collaborations with music legends like Zero 7, Cinematic Orchestra, Grace Jones and Bobby McFerrin, performing live at venues and festival around the world. Her 2013 self-released EP ‘Gatekeeper’ received radio play from Gilles Peterson, Lauren Laverne and John Kennedy. Her solo album ‘ESKA’, released in April, features production credits from electronic artist Matthew Herbert (known for remixing Björk, R.E.M. and Yoko Ono) and The Invisible’s Dave Okumo (previous winner of iTunes Album of the Year). The album weaves together folk, soul, pyschedelia and electronica.

FIONA BEVAN

Suffolk based singer Fiona Bevan has been labelled ‘mesmerising’ by Blur’s Alex James, and her folk-pop sound described by The Guardian as ‘startling odysseys that suggest Erykah Badu, Joanna Newsom and Kate Bush spine-tinglingly joined’. As well as recently releasing her debut album ‘Talk to Strangers’, Fiona has toured with Ed Sheeran, Nick Mulvey, Gwyneth Herbert and Adam Ant. She also wrote the number one hit song ‘Little Things’ for One Direction.

During a sold out tour with singer Kal Lavelle, she ran masterclasses around the country encouraging female songwriting (in an attempt to increase the proportion of women in the industry from just 13%) and featured in a BBC ‘Ten Pieces’ film aimed at inspiring a new generation of composers.

FIRES (FEAT. KARIMA FRANCIS)

FIRES are the brainchild of songstress Karima Francis and her band. FIRES have just spent three weeks locked in a special studio space in Stockport with producer Dan Austin, honing their new work so it delivers a punch and tear.

Karima's songwriting always hits the button, and the band’s musicianship is outstanding. The execution of this new project raises the bar on every level. 

The effect is unlike any other female-fronted band around today. People who have heard a handful of tracks and seen the new band are saying she's the female Jeff Buckley.  

HOUSE GOSPEL CHOIR

The House Gospel Choir brings together the directing talent of seasoned alto soprano ShezAr and powerhouse vocals from Rachel Mckenzie and Kersha Bailey, to mix house and gospel music with live percussion. The choir’s leaders (including founder, vocalist Natalie Maddix), have sessioned and toured with music icons Grace Jones, MNEK, The Kooks, Wretch 32, Bryan Ferry and Scissor Sisters, amongst others.

House Gospel Choir makes regular appearances at festivals around the UK, combining live keyboards from Stevie Mac, percussion from Dezy Bongo and bass with the troupe’s harmonious vocals, and amps up its shows with Kiss FM DJ Funk Butcher’s mixing and blending of popular tunes.

JAKE ISAAC

After spending 2014 touring the UK, including festival performances at Glastonbury, Barn on the Farm, Summer Sound and Kendal Calling, South London singer-songwriter returns to the stage this summer with new EP ‘Where We Belong’, released on Elton John’s label Rocket Records. 

The album features four new tracks, including ‘I’m a Man’ which was written with Ed Sheeran collaborators Jake Gosling (Grammy nominated producer who has also worked with Wiley, Lady Gaga and Keane) and Chris Leonard (former Son of Dork guitarist). Jake supported British singer-songwriter Ella Eyre on her recent UK tour, and opened for Paloma Faith on her European tour in February.

KITTY, DAISY & LEWIS

Kitty, Daisy & Lewis Durham are songwriting siblings from London, taking turns on vocals and jumping from one instrument to another as they play an eclectic mix of pop, psychedelic rock, soul, country, jazz and ska. The trio’s latest album, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, was produced by Clash guitarist Mick Jones and recorded in their self-constructed 16-track analogue studio in a derelict Indian restaurant. They’ve already sold a quarter of a million albums worldwide and opened shows for Coldplay and Stereophonics, as well as selling out their own headline tours.

After growing up in a musical family where they played any instrument they could get their hands on, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis are joined on stage by their musician mother, former Raincoats drummer Ingrid Weiss, and guitarist father Graeme Durham, founding member of London recording studios The Exchange.

LIAM BAILEY

British Singer-songwriter Liam Bailey’s vocal style blends classic soul, reggae and blues, and he’s often compared to legends Otis Redding, Sam Cook and Bob Marley. Growing up in Nottingham in the nineties, he was inspired to start singing by watching Michael Jackson on television:

“There’s that drive in you to do something – you’ve either got it or you haven’t. Because I never got everything I wanted when I was younger, I think my ambition was a bit bigger. Not getting everything you want and being in love with Michael Jackson.”

Grammy Award winning music producer Salaam Remi planned to take a break after working with Amy Winehouse on ‘Back to Black’, but came across Liam and was determined to work with him.

Liam has since worked with Amy Winehouse, DJ Fresh and Rita Ora, and co-wrote the Chase and Status hit ‘Blind Faith feat. Liam Bailey’.

LIAM FROST

Described by Elbow's Guy Garvey as "the UK's answer to Bright Eyes" and heralded in some quarters of the British music press as a Mancunian Bruce Springsteen, singer-songwriter Liam Frost has developed, via two critically acclaimed solo albums, into a well-cherished artist whose distinctive voice, songwriting and sincerity really set him apart. Following 2014's Wild Places EP and his recent TOKOLOSH collaboration with members of The Earlies and The Whip, Liam returns for a special performance showcasing songs from the Courage EP and his, as yet, untitled third album.

LITTLE BARRIE

Originally hailing from Nottingham, three-piece band Little Barrie formed in 1999 and have since released four albums: We Are Little Barrie, Stand Your Ground, King of the Waves and, most recently, the 2014 LP Shadow that was recorded and mixed in just 17 days.

They also penned and performed the 14-second theme song for hit American drama series Better Call Saul.

In between making their third and fourth albums, they toured the world extensively and were personally invited to support The Stone Roses, Charles Bradley, Dinosaur Jnr, Kasabian and Primal Scream.

The band consists of guitarist and vocalist Barrie Cadogan, bassist Lewis Wharton and drummer Virgil Howe, son of musician Steve Howe (guitarist for ‘70s progressive rock group Yes).

MAHALIA

Singer-songwriter Mahalia’s music marries folk and soul with a voice often compared to Adele’s. Composing music at her home in Leicester, she grabs her guitar and sits in an empty bathtub to write lyrics that tell stories about her past and future.

After spending the winter writing new songs for her debut album, she has performed across the UK at emerging talent events like ‘I Luv Live’ and ‘Put Me On It’, as well as supporting Ed Sheeran, Tom Odell and Laura Mvula and performing with Emeli Sande, Rizzle Kicks and Labrinth at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

NATHAN FLUTEBOX + THE CLINIC

Heralded as ‘doing to the flute what Jimi Hendrix did to the guitar’, Nathan’s futuristic style, fusing hip-hop, dubstep and drum and bass beats with jazz and funk, sees him simultaneously playing the flute whilst beatboxing. He was ranked number 18 on Arena Magazine’s ‘100 Coolest Things on the Planet.

Nathan has performed sold-out live shows at venues and events like London’s Southbank Centre, Glastonbury and the Time Out India Food Awards, and he’s appeared on BBC2’s News Review and Channel 4’s Rude Tube.

In 2011 Nathan and his band The Clinic released their debut ‘Flutebox EP’ to critical acclaim with Mixmag labelling it ‘Album of the Month’.

OLD DIRTY BRASSTARDS

Old Dirty Brasstards are a 10-piece drum and brass ensemble who aim to get crowds up on their feet. Featuring some of London’s biggest freelance brass and percussion musicians, ODB play an eclectic mix from Lady Gaga and En Vogue to The Beatles and Basement Jaxx.

Regulars at Sean Rowley’s Guilty Pleasures night at London’s KOKO, the band have gone on to perform at Latitude Festival, Ascot Racecourse and New Year’s Eve at The Forum in Kentish Town.

SAMM HENSHAW

20-year-old Samm honed his vocal talents singing in church. His childhood was spent listening to the gospel greats like Helen Baylor and Alvin Slaughter, alongside mainstream pop artists like Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Usher and N*Sync. He now draws inspiration from artists like Paolo Nutini and D’Angelo, and writes lyrics that resonate with the poetry of Frank Ocean.

Samm made his mark on the music scene with an original track on Soundcloud, titled ‘Only Wanna Be With You’.  The song was named BBC Radio 1Xtra’s ‘Record of the Week’ in March and features on his forthcoming EP, ‘The Sound Experiment’, where he demonstrates both his singing and rapping ability while playing guitar, keys, bass and drums. He will take the stage at Barn on The Farm and Wireless Festival later this year.

SOAK

18-year-old experimental folk singer SOAK, often compared to Laura Marling and Cat Power, is currently gearing up for the June release of her debut album, ‘Before We Forgot How To Dream’.

Bridie Monds-Watson unleashed her raw talent on her hometown of Derry when she was just 14, splitting her time between school, the local skate-park and her flourishing musical career – touring in the school holidays and launching Derry’s City of Culture hours before a GCSE exam. In 2014 she was the first signing to the CHVRCHES singles label and released her song ‘Blud’ before going on tour with George Ezra and Tegan & Sara.

SOAK signed a record deal with Rough Trade Records in October 2014 and released the single ‘B a noBody’ in November.