Await Mark Ronson at Electric Peacock Festival
View(s):By now the news must surely be sinking in among those music loving Lankans in the know. Yes, it’s actually happening – the internationally acclaimed Mark Ronson is headlining the Electric Peacock Festival here in December.
The phenomenal talent at the centre of a (long-overdue) revival of soul, funk and Motown; the artiste behind the infectious Uptown Funk and producer behind the magnificent Amy Winehouse’s fantastic album Back to Black will be here to mix up a storm of rhythmic grooves, slick electronic beats and vintage R&B swagger on December 4 at the Electric Peacock Festival 2015 at the CR&FC.
Since its inception in 2010, the Electric Peacock Festival itself has been Sri Lanka’s premier international music festival, bringing down several Grammy-winning artists – like Roger Sanchez, Basement Jaxx, Chicane, the New Young Pony Club and Tinie Tempah – and attracting an enthusiastic and loyal following both locally and even drawing a significant audience from India, Maldives, Singapore and across Europe.
The festival is also well known for its constantly evolving aesthetic experiences offering a platform for local cultural creators, live art installations, stunning locales and atmosphere that is both unique in Sri Lanka and yet uniquely Sri Lankan.
Mark’s musical achievements are awe inspiring but upon closer inspection, you may start to notice that there is quite a lot happening beneath the surface that seamlessly binds modern production and sampling techniques with timeless energetic grooves of funk, soul and hip-hop.
Citing influences that vary from Duran Duran to the Beastie Boys, Stevie Wonder to James Brown from an early age Mark appears to have emulated his musical idols, not just in terms of the direction that he channelled his music but also in his eclectic dress sense.
Having been scouted out for a Tommy Hilfiger jeans commercial in 1999, Mark has since developed a style that is unmistakably his own – a trait that has been picked up on over and over again ever since he first hit the music scene and culminating most recently in an award for Best Dressed Gentleman by GQ magazine.
It may be difficult to pin Mark down to a single style; just when you think you know where he’s going, he switches into an entirely different groove – a feat which leaves stadiums full of people awestruck and fashionistas raving for more.
Watch out for more information in the Sunday Times magazine or check out the festival website at www.electricpeacockfestival.com or at: facebook.com/electricpeacock