Groovy Eldorado

(FIN/SEN)
afro, funk, blues, reggae

The Finno-African band of painter/BONK-activist Alvar Gullichsen sails the deeper ends of the black music ocean on highly syncopated waves. This one is hard to enjoy sitting down.

In 2002 rebel artist and ex-rock drummer Gullichsen was on a stipendiary at Villa Karo in West Africa’s Benin and fell in love with African drumming, taught to him by Alfa Kaza. Seriously inspired,

he founded Groovy Eldorado with promoter Rafael Rybczynski. The moniker stands for a record label, a club and a band that features Finnish and West-African professional players from the excellent Senegalese

Galaxy. Groovy Eldorado plays afro, funk, blues and reggae via original songs and meticulously selected covers. In early summer they release their second single Mami Wata. Having earlier had singers, like

Niko Ahvonen and Eternal Erection’s Sam Huber, in Pori they feature Tanja Torvikoski and BB Lindström on vocals.

Lineup

Name
Instrument
Akim Color
perc, congat
Alvar Gullichsen
gtr, keys, perc, voc
BB Lindström
voc
Elmer Gullichsen
backing voc
Heikki Tuhkanen
trb
Ima Iduozee
dancer
Ismaila Sane
perc
Klaus Nyqvist
VJ
Libasse Sall
gtr, perc
Markus Niittynen
rhodes
Mikko Karjalainen
trp
Ousseynou M´baye
drs
Pekka Nylund
gtr
Petri Puolitaival
sax, flute
Cyrus Esposito
announcements
Tanja Torvikoski
voc
Tommi Kotkamaa
MC, backing voc, perc
Tuan Ngyen
dancer
Ville Valovirta
bass

Performances in 2008

Date
Time
Venue
18.07.2008
21.00
Otava Factory
19.07.2008
20.00
LP 43!