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This is the second time I have seen Ruby & The Vines, the first time was support for Adrian Roye at the Luminaire, and my suspicions were confirmed - this is a band with a huge potential and not far away from realising that potential either.
Binisa Bonner is a stunning bass player with a fine, soft and subtly sweet, voice and she makes an arresting frontperson with her sinuous moves and wide smile but she is ably supported by guitarist Greg Sanders with his afrobeat and reggae licks and drummer Ben Assiter who plays some of the most sparse and simple drums I've heard in ages - I have always believed that it takes talent to play it simple and Ben is the proof.
Together they play music that is essentially an amalgam of reggae, afrobeat, Congolese rhythms and jazz or to put it another way, they don't sound like anyone else around at the moment.
They only played four numbers -'Circles' was a delight and 'Red Storm' really sounded terrific.
They deserve to be playing to bigger audiences than were at the Cobden on Wednesday and I am sure that that will come - very definitely one to watch for all the right reasons.
Andy Snipper,Music-News.com - Music-News.com
Discography
Red Storm EP - released June 2011
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Bio
Ruby and the Vines, fronted by vocalist/bassist Binisa Bonner, fuse influences as diverse as rock, Congolese roots music, jazz, afro-beat and reggae. The line-up is completed by guitarist Greg Sanders and drummer Ben Assiter, who complement Binisa’s soulful, frank vocal delivery and deftly melodic bass lines with a meticulous groove.
"...a band with a huge potential..... they don't sound like anyone else around at the moment..." Andy Snipper (Music-New.com)
Hotly tipped by Max Reinhardt (The Shrine, BBC Late Junction) as a "wild and about to happen new trio", Ruby and The Vines draw upon their knowledge and love of polyrhythmic sounds mixed with a strong emphasis on
melodic progressions, jazz improvisation and funk grooves to craft their original compositions.
Ruby and the Vines debuted their unique brand of afro-rock in June 2010 to great acclaim at the Celebrating Sanctuary festival, hosted by BBC London and began playing regularly at an eclectic mix of venues, club nights and festivals across London, from the Bloomsbury Theatre, The Luminaire, through to Rich Mix, The Good Ship, House of St Barnabas and Passing Clouds.
They supported internationally acclaimed acts such as Dobet Gnahore, Carmen De Souza and Donso, fast gaining a strong live reputation for infectious Afro-funk with a postpunk bite.
2011 saw Ruby and the Vines be personally invited to open for Muntu Valdo on the occasion of his ‘The One and The Many’ album launch and also for Melodica, Melody and Me’s single launch. Other live performances in 2011 included appearances at Union Chapel, Hootananny, Favela Chic, Underbelly, jazz re:freshed @ MauMau, Upstairs at the Ritzy and the QEH Front Room, Southbank.
Building upon the increasing support from music journalists, critics and radio stations (including The Shrine’s Rita Ray, Resonance FM, SOAS Radio, Jazz FM and New Generation Radio), and their growing fanbase, Ruby and the Vines continued to create original material and finally headed into the studio.
They released their debut 4 track EP 'Red Storm' in June 2011, achieving national airplay on BBC Radio by Gilles Peterson, Don Letts and Tom Robinson and on Xfm by John Kennedy.
With the official EP launch event held at Kensington’s AAA @ Archangel venue, followed by debut appearances at Glastonbury and Secret Garden Party Festivals, Ruby and the Vines lived up to their inclusion in MyVillage.com’s ‘Artists of 2011’ series.
With plans for their next EP underway, exploring ever new musical territories and increased UK touring, 2012 sees Ruby and the Vines continue to evolve and showcase their genre-warping infectious cosmopolitan sound.
“Binisa Bonner, frontwoman of RATV steals the show with her Florence Welch-styled vocalings”. Time Out
"...for once I was stuck for viable comparisons... they’re off on their on trip" Howard Male
"...very definitely one to watch..." Music-News.com
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