North London Food & Culture

Like the blues? See Kat & Co in a unique space

This Saturday night come dance the night away to a whole host of bands, in a backstreet venue, for a very good cause

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A profound understanding of the blues: Kat (pictured centre) & Co

A few years ago, I wandered into a local jumble sale on a small backstreet in Kentish Town. As I spoke enthusiastically with the volunteers about my blues band, Kat & Co, I was overwhelmed with the passion and persistence they showed about their centre, an old loft-style building clearly in need of refurbishment.

The women were raising money to relocate the Crossroads Women’s Centre to around the corner at 26 Wolsey Mews. And in 2009, thanks to the generosity and commitment of volunteers, core users and supporters, the oldest known women’s centre remaining in London – and possibly the UK – was able to relocate, carefully preserving and enhance their new building’s unique character.

The next year I received a call requesting my band perform at one of their fundraisers. As I had enthused to the organizers the previous year, we take the blues into the 21st century while still calling upon the traditions and respect of our rooted elders. Here, check us out at the Blues Kitchen:


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Comprising Francesco Accurso, Federico Parodi and myself, we like to think Kat & Co has a winning formula, guided by a profound understanding and appreciation of the genre, but infused with contemporary lyrics. And so I was curious how our band would be received at the centre.

The poster for Saturday's event
The poster for Saturday’s event

But I needn’t have worried. After the performance, I was thrilled to see our sound enjoyed by women of colour, indigenous and rural women from around the world, religious activists, those with disabilities, old and young alike, all soaking up what is nothing less than a universal language.

So this year? We return to raise awareness and funds for Haiti, sharing the stage with four other very talented acts: Linton Kwesi Johnson, Tabitha Benjamin, Vasunthra Sundram and Battle of You. I urge all to come out this Saturday and support what this very important local centre is achieving.

The benefit gig takes place on International Women’s Day, March 8th at the Crossroads Women’s Centre, 25 Wolsey Road NW5 2DX. Tickets £5/10, starts 7pm. Find out more about the centre here. All proceeds will go to Haiti 10 years of Women Resistance.

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