The Black Seeds Return to North America

If you haven't heard of The Black Seeds, it's about time you have. They're one of New Zealand's preeminent musical acts combining a soulful, funky vibe with a reggae sound, and they're about to embark on a North American tour in support of their new album, Dust and Dirt. I had the pleasure of catching them live two summers ago at the Grassroots Festival, while they were touring with John Brown's Body in support of their last album, Solid Ground. If you dig laid back reggae grooves with soulful horn lines, definitely check these guys out when they come your way. Dig their tour dates and the video for their latest single, Pippy Pip, below:

April 05 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theater
April 06 – San Diego, CA – Winstons
April 07 – Santa Barbara, CA - Soho
April 08 – San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
April 10 – Victoria, BC – Club 9one9
April 11 – Vancouver, BC – Fortune Sound
April 12 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile
April 13 – Denver, CO – Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom
April 14 – Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
April 15 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl
April 17 – Ithaca, NY – Castaways

Afrobeat For Ya Soul Turns 3 + New Afro-Mixtape

Afrobeat for Ya Soul is D.C.'s dopest monthly afro-celebration. Resident beat scientist Underdog the DJ keeps a close watch over the dance party curated by The Lunchbox Theory. The party will have been going strong for 3 years this Thursday night, so to celebrate, Underdog has donated a mix for lovers of booty-shaking music. Dig the mix below, check out the party Thursday night.

Wan Fambul-Benefit Album for Sierra Leone

It's a beautiful thing when music brings people together. It's even more beautiful when that sense of community forms a movement to make a positive difference in the world. Wan Fambul, or One Family, is a benefit album for the people of Sierra Leone afflicted by the civil war that raged there for several years. Artists like Bajah + The Dry Eye Crew, Vieux Farka Toure, and Vusi Mahlasela are all featured on the project spearheaded by Catalyst, a U.S. based non-for-profit dedicated to making the world a more peaceful place. Catalyst released Fambul Tok last year, an award-winning film about the reconciliation process in Sierra Leone. Dig the album here when it drops March 23, 2012. Good music for a good cause--what more could you ask for?

The Return of The Funk Ark

The Funk Ark, D.C.'s finest afro-collective, are set to release their sophomore album, High Noon, April 3, 2012 on ESL Records. If you dug their first album, you're probably as psyched as I am to dig their second funky offering. I had the pleasure of catching them live in BK last year. They're returning to the borough March 12th to rock at Brooklyn Bowl with Turkuaz and Underground Horns. Definitely a show not to be missed. Wet your appetite with a free track until you satiate yourself on the real thing...

Captain Planet Remixes Remixed EP

My musical soul-brother Captain Planet is back at it again with a new EP of remixed remixes courtesy of Bastard Jazz Records. Preview it below and cop one free track from the album at your leisure.

New EP from All Good Funk Alliance

Well, it's about god damn time I posted something, so why not to share the Rhythm and FX EP from The All Good Funk Alliance drops today via Beatport and worldwide March 23, 2012 on Fort Knox Records. If you haven't heard them before, AGFA are some of the funkiest cats around, mixing breakbeats, afrosounds, and all around jams with one purpose in mind, getting asses shaking on dance floors across the globe. Sample the tracks below to get a taste, then cop the EP as soon as humanly possible.