Craig Charles
May 28th, 2009 by sparkyCraig Charles will perform at The Big Chill 2009.
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Craig Charles on his 6Music Funk and Soul show
Yes, Craig Charles, performance poet, Red Dwarf, Robot Wars, Coronation Street and massive soul and funk fan. When BBC 6Music asked me to do a show I only had one condition, it has to be a soul and funk show, otherwise I wasn’t interested.And so the Craig Charles Funk And Soul Show came into being right at the very start of 6Music, way back in March 2002. The show is currently broadcast every Saturday night between 6 and 9 and is also available at any time through the listen again facility on the BBC 6Music website. Since its inception I have been interested in all varieties of soul and funk music without imposing any barriers and I am just as enthusiastic about fresh new talent as I am about the classic artists from the golden age of the 60s and 70s.
Here are a few of the names I have had on the show: James Brown, Roy Ayers, Cymande, Marlena Shaw, Paul Weller & Primal Scream, Terry Callier, Candi Staton, Marva Whitney, The Roots and the Jungle Brothers as well as the leading players of the new school Kokolo, Cut Chemist, Sharon Jones, Osaka Monaurail, Amp Fiddler, Amy Winehouse, The New Mastersounds, Quantic, Ben Westbeech, The Apples, The Grits, JTQ, and The Fusion Experience. I have also recently encouraged unsigned bands to get in touch and send in their demos to get played on the show and have had a great response with some seriously good music being sent to me from all over the globe. I am a massive fan of this music and to get the opportunity to spread the word is a dream come true!
Craig Charles - Biography
Craig’s career began at the age of 12 when he won The Guardian Poetry Award. The runner up was 33 years old! He performed as a warm-up act for bands in Liverpool, and made his TV debut performing his poetry on Riverside and Wogan.
Craig is recognised the world over as Dave Lister - the curry-devouring, last-surviving human in BBC 2’s hugely popular sci-fi sitcom Red Dwarf. He has also been seen and heard as a performer or presenter on a whole host of programmes as diverse as Through The Keyhole, The Bill, Radio 4’s Kaleidoscope and of course the irresistible carnage of Robot Wars.
In the past Craig has been a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, has toured his stand-up show and done panto (in Dick Whittington). He continues to front his own band, The Eye.
First record you ever bought?
Led Zeppelin IV.
First gig?
Thin Lizzy at the Liverpool Empire.
Best Gig (who and where)?
Bootsy Collins in New York City.
Gig you wish you’d been at?
Any George Clinton show.
A record that reminds you of school or college discos?
Deep Purple’s Smoke On The Water and Heatwave’s Always And Forever.
Soundtrack for a long car journey?
Tower Of Power.
CD you’d rescue if your house was on fire?
Ain’t That A Bitch by Johnny Guitar Watson.
June 1st, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Fanruddy tastic! I think the Chill will love you Craig and I hope you will love the Chill!
x
June 9th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Craig Charles at the BC - should be cracking!
August 6th, 2009 at 8:44 am
WOOOHOOO BIG CHILL JAKE&RUEY