Kirstyfest Information

Kirsty would have turned 64 on 10th October 2023.

Friends, family and fans will meet and gather around Kirsty’s bench in Soho Square at 12pm on Sunday 8th October for a few songs. We will go to The Spice Of Life afterwards for more celebrations that include singing, music, a quiz, food, drinks and lots of fun!

There will also be an auction this year. Kirsty’s friend and artist, Philip Hardaker has designed 5 medallions in memory of her. They come in two small boxes – 2 in one and 3 in the other. To accompany the items, there will be a copy of a piece Kirsty herself wrote about Philip in 1997. The proceeds from the sale will go to The Music Fund For Cuba.

If you want to find out more on Philip and his artwork, you can check out his website below.

https://philiphardaker.co.uk/

Places downstairs at The Spice Of Life are limited to 100 people. There is also a bar upstairs.

We will look forward to seeing you all!

From Ruby

Stream Live At The Jazz Café

(Press release)

We have our final single coming out from the Kirsty MacCol box set  is now available for streaming – England 2, Colombia 0 (Live At The Jazz Café, London / UK / 12th October 1999).

The line-up that night was Chucho Merchán (bass), Michèle Drees (percussion, backing vocals, acoustic guitar), Pete Glenister (guitar),
James Knight (saxophone), Joseph De Jesus (trombone) and Ben Storey (trumpet).

https://kirstymaccoll.lnk.to/streaming

A favourite from Kirsty’s final album ‘Tropical Brainstorm’, ‘England  2, Colombia 0’ is typical of her well-crafted songwriting, with witty, perceptive lyrics. In the extensive sleeve notes for Universal Music Recordings new 8CD box set ‘See That Girl’ (released 27 October 2023), Kirsty’s friend, drummer and songwriting partner Dave Ruffy tells author Jude Rogers how this song was inspired by a disastrous first date. Recorded at the Jazz Café in London, this live version of ‘England 2, Colombia 0’ is one of more than 40 previously unreleased recordings included on ‘See That Girl’ along with demos, live and session tracks, plus all of Kirsty’s singles, and favourite album tracks.

We hope you’ve loved these 4 singles, and can’t wait to hear what you think of the full collection!

Fanmade Mixes

Matt Dix, who is a massive Kirsty fan and a member of the ‘Kirsty MacColl Fan Gang’ Facebook group has made these mixes recently.

First is ‘Walking Down Madison’, where he combines the 6am Ambient, Ye Olde Original and 7″ single mixes together.

Walking Down Madison, Kirsty MacColl - Versions Mix (fan made)

The second one is ‘You Still Believe In Me’, where he incorporates The Beach Boys’ backing vocals from the original version into Kirsty’s 1981 rendition.

You still believe in me - Kirsty MacColl and the Beach Boys

Matt said they were fun to do.  I enjoy listening to them.

From Ruby

Stream Eu So Quero Un Xodó

Eu Só Quero Un Xodó

Another taster song now available for streaming in the usual outlets – the Dominguinhos/Anastácia Brazilian composition ‘Eu So Quero Un Xodó‘.

Kirsty’s love of Latin music began at a very early age – one of the first records she owned was a collection of Mexican Mariachi music. Having taught herself Spanish and Portuguese, prior to making her 2000 album ‘Tropical Brainstorm’, she contemplated a collection of Latin covers, including this previously unreleased song, recorded with long-term collaborator Pete Glenister. Eventually she decided, “I didn’t want to try and fail at being the Buena Vista Social Club. I wanted to succeed at being Kirsty MacColl.”

Gilberto Gil’s famous version of the song appeared on the David Byrne compiled 80s collection ‘Brazil Classics 1 – Beleza Tropical’ (which should be in everyone’s collection by the way).  Here’s a live version of Gil with Dominguinhos.

Eu só quero um xodó - Gilberto Gil e Dominguinhos