London Paper 23

Fiddlers on the dancefloor by Chantelle Fiddy. Thursday, May 10 2007
If you thought caged dancers, b-boys or percussionists are as experimental as things get in a club then think again. Adaggio (www.myspace.com/adaggio1) the street violinist is bringing classical music with a modern twist to the stage. At a recent club performance he put bow to string over Ne-Yo’s Sexy Love and Alicia Keys, If I Ain’t Got You while the clearly satisfied crowd formed an out-of-tune choir. Elsewhere, he’s taken on the more rowdy grime ravers and played along to anthems such as Jammer’s Murkleman, Skepta’s Duppy and Lethal B’s Pow. Born and bred in east London, Adaggio specialises in urban-orientated strings and thanks the ­violin for stopping himgoing down a different path in life. “I had to call myself the street violinist, that’s what I am. What other violinist have you seen with gold teeth?” he laughs. While influences include the likes of Nigel Kennedy, Vanessa Mae, Bartok and co, it was after completing his grades that he began experimenting with hip hop and R&B and garage. And despite being 24, he’s already played alongside Macy Gray, Estelle, The Game, Daniel Bedingfield, Maxi Priest and Chaka Demus and Pliers. “In my own time I’ll play some classical music, just to keep on top of my game, but I like to do random instrumentals and just freestyle. In the club I keep it fun,” he says.
As well as work lined up with Nitin Sawhney, a forthcoming single and sessions with beatboxer Faith SFX, Adaggio has got bookings this summer in Ibiza and Dubai. This weekend, you can catch him at Mindie’s first birthday party (www.mindie.co.uk) at 93 Feet East, Brick Lane. The event is run by the all-female promotion team, Kemikal, Linatron and Hancaban, collectively known as the Mindie Hussies. With the emphasis firmly on good live acts, expect enthusiastic, friendly, cool drunken fun, art and live graffiti. “Our most memorable event was when we launched at the Purple Turtle in Camden,” Kemikal said. “We didn’t expect such a great turn out in such a Heavy Metal biased venue. We got metal heads bopping to hip hop and hip-hop heads bopping to rock.” Friday promises to be extra special with cake thrown into the mix. Tinashe, The Gods, Albion Free State, Ghetto P and Magic 8 also perform live. On the decks will be the Very Verys, Flash & Drama, Elplate, Rattus Rattus to name but a few.
Free before 9pm, it’s only £5 after, so if the bank holiday wiped out your wallet there’s still room to manoeuvre.

A version of this article appeared in The London Paper