WE ARE THE BEIRUT GROOVE COLLECTIVE
Now into its 10th year, the Beirut Groove Collective (BGC) has become the premier destination for deep funk, soul, northern soul and African funk in the Middle East. The Beirut-based DJ collective is the only party in Lebanon and the wider region that promotes vinyl-only culture, representing an underground alternative to the nightlife of the city while regular
ly throwing the region's only strictly 45rpm/7"record parties. Whether in basement clubs at alternative beach venues, or in warehouse spaces at the forgotten fringes of the city, the BGC has hosted the leading international DJs, tastemakers and crate-diggers from the funk and soul scene, loyal to the format of the 45rpm/7" record. Established in 2009 by two of Lebanon’s pioneer DJs, Ernesto Chahoud and Rami O, with the support of other Beirut-based music scene shapers such as Ramsay Short, the BGC started out as a small underground funk and soul party in the living room of cultural venue Zico House. Rami O eventually left the BGC for a more disco and house orientated party. With his departure the BGC took a new form, evolving into a vinyl only party that connected with like-minded DJs and diggers on the international scene. From 2008-2010, the BGC added new members to the equation like broadcaster, filmmaker and DJ Jackson Allers aka Brother Jackson - British DJ and music journalist Natalie Shooter, alongside other members of the DJ collective such as Lebanese DJ Ghayyan Al-Amine aka Heavy G, Swiss DJ Yukah San, a partner of underground Beirut club Yukunkun, and Japanese soul, funk and groove DJ Masa Teshima. From the very beginning, the BGC began a humble attempt to do something new in Beirut, and offer an alternative to the more mainstream, commercial varieties of music. They began organizing “house party” style events with a premium on utilizing alternative, community-oriented spaces as a means of drawing parallels to the underground funk and soul parties that used to occur in the major urban centers of America and Africa in the 1970s. The BGC became the Middle East’s premier stop off for all things funky, soulful and alternative, where African-influenced musical traditions are concerned. The BGC also collaborated with the local scene, inviting local MCs and musicians to perform live and working with artist collaborators like VJ artist Nadim Saoma, filmmaker Helena Forsell, painter/trombonist Tom Young aka Tom Bone, artist Semaan Khawam and artist and animator Noor Haydar – who have all contributed mightily to the BGC's epic party evolution. BGC co-founder Ernesto Chahoud continues to chase those undiscovered record gems from digging trips that have taken him from the dusty garages of Beirut to the backstreets of Ethiopia’s Adiss Ababa, intent on bringing the freshest unheard sounds to his DJ sets from Ethiopian soul-filled stompers from the ‘70s to rare Lebanese ‘60s garage and funk and northern soul rarities. His Arabic funk mix “Middle Eastern Heavens was recently named Middle East Mix of the Year in the Guardian. Since coming on board, Natalie Shooter has helped to shape the direction of the party, bringing a passion for soul and northern soul into the mix. Together they have taken the BGC’s musical philosophy around the world, connecting with similar musical movements. They’ve wowed crowds across the Middle East and Europe, being invited to play at parties everywhere from Dubai and Amman to London and Vienna. Over the last few years the BGC has built a solid reputation among the international scene, hosting and playing alongside DJs and producers such as Keb Darge (BBE; UK), Andy Smith (Ex-Portishead; UK), Jan Weissenfeldt (Poets of Rhythm, Karl Hector and the Malcouns; Germany), Mr Thing (BBE; UK), DJ Format (aka Matt Fox, Jurassic 5; UK), Florian Keller (Compost, Party Keller; Munich), Ollie Teeba (Herbaliser; UK), Marc Hype (Dusty Donuts; Germany), Janis Jakarta AKA Habibi Funk (Jakarta Records, Germany), DbH (Restless Leg Syndrome, founder of Austrian hip hop; Austria), DJ Foxy Bee (France), Nickodemus (Wonderwheel Recordings, Turntables on the Hudson; NYC), Megadon Betamax (Voyeurhythm; Sydney/Dubai) and, Wriggly Scott (DUST; UK). The Beirut Groove Collective has become an attraction for the best diggers and DJs in the world, where they can spin their most obscure records to an open-minded crowd and exchange music knowledge and rare records with the Beirut Groove Collective’s resident crate diggers. Come check out the party that The New York Times named as one of their "Top 15" parties around the world.
