Interview: Jon Kennedy

Jayne Robinson chats to musician Jon Kennedy ahead of his appearance at Manchester's Eurocultured Festival next weekend. 

Bank Holiday weekend (May 30th - 31st) sees the area around Manchester's Oxford Road Station taken over by Eurocultured Festival. Born in 2004 and inspired by the enlargement of the European Union, the colourful street party encompasses various bars and music venues in the area, with plenty going on out in the street to tie it all together.  

Since 2004, the festival has expanded to include sister events in Dublin, Belfat, Bratislava and Warsaw - with the aim of celebrating the diversity of European culture in City centre locations and showcasing the best live art, dance, performance and music that our continent has to offer.

We catch up with eclectic musician, DJ and songwriter Jon Kennedy - who was famously signed to legendary Manchester record label Grand Central - ahead of his appearance at the festival.

Hi Jon, just as an introduction to any readers that might not know you, how would you describe your music? 

Organic hip hop & rock beats, psyched out riffs and melodious instrumentation..

You're a drummer - how does this influence the way that you write music? 

Most tracks are built around a solid drum pattern or tight rhythmical break... It's a pretty organic process from there on in, but always staying strong on the rhythm and movement of the track. 

• Date: Sunday 30th May 2010
• Event: Eurocultured Festival at Eurocultured 2010
• Venue: Eurocultured 2010

Is this your first Eurocultured? 

I've played Eurocultured since its humble beginnings seven years ago and in fact Ben Reed (founder of the festival) gave me my first Dj gig many moons ago. He's one the best heads in the industry, always solid, honest and moving forward!

So how did you get involved with the festival in the first place? 

The chaps there knew my releases on Grand Central Records, listening to them in the office while they worked. I have since had four albums released to which, they tell me, they still listen to the first few!

You do a mixture of DJing and live band performance - do you have a preference? 

DJing is a way to educate people of my musical tastes and background. The live show is soley designed around my own musical creations. I hardly ever play my own music when i DJ!

What can we expect from your performance at Eurocultured? 

Well i'm doing the Sunday evening slot at "Space" at around 9.30pm, so it's going to be one of the closing DJ Sets. My aim is to round up the first day with everyone smiling and dancing on tables!

You were 'discoverd' by Mr Scruff - how important has he been to your career so far? 

He was important nine years ago but doesn't really have any relevance now. I'm out of the 'clique' these days...

Judging from your tour schedule, you get around Europe a lot. Do you pick up influences for your music from other countries?

All the time. It's hard to pin down one specific example here, but some of the most unlikely towns have some of the best producers one will never hear... I try to help and encourage these folk via radio, press and if released on vinyl by supporting their records!

You're from the Manchester area but you now live in Bristol - how do you think the musical identity of the two cities compares and which do you identify with more?

They are very similar in that music is pretty much the basis of culture, with huge names coming from both towns. There's a lot more marijuana, lsd and speed tragedies here but they still gig, form bands and mix with the younger generations. It's far less aggressive here in Bristol and has a more "town" feel rather than a "city" feel to it... i love it!

Thanks Jon, see you next weekend!

Jon Kennedy returns to Manchester next weekend for Eurocultured. Get your tickets for Eurocultured Festival from Skiddle today. 

www.jonkennedy.co.uk

Jon is currently signed to Florida's Organik Recordings. 

Tickets are no longer available for this event