Mike Reed's Separatist Party

Mike Reed’s Separatist Party first convened in early 2022. Spearheaded by Reed (drummer, bandleader, and composer), the band is a true supergroup featuring some of the most creative figures in Chicago’s booming music scene – cornetist Ben LaMar Gay, poet & spoken word artist Marvin Tate, along with the members of Bitchin Bajas (multi-instrumentalists Rob Frye, Cooper Crain, and Dan Quinlivan).

The Separatist Party sound draws upon a raft of influences, weaving together traditions and practices within the world of groove, to forge something entirely new. You’ll hear elements of Don Cherry’s groundbreaking Organic Music Society, the ecstatic fire of Pharoah Sanders, the cycling minimalism of Terry Riley, the motorik rhythms of Krautrock, the exploratory tones of Sun Ra, and the clipped soul of vintage Ethiopian jazz. The result is a propulsive brew that says plenty about the turbulent world we find ourselves in, while somehow remaining firmly positive.

Outside of the Separatist Party, Reed has long been a community-builder, both through the making and presenting of music. He is a founder of Chicago’s Constellation venue (an integral part of the city’s cultural ecosystem) and the Pitchfork Music Festival. He is also a member of the legendary AACM (Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians).

We cannot wait to welcome this exceptional slice of Chicago to Belfast for the first time. It’s a special one!

“Community filtered through the spiritual jazz legacies of the Organic Music Society, Nigerian funk, and the Arkestra”
Raven Sings The Blues

“In a year that featured a number of themed albums, Mike Reed’s The Separatist Party was the most compelling – running the gamut from somber to celebratory, all of it intense and heartfelt.”
Bandcamp – Best of 2023