Straightup presents for the first time in Australia and New Zealand, New York City’s Afro and Tropical funk pioneer, Ray Lugo (Kokolo / L.E.S Express).

With his signing to prominent European label, Jazz and Milk Recordings Ray sets his jib at expanding the dance floor scene out of New York and around the world.

For over a decade, Ray Lugo has crisscrossed the globe bringing his punky afro grooves to countless audiences as leader and singer of New York powerhouse Kokolo, a mainstay on the global music scene through their extensive discography and consistent touring.

http://www.kokoloonline.com/live/

Well known for his appreciation of a variety of soulful styles, in 2009 Lugo began to expand the range of his musical output through a pair of well-received 7”s under the moniker L.E.S. Express.

Following the enthusiastic response to the L.E.S. Express project, Lugo set out to explore his long-held interest in the classic “Boogaloo” sound of 1960’s New York, eventually forming Ray Lugo & The Boogaloo Destroyers in 2011, culminating with the group’s critically-acclaimed debut album, “Mi Watusi”, which has been broadly celebrated by connoisseurs, fans and DJ’s alike.

In 2012, the ever-prolific Lugo debuts his first solo album, “We Walk Around Like This”, welcoming the sounds of Bahia, Lagos, Kingston, San Juan, and Harlem all under one umbrella and echoing Lugo’s eclectic tastes.

On his tour of Australia and NZ, Ray Lugo will be performing a series of parties and clubs, a mix of acoustic sets with guitar and loops as well as of course 2-3 hour DJ sets bringing all the tropical funk, latin and afro beat you can dance to.

May 26. Sydney – Blue Beat
www.bluebeat.com.au
w/ D-MINUS, Blair Stafford & guests

May 27. Brisbane – Cloudland
http://www.cloudland.tv/

May 31. Auckland – Khuja Lounge
http://www.khuja.co.nz/

June 1. Melbourne – “Scatter Scatter”
Grace Darling Hotel
http://www.northsiderecords.com.au/?tag=scatter-scatter

w/ Public Opinion Sound System, Jumps,
Manchild & Future Roots
Very limited ticket number 150 capacity

June 2. Bathurst – The Carrington
http://www.carringtonbathurst.com.au/
w/ B-Dub & guests

Weblinks:

http://raylugo.org/

[soundcloudhttp://soundcloud.com/jazzandmilk/ray-lugo-dj-promo-mix/s-n5RKF]

Soul Of Sydney: ‘FUNK’ music blog, beamin’ out of Bondi Beach, Australia.
Pushing local Funk, Disco, Hip Hop, Soul, House & DNB since 2009.

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