Skratch Bastid Presents returns as a monthly series at Revival Bar showcasing the talent encountered or discovered over the years by Canada’s favorite DJ Skratch Bastid.
Having a foothold in Toronto for now three years, Bastid has made an indelible impression on the city. From his after-parties at the Drake to other notable performances at Harbourfront, Dundas Square, the Manifesto Festival, the CBC Hip Hop Summit, or his own annual Bastid’s BBQ, the man of many talents has left few stones unturned in the city.
One remaining piece to the puzzle was to launch of a monthly event that would give Skratch Bastid’s Toronto fans a chance to catch him at the same venue regularly and congregate amongst each other to celebrate their shared musical interest. This dream has become a reality with the launch of this monthly artist showcase. Who better to kick things off than Mayer Hawthorne, whose “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” was featured on Skratch Bastid’s 110% mixtape from 2009. Mayer will be playing his very own DJ set, alongside Bastid himself and DJ Ariel after his concert at The Hoxton earlier in the evening.
More about the artists:
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Mayer Hawthorne (aka DJ Haircut)
Andrew Cohen grew up just outside of Detroit and vividly remembers, as a child, driving with his father and tuning the car radio into the rich soul and jazz history the region provided. He counts Smokey Robinson and famed songwriting trio Holland, Dozier, Holland among his influences, but also draws inspiration from Michael McDonald, Juan Atkins and J Dilla. These days, his singing career and interpretation of retro soul is what people know about. Snoop Dogg and Justin Timberlake are fans.
But before he came and conquered crowds under the stage name Mayer Hawthorne, he was grinding hard as a DJ. He’s rocked clubs from Detroit to LA to Tokyo. He can spin anything: hip-hop, R&B, funk, reggae, rock, or techno records from the past, present, and sometimes future. “I just play good music… music with soul.”
Whether rocking some of the most exclusive clubs or producing and writing music of his own, Hawthorne has established himself as a tastemaker in the music community with the power to make or break records among his peers and fans. “When I DJ, you’ll always hear something amazing that you didn’t even know was out there.”
http://mayerhawthorne.com/
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Skratch Bastid
Having rocked the bar many times, Skratch Bastid is now ready to raise it. In 2012, The Bastid has become one of Canada’s most in-demand DJs and respected producers, but don’t think it happened overnight.
From his humble beginnings a decade ago as a teenager in Halifax- pumping out mixtapes from his bedroom and earning a loyal following already back then- he slowly spread his skills first at DJ competitions like DMC, ITF, and Scribble Jam and now around Canada and the world as a widely recognized go-to guy for party-rocking.
The illest redhead on turntables has since gone viral. Seriously, youtube that shit. Since he is increasingly recognized for his comfort and versatility in different styles – hip hop, funk, disco, club, rock, and just about every other genre that will make you dance – more and more people are getting hip to his style.
That’s what keeps this Bastid working so hard. Touring city-to-city with a relentless drive, he’s wowed crowds from coast to coast in Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Japan, New Zealand, Brazil and all over Europe as he averages close to 200 shows a year. For Skratch Bastid, all that energy is brought back to the studio and heard in his music.
As a producer, he takes that experience from the stage and lays it down on hard-hitting original music with a wide range of sounds. The formula earned him a Juno Nomination as Producer of the Year for his work on Buck 65’s Situation album, which he lost to Joni Mitchell. You can hear his own music often elevate his live sets along with yesterday and today’s best. In the past few years, the young lad landed in Toronto- after five fruitful years as a Montreal resident- bringing new flavor to the city and making his first mark with a big bang.
His Skratch Bastid Presents event kicked off with a blockbuster collaboration including DJ Starting from Scratch and world-renowned beatboxer Scratch formerly from the Roots. The inspiring first party was a huge success as it breathed new life into Toronto’s night scene. The three noisemakers took the show across Canada.
If the next decade is anything like the previous one, you’ll be hearing a lot more about Skratch Bastid. As he continues to find new fans worldwide, his catalog of sounds, styles and tricks will leave a lasting impression. What’s next? Just like in his electric sets, that’s the exciting part! Get down with the sound.
http://www.skratchbastid.com/
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DJ Ariel
She’s warmed crowds up for Bahamadia, Ursula Rucker, Kardinal Official, Tumi and the Volume, Kuttin Kandi and Swollen Members. Her skills have also been utilized as part of the live shows of: Moka Only, Ishkan, Birdapres and Eternia to name a few. A consummate performer, party rocker and musical educator, she behind a few classic mixtapes dating back to the cassette era, and has played records for crowds from Toronto to Seattle.
See you there!
Revival Bar
783 College Street Toronto
May 25 2012
$20 @ The Door
19+/No Jerks!
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