Steve Pretty On The Origin of the Pieces

Afro-joik, arctic ukuleles and 'Big Boobies Is A State Of Mind'

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In this arctic special, Steve heads to northern Norway to meet a whole variety of fascinating musical characters.


First up, it's the turn of the Bitch Big Boobies Bang Band from Hemnesberget, who are exactly as you'd expect from a band with such an unexpected name...

Bitchy Big Boobies Bang Band Youtube

Bitchy Big Boobies Bang Band Facebook

Bitchy Big Boobies Bang Band Instagram


Then Steve chats to the equally unexpectedly-named Igor Kill, a touring musician with decades of experience, and one of the only makers of the rare 8 string ukulele outside of Honolulu.

Some of Igor Kill's beautiful handmade instruments

A bit of Igor Kill's discography


And then it's time to head up to the far north east of Norway and the brilliant Varangerfestival. After their set, Steve has a fascinating conversation with a group of indigenous Sami musicians, exploring the role of music in a society built around reindeer herding, how central the vocal style of 'joiking' is to Sami culture, and the unexpected and beautiful links between this arctic vocal style and drum music from east and west Africa.


AfroJoik (incomplete list, sorry!):

John André Eira, Viktor Wilhelmsen and Ola Brandsnes Vårtun


Afro-Joik's Varangerfestival listing


Gabba band's Instagram

Gabba band's Spotify


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