DJ Bantaar & MC Icey

Souwfside's DJ Bantaar and MC Icey: It started back in 1999 (when they were slightly too young to have been doing a night) at the Hobgoblin in Brixton. Here, you would have seen early appearances from D.Ablo and MC Icey on the mic as Bantaar spun reggae to D'n'B. From there, Bantaar took the night north and held residencies in Wakefield and Sheffield, before returning back to the smoke to be resident at Plan B's M.I.A night, which MC Icey was responsible for. Here, Bantaar had the chance to mix it with some of Britain's best, including TerraFirma, WhyLout, Foreign Beggars, Skinnyman, YunGun, Wordsmith and DJ Skully. It was from this night that Escape bar in Herne Hill wanted his services, to be resident with Maxi Jazz (Faithless), Felix (Basement Jaxx) Jerry Dammers (The Specials) and The Zombie Disco Squad. Here, Bantaar became the first DJ there to introduce the 'live act' element with MC Icey, which can still be heard there to this day there (check listings).With 2 mixtapes behind him (Back in the Borough/Up and Running - both ft. MC Icey), Bantaar has also been resident at Souwfside's Club of 100 night, where he supported the likes of Just Jack, Sophie Barker (Zero 7), Tommy Evans, Kevin Mark-Trail and Lou Rhodes (Lamb). He can also be seen playing at The Orange Rooms in Southampton regularly where he has opened for The Nextmen and Fingathing.Wanting to continue to push boundaries with what can be done with 3 decks and a mic, MC Icey has incorporated visual effects to Bantaar's sets, which have included short films and animations as well as photography work, creating an all-round package that makes for a great night out by all....Bantaar's other credentials include a music score for a BBC documentary about Jamaican drug trafficking and gang warfare, performing on the decks on stage in the Leeds Directing Festival and of course, his work with SOUWF (myspace.com/souwf), where he has played drum and deejayed on their tracks. The live shows with these guys started low-key, late on in 2006 and are set to really make a mark with a full band in 2007. The lads at Souwf are also responsible for Bantaar's production on his mixtapes.A listen to the player above gives an insight into what exactly Bantaarism is, as it is difficult to pigeon-hole. Or alternatively, message your address for a free Mix CD and find out for yourself!Bantaar & Icey. A DJ MC Symmetry with a whole lot of a difference..... just listen.