Head Space Daily Words...

Friday night was all about the soul in Shepherd's Bush, as the Daptone Super Soul Revue rolled into town for their pre Glastonbury session. The chance to see Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones is just too good to good an opportunity to pass up. They are from an old school stock of soul singers who can effortlessly conjure up raw emotion - pain, passion, joy, love and loss - with the tone of their incredible voices and in Sharon's case, with the fervour of a gospel singer. They have the audience in the palm of their hands as you can feel nothing but love for these amazing artists. If you can, take a look at the Charles Bradley documentary, Soul of America - the story of a guy who never expected anything - and be uplifted. He has had a tough life, taking in homelessness, a near death experience, the murder of his brother and living very much hand to mouth in the projects in New York, occasionally singing in clubs as a James Brown impersonator. It was at one of these gigs that he was spotted by a founder of Daptone Records, who signed him up - and the rest is history. He is 65 years old now and released his first album No Time For Dreaming in 2011. Never give up on your dreams. Whilst Charles's story is one of struggle, hardship and hope in the face of adversity - a prerequisite for an authentic soul artist - Sharon Jones has only recently overcome pancreatic cancer after undergoing chemotherapy. What a woman. Last night, her words, sung in a gospel preacher style, about her treatment, her bald head and will to survive, were thoroughly moving and joyful at the same time - another soul prerequisite, the bitter made sweet. Charles Bradley and Sharon Jones are singers and performers who must be revered and held close to our hearts as there are not many of the original soul generation left and with the sad news of Bobby Womack's passing, the need to support and treasure these incredible performers and uniquely talented vocalists is ever more important as they are a precious commodity...