Maidstone Fringe Festival 2019

Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer

Funke & the 2 Tone Baby + Clea Lewellyn

Event Has Passed

Last Show: Thursday 2 nd May 2019

PizzaExpress Live (Maidstone)

Mr.B began his Chap-Hop career in the summer of 2007 when he decided to bring elements of his previous incarnations (UK rapper, jump-up breaks producer, banjolele maverick and dandy) together and create a genre. ‘A Piece Of My Mind’, his first ditty was released in Japan on Second Royal Records and its accompanying video and UK tour dates alerted the rest of the world to this new musical form. 

Standing show, for limited seating available on the balcony, please contact the Box Office on 0207 439 4962.

Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer

Since then he has travelled the world, from Surrey to Osaka, Banstead to Berlin, Middlesborough to Minneapolis, Norway to New York and the Edinburgh Fringe to Glastonbury bringing his beats, rhymes and manners. As well as songs about cricket, pipe smoking, high society and interfering with livestock. 

Mr.B has recorded five long players (OG, Original Gentleman; The Tweed Album, Can’t Stop Shan’t Stop, Mr.B’s Christmas Album and 2016’s There’s A Rumpus Going On) as well as one collection of Chappist Acid House (Mr.B The Gentleman Selector’s Acid Ragtime: Chapstep Volume One). He also releases terribly english electronica under the guise of The Major. 

His videos have garnered millions of view on YouTube and his media appearances have included Rapping for Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight, playing live on BBC Radio One for Rob Da Bank, Nick Grimshaw and Scott Mills, on Radio Two for Claudia Winkleman and Steve Lamacq, 6Music for Tom Robinson and Shaun Keaveny and for Zoe Ball on Sky Arts. He was also once the front page of the Wall Street Journal and was described by the Daily Mail as ‘Controversial’.

Funke and the Two Tone Baby

Funke and the Two Tone Baby is a one man sonic explosion. Uncategorized and uncharted. Jammed halfway between frenzied alt-blues and metronomic dance beats. Combining guitar and harmonica with beatboxing and effects that seamlessly collide the organic with the mechanical to create a fresh sound of unstoppable rhythm and unrelenting melody.

From supporting Skinny Lister, Beans on Toast, Hayseed Dixie and Mercury Prize nominees The Comet is Coming to a 40 date festival tour in 2017, including standout shows at Beautiful Days, Bearded Theory and Hungary’s Sziget Festival, Funke has quickly becoming a must-see act on the festival and touring circuit. 

Clea Llewellyn

Clea Llewellyn is a rootsy soul veteran. Discovered by former Public Image Limited bassist and world-music aficionado Jah Wobble, she toured the USA, Canada and Europe (including big name festivals such as Bestival and WOMAD) and wrote with him from 2005 until 2011. Two songs co-written by Jah Wobble and Clea were released on two of his albums.  Their song One Day also made it onto his new album, Redux: Anthology (2015).