The podcast sees two worldly-wise football and music nuts – James Labous and Alex Lawson – bring together their loves to tell the tales of a different nation’s sporting and musical stars each episode.
It’s time to take a trip to the Land of Opportunity. Yes folks, the United States of America is a country blessed with incredible music, partly thanks to its stew of cultures. For the podcast, we're covering the avalanche of incredible Eighties underground punk and rock bands which would later influence Nirvana. We’ll take an in-depth look at Black Flag, Minor Threat, Sonic Youth, Fugazi and the Butthole Surfers analysing the (on-stage) sex, (plentiful) drugs and shock’n’roll. James sits down with Brendan Morgan of Oxford punk rock band Grub to discuss the scene. And we look at politics in US football (ok, soccer). Specifically we talk to Stephan Lewis of the Timbers Army, a raucous fan group who follow the Portland Timbers. He is leading a campaign to make the club radically inclusive, but has had to battle with the club of the use of the repurposed anti-facist Iron Front logo. Hear the full story of this fascinating stand-off on the pod.
Na ngeen def! (That's how are you? in Wolof). We travelled 5,730km to the city of Dakar, Senegal to bring you a very special episode, jam-packed with West African musical and football-based treats. We visit Mbalax star Thione Seck’s studio and chat with Oumar Sow who played in Youssou NDour's Les Étoile de Dakar. We also discuss the impact of Orchestra Baobab, Baaba Maal and Ismaël Lô and also witness Cheikh Lô live. That's on top of James reporting from the labarythine like streets of Ngor village, where the mourides singers croon late into the night and finding out what it's like to be a Senegalese footballer who’s played across African with Babacar Mbengue. Do not miss.
One of Africa’s hottest bands tells us their story: from escaping civil war and a ban on music in their home country to touring the world. They’ve worked with the likes of Damon Albarn’s Africa Express, Iggy Pop and may soon collaborate with guitar hero Nile Rodgers. We discuss how they see themselves as more like a western band, their new music and the misconceptions of Timbuktu. And we talk football: from the crisis in Malian domestic football to African players getting ripped off hunting their dream of playing in Europe.
It’s coming home, it’s coming. R&R stops in England on our world tour to meet up with Emile Heskey. We discuss beating Germany, playing in two World Cups and the real secret of the squad’s fall out with Fabio Capello. The former Leicester, Liverpool and Aston Villa man is fascinating on dealing with managers, racism and depression in football and why he was at times mocked by pundits. And of course, we chat music: from clubbing in Leicester to his classic DJ celebration.
Hear how London’s top record labels, stores, venues and mags are finding life in 2019. We headed down to the Independent Music Cup, a five-a-side football tournament where the industry competed in aid of War Child. You’ll hear from charming types at XL Recordings, Rough Trade Shops, Ninja Tune, Domino, Mixmag, Worldwide FM and the Barbican. You’ll learn what it’s like to work with Thom Yorke, how a label functions when an artist explodes and which two labels face off on the pitch each Monday night. And the episode is packed with the tips for the best new music in 2019.
We look back on our favourite tournament after a fascinating month of football in Egypt concluding in Algeria’s win over Senegal. There’s analysis of whether the expansion of the Afcon and its move to the summer was a success and we pick out some of the rising stars in the competition. And we review our predictions for the tournament (spoiler: mixed at best) before playing Senegalese legend Youssou N’Dour. Listen on Soundcloud, iTunes, Spotify or whether you get your podcasts.
Our favourite tournament returns: even bigger and brighter. Afcon is now in summer and, after a last minute switch, taking place in Egypt rather than the planned Cameroon. Ahead of Friday’s big kick off, we’ll assess who the stars will be - from Mo Salah and Sadio Mane to the Ivory Coast’s Nicolas Pepe and Congo’s Cedric Bakambu. We’ll attempt to make a case for who will win a tournament which is as wide open as ever and predict the golden boot winner. We’ll also play out with music from a band which emerged during the Arab Spring: Code Masr.
Golaccio! A new episode recorded on the road in the land of Catenaccio. Alex convinces his father-in-law to attend his first ever football match: a crunch relegation battle as Parma host Fiorentina. Back in Serie A after a string of promotions following their bankruptcy, it turned out to be a dramatic match for the much-decorated I Gialloblu. In the music part of the show we discuss Samuel Heron, a cheeky rapper from Le Spezia who’s causing a stir.
Join us on a trip to east Africa for some R&R. We chat to composer and multi-instrumentalist Nick Page, aka Dubulah, the founder of Dub Colossus. The Londoner worked with Ethiopian musicians to create a unique, gargantuan sound after two decades working in ethno-tech collectives Transglobal Underground and Temple of Sound. He discusses what ‘world’ music has to do to make it in the West, the greats of Ethiopian music and even some footy. In the football half of the show, we look ahead to next year’s African Nations Championship, which was due to take place in Ethiopia before it was stripped of the rights. We speak to local BBC journalist Omna Taddele as well as player Anteneh Samuel, who plays in the academy set up by the country’s answer to Arsene Wenger, Sewnet Bishaw.
The inaugural football World Cup in 1930 was hosted and won by Uruguay in extraordinary fashion. In this mini-episode we look back at a tournament full of oddities from bizarre suspensions (for running a cafe), suit-wearing refs and a match which lasted 84 minutes. In the music half of the show, we examine the underground sounds coming out of the capital, Montevideo, where vinyl-junkie DJs including Persian cat fanatic DJ Koolt, and Christian Bonanata, have been ripping it up.
For 100 hours in 1969, a bloody war between El Salvador and Honduras caught the world’s attention. In this mini-episode we recount the three crunch matches in qualifying for the 1970 World Cup which heightened tensions between the neighbouring nations. It’s an extraordinary tale of action, suicide and the not-so-beautiful game. And we look at the hardcore punk scene of San Salvador and some of its leading bands in a country - now under a new president - where gang violence provides the backdrop to youth culture.
If you’re on Twitter, you’ll know em. Nick Fraser and Mark Liptrott have created an online sensation with their cleverly-worked club badges, which combine football crests with bands' logos and names. Think Wu-vemphampton Wanderers and All Saints (Southampton). A fun idea between mates has spiralled into highly sought after collectables, an exhibition at The National Football Museum and even a match day programme, done in conjunction with the Charlatans and Gary Neville, at Salford City. We caught up with Nick at Charlatans’ frontman Tim Burgess’ gig in London.
A celebration of two incredible musicians and a look at the state of play in women’s football in Africa. We meet up with rising Liberian star Angie TonTon at Senegalese legend Thion Seck’s studio in Dakar to discuss why it’s hard to be heard internationally as a female musician and the personal help she’s received from president George Weah. She even sings a cappella for us. We discuss the secret to the string of incredible artists to emerge from Mali with Fatoumata Diawara - born in the Ivory Coast to Malian parents - and the advice she gives to other female artists. And we look back at Nigeria’s recent triumph at the Africa Women's Cup of Nations and look at the dearth of female coaches at the top of the women’s game with Goal.com journalist Samuel Ahmadu.
Champions League winner John Arne Riise lifts the lid on life in the Liverpool dressing room, discusses becoming Norway’s most capped player and mixing it with France’s World Cup winners as a teenager. He also opens up on the difficulties of handling family life for “selfish” footballers. Of course we discuss music too, including the former Roma and Fulham star’s first gig and an artist from his home town causing a stir. And we cover the ‘cosmic disco’ which emerged from Norway and influenced dance music across the globe.
We travel to Belarus to discover the music and football of one of Eastern Europe’s most fascinating countries. Stary Olsa, a lively Minsk six piece, tell us about keeping alive the medieval music of The Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the vast state which had Belarus at its heart. They play all kinds of unusual instruments in their studio lined with armoury for us, and there’s even a surprise waiting in their bagpipe case. And we meet BATE Borisov’s central defensive rock Denis Polyakov after a match against Torpedo Minsk to discuss playing in the Champions League and for Belarus.
Farce footballer Carlos "Kaiser" Henrique Raposo managed a two-decade career among Brazilian football’s elite without ever playing. We discuss his wildest escapades (including sex, bodybuilding and a career-saving punch-up with a fan) with Louis Myles the British film-maker behind an incredible documentary on this unique "player". In the music part of the show, septuagenarian Dona Onete speaks about the prejudice people from the Amazon have faced and bringing its music to the world. And Salvador’s BaianaSystem tell us about the instruments crucial to the Carnival sound, their love of vintage Congolese rumba and pick their favourite moments of the Brazilian national team.
We meet one of the most unique footballers ever to grace the English game. Eccentric goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar won everything going between the sticks at Anfield and played for a host of other clubs including Crewe, Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday. Here he talks about how he won Liverpool the European Cup (with some help from Chris Rea), what happened in the moments after fans began dying at Hillsborough and why match fixing allegations against him would’ve fallen apart now. We also listen to his favourite African musicians and discuss winding up Peter Schmeichel.
The Guardian’s football cartoonist David Squires has drawn himself into footy folklore with his witty takes on the beautiful game. An avid Swindon Town fan, he’s an ex-pat living Down Under, from where he draws for publications all over the world and has authored three books. The latest, Goalless Draws, is out now. We speak to him about honing his craft, encountering his subjects, the crisis in the Sydney music scene and just how far he can push his emo take on Jose Mourinho. He also gives us a tour of some of Australia's most talented musicians.
In this mini episode, we look at the biggest star of South Africa’s explosive house music scene: Black Coffee. He’s gained worldwide acclaim, played huge shows and collaborated with some of Africa’s biggest stars. And all this despite DJing with just one hand due to a childhood injury when celebrating Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. We also look ahead to a crunch match for the South African national team after some amusing controversy in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, and look back at Bafana Bafana’s biggest embarrassment.
In this special episode, Luke Moore of the acclaimed Football Ramble podcast tells us the eight songs he couldn’t live without. In a fusion of two pods - world football and music show Rabonas & Rhythms and cheeky parody pod Desert Isolation Discs - we talk music, football and #travel with one of podcasting’s biggest talents. Luke is quizzed on boybands, Portsmouth, podcast projects and even gives some Moorestradamus predictions. (Oh and Rabonas series three is coming soon.)
Bonus episode! We reflect on the action in Russia after the final whistle at a music festival in Walthamstow (naturally). We study how France won it, what the weirdest moments were and, of course, the prospects for the Three Lions. And we sign off with some French pop in tribute to Les Bleus.
Our second World Cup special looks at how, at tournament time, football's audience opens up but sexism becomes rife. We discuss discrimination among footy fans and in the music business with blogger and musician Georgia Sanders of The Nopebook, and our studio panel. We're also among the fans in Cannes and revel in more World Cup memories on the pitch and the airwaves.
The main event is here: the Rabonas World Cup special. We’ve asked artists - including Max Richter, the Reverend & the Makers, Seun Kuti and MJ Hibbett - to recount their memories of the competition. And we have our own knockout, to decide the best football and musical combination from a host of choices by listeners from all over the globe. There’s Divine Ponytails, mad tackles and thundering tunes.
Seun Kuti is the youngest son of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, who put an indelible stamp on Africa’s music and politics. Seun has become a musical star in his own right and is furthering his father’s political mission with his own firebrand style. In this interview Seun discusses his relationship with Fela in his reclusive later life, what he’s trying to achieve with new record Black Times and the secret to why he chose not to be a footballer (and it wasn’t a lack of confidence, trust us).
We travelled nearly 5,000 miles to bring you this episode: from the sweaty dressing rooms of Camden to the beaches of Goa (tough stuff). We met Mercury Prize winning tabla player and composer, Talvin Singh to discuss his collaborations (Bjork, Madonna, Blondie, Jay Z), mastering his art form and even gives away a secret about the influence of football on the music industry. And we were among the fans at FC Goa to talk about the rise of football in India and even bring you the sounds of a beach psytrance rave.
A beautifully unlikely combination. Musician Marika Hackman has been selling out venues across the country with her dreamy folk. She describes recording with the Mercury-nominated Big Moon, why she decided to discuss her sexuality on record and how her last trip to Finland ended in a hospital trip. We also discuss a trio of gents with links to both Anfield and Helsinki in the shape of former Reds captain Sami Hyypia, the mercurial Jari Litmanen and ex-Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson, who’s heralded in Finland.
We bring together the sweaty changing rooms of English football with the mystery of Qawwali devotional singing. Zesh Rehman, an unsung hero, became the first British Asian to start a match in the Premier League while at Fulham and played for Brighton, QPR and Bradford too in a career which has seen him win honours in Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia. He tells us about the pressure of representing Asian footballers, why more haven’t come through the ranks. And we revel in one of the most incredible voices the world has ever heard: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Our latest pod centres on Medellín, Colombia’s City of the Eternal Spring. We discuss the two Escobars who defined a nation’s violent problems - footballer Andres and drug lord Pablo - and meet one of its brightest new stars, musician and feminist icon Maite Hontele The Dutch trumpeter has become a feminist icon in Colombia. Her sleek salsa has gained her fans worldwide, changed lives and created a love-hate relationship with her instrument.
Ask someone to name a Liberian, and most will utter one man’s name: George Weah. The former World Footballer of the Year is synonymous with the west African country, as evidenced by his rise to become president. Here we look back on his attributes on the pitch, and reminisce about some of his greatest goals during a career which included spells at Monaco, PSG, Milan, Chelsea and Manchester City. We discuss his prospects to become Liberian president and delve into one of Africa’s most exciting genres: Hipco, a style of hip-hop typified by politics, slang and beautiful rhythms. We’ll play you the talented Sundaygar Dearboy to give you a flavour. Tweet us at twitter.com/rabonasnrhythms
Our first ‘on location’ episode sees Rabonas recorded among the fans at FC Romania for a lively FA Cup tie. We talk to the Essex Senior League side’s players, manager and fans about the team’s origins as a pastime for Romanian construction workers, their ethos and the impact of Brexit on the club. We also discuss the life of the eastern European country’s most famous songstress, Maria Tănase while we’re on the touchline. Tweet us twitter.com/rabonasnrhythms
In this series we traverse the globe to bring you incredible stories from Liberia to Colombia. Feminist icons, presidential strikers and Asian trailblazers, the series is packed with colourful tales. Look out for new episodes coming very soon. More info here: rabonasandrhythmspodcast.wordpress.com Twitter: @rabonasnrhythms Facebook: Rabonas & Rhythms Podcast
This episode we’ll be discussing a country better known for it’s cricketing credentials than it’s footballing fraternity - but could it have been different? We’ll look at the talented Indian national side which almost shook up the global footy world order and consider whether they withdrew from the 1950 World Cup because they were not allowed to play barefoot. And we talk to Asim Burney, Host of Upodcast, movie buff and Bollywood aficionado about a legendary Bollywood singer, known to all Indians. She carried the burden of familyy expectation on her shoulders, survived an attempted poisoning and performed at the Royal Albert Hall. She’s Lata Mangeshkar. Presenters: James Labous and Alex Lawson Subscribe on iTunes, more info here: rabonasandrhythmspodcast.wordpress.com Twitter: @rabonasnrhythms Facebook: Rabonas & Rhythms Podcast
It’s a gastronomic feast this episode as we arrive in the land of beer and chocolate to discuss a crazy goalkeeper and a singing legend. Jean-Marie Pfaff, aka El Simpático, came close to clinching the talented Belgium side of the 1980s championship glory on multiple occasions. As the national team again enjoy a fruitless golden era, we look at whether a swimming pool incident hindered a tilt at the World Cup and how this caravan dwelling postie became a footy icon and early reality star. We also profile Jacques Brel. We look at the passionate singer turned actor’s complex relationship with Belgium, study his satirical, theatrical performance and play one of his biggest hits. Presenters: James Labous and Alex Lawson Subscribe on iTunes, more info here: rabonasandrhythmspodcast.wordpress.com Twitter: @rabonasnrhythms Facebook: Rabonas & Rhythms Podcast
Grab your sunnies, we're off to the Caribbean to discuss the world's strangest ever game and the Calypso King of the World. Barbados v Grenada, a crunch match in the 1994 Caribbean Cup and a bizarre set of rules which meant it was advantageous to score a deliberate own goal. We examine the quirks of the scenario and get the view from the pitch from Cheney Joseph, the Grenadian captain that day. Now president of the Grenada Football Association, he reveals his plan the night before the match and describes the atmosphere on the pitch as the teams defended both goals. Unmissable. We'll also chat about the man who made Calypso a career, bargaining for fair pay for the singers. Mighty Sparrow is witty, ironic and rude, his lyrics mind-bogglingly offensive at times but his ear for a tune is unrivalled. Subscribe on iTunes, more info here: rabonasandrhythmspodcast.wordpress.com Twitter: @rabonasnrhythms Facebook: Rabonas & Rhythms Podcast
Zambia: The deadly crash of 93, cathartic victory and the future Presenters Alex Lawson and James Labous discuss the fatal crash which killed most of Zambia's talented 1993 national football team, its impact on the national psyche and look back on Herve Renard's astonishing Africa Cup of Nations success. The BBC's man on the ground Kennedy Gondwe will describe Zambia's prospects as a team and a nation - and join us in looking at the nation's musical talent. Rabonas & Rhythms takes a look at a different nation's football and musical dynasty each episode bringing great stories and incredible sounds. Subscribe on iTunes, more info here: https://rabonasandrhythmspodcast.wordpress.com Twitter: @rabonasnrhythms Facebook: Rabonas & Rhythms Podcast
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