Hailu Mergia & Habibi Funk - Live at Summertown Studio

PORCH RECORDS & CROWN RULER PRESENT:

A double bill of literal dreams:

HAILU MERGIA & HABIBI FUNK

Live at Summertown Studio, 
Somerton Park, Kaurna Country
Sat Feb 15th.

well butter my buns and call me a biscuit.

This will be a possibly life changing live show.

Doors open from 6:30pm
Braising Boy - Local food van serving up authentic mexican street food will be open from 6:30pm,
as well as a local curated bar with alcoholic and non alcoholic offerings open from doors.

HAILU MERGIA

Unbeknown to them, many have shared a cab ride through the streets of Washington D.C. with an undisputed legend, Hailu Mergia. A humble cab driver of over 20 years, Mergia leads another life submerged in rambling bass lines and rippling melodies that speak to memories of his homeland. Since fleeing Ethiopia in 1981 with his band, the Walias Band, famous for their 12-hour shows for club-goers seeking refuge during the 16-year enforce curfews of Ethiopia’s Derg government; the keyboard and accordion luminary has continued to find inspiration in his surrounds, tinkering on his keyboard in the drivers seat between pickups. 

A little over 10 years ago, Mergia reemerged on the scene and quickly built a new audience of adoring fans with his bands ability to energetically and playfully unfurl layer after layer of harmonic and rhythmic interest out of a range of Ethiopian sounds. Jazz demands constant reinvention and improvisation, night after night creating new works out of known modes and classic standards. This band is unstoppable when it comes to turning age-old melodies (like “Tizita” or “Anchihoye Lene”) upside down and inside out until they emerge as molten new works, often spontaneously. Mergia’s original compositions (like “Yegle Nesh”) shine brighter than ever here as well. Moving from keyboard to organ to accordion to melodica, he deftly switches instruments—often during the same song. At 78 this maestro, is a powerhouse. Swoon over his sweepingly beautiful sound. You’ll be moving and grooving in a set as fun as it is virtuosic.

HABIBI FUNK

Unearthed hidden gems released in the 1960’s-80’s across the Middle East and North Africa and spanning a plethora of genres from funk, soul and jazz to punk and hip-hop; Jannis Stürtz’s Habibi Funk has been a musical staple for every environment, from the record player at the bar to the one in your living room. 

Reissuing the records in eclectic compilations for the modern listener, as well as more recently releasing music from musicians in the current day, Stürtz’s project celebrates its decade anniversary in 2025. A project originally conceived while record digging in Casablanca, Morocco; his dedication to immortalising works that might have otherwise gone forgotten has fostered new connections and modalities of working in the music industry with efforts to not reproduce historic economic patterns of exploitation and colonisation. 

Since the labels success, Stürtz’s mastery as a vinyl only DJ has taken off in equal measure over recent years, with major residencies at institutions such as the legendary Jazz Cafe, Colour Factory, KOKO and his return to Melbourne is sure to have the dance floor swirling once more. 

You will truly be in the company of musical excellence on this fine evening.

A show not to be missed.

We bring to you:
A beautiful evening of music, wine, vinyl and niceness at our creative home and record store, Summertown Studio.
A warehouse nestled in the industrial zone of Somerton Park 20 minutes from Adelaide CBD, and 4 minutes from the beach.

By day, it operates as a creative space, complete with a coffee bar, retail space, record store and home to creative tenants. 
By night, the space is completely transformed into a live music venue, for curated touring shows. 
We bring in all production & operators for each individual shows, and it's truly something special.

This will truly be something magic.

This gig is all ages,
Little people under 13 are free.

We are an access-friendly space and strive to make everyone's experience as comfortable and as wonderful as possible.
We're always here to discuss your needs - if you have any access specific questions or requests, get in touch below.

Any questions, thoughts, feelings, emotions - drop us a line on sharni@porchrecords.com.au

Yours in music,
Porch Records xo