COSMIC ROUNDUP: ANTHONY CHALMERS OF BABA YAGA'S HUT
December 15, 2019 at 12:56 pm,
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Anthony is the man behind Baba Yaga's Hut and Raw Power Festival. In my London days, I'd regularly be seen stumbling around and spilling stuff at his gigs, Always full of familiar faces, a true community based on great music. Londoners are lucky to have someone like Antony, relentlessly pushing out insane lineups. Here's what he has to stay about 2019,
Hi Anthony, how are you?
Bit tired after Pulled by Magnets last night. Haven't really done a lot today!! Listening to this cool Post-punk band from Belgium called Pega though.
You seem to be putting more gigs on than ever. Is that true? Talk us through some of your highlights from 2019.
For sure, not so many in amount but in size of gig. Things have taken a massive jump for us. Think we had more people come to our shows in Oct & Nov than we did in 2017. Would of thought had more in people in 2019 than 2016,17 & 18 combined.
Highlights... All I can think of is the most recent stuff! Melt-Banana at Dingwalls was amazing. They are an all-time favourite band of mine so always
Special to have them down.
The shows at the Round Chapel with Bohren & der Club of Gore and Colin Stetson were cracking.
Let me look at the start of the year... Can't even remember what we did!!
Pigs at Scala and Rival Consoles at Electric Brixton were big ones. James Chance & Snappled Ankles both at Oslo was brilliant, brilliant too. Sarathy Korwar at Moth was a special one and Dame Area really killed it the other night too. Gnod at Raw Power was as brutal and heavy as anything I've seen. Really special.
All our bands!
You put on varied acts in huge venues that I’ve never heard of which sell out. How do you keep up with it all?
Just experience I guess. Haven't really been doing much else for the last 12 years!
When I first started going to gigs similar to the ones you’re putting on, I’m sure they’d always be half empty and now they always seem rammed. How do you explain the scene growing so much in recent years?
Yea that definitely an intriguing thing. There does seem to be a lot of people going to gigs right now. I can't really point it to one thing at all. I think gigs are going well for promoters across genres. People are keen to get out and have a good time!
The Raw Power 2020 looks incredible and much different from other years. Did you have a different approach this year and do you want to drop some hints on other acts we can expect?
Don't think really some big plan on it. Always trying to balance bringing in new people to the festival while keeping the regulars happy. Don't really think it's so much different from the other years?! Although I did a big thread before the festival asking if people had any guesses and in 100's of bands that people put no one got a single one right!! Hopefully got enough favourites of the regulars.
Chrome Hoof were actually supposed to headline last year but ended up putting it back to next year. Not sure who the second headliner is going to be yet
What was the best gig you put on in 2019?
Melt-Banana & Deaf Kids at Dingwalls. Koenji Hyakkei at The Lexington was also a total revelation.
Best gig you attended?
The above and Soap & Skin at Earth! Although I'm really looking forward to Denzel Curry in December.
Best festival you attended?
Only did one and that was Supernormal so go with that. Was a brilliant time.
What are your favourite releases from 2019?
Definitely point anyone reading in the direction of my podcast as that's where I play all my favourite new stuff.
Will be doing our triple episode favourites of the year in December.
Couple that jump out is Sarathy Korwar - More Arriving & Spaza - Spaza though. Listened to the both of them a lot.
What the hell are you up to next year?
More of the same buddy! Off to Scotland for a week, then holiday first week of Jan and then just crack onto doing more shows.