Ike Willis & Zappatika: Before The Shit Hit The Fan - Live in the U.K.

Frank Zappa alumnus Ike Willis and Anglo-Dutch band ZAPPATiKA have released a free live album, Before The Shit Hit The Fan - Live in the U.K., recorded during their "Music Is The Best" tour in October 2019. Caveat: this is not a shiny desk-recording due to technical issues. The tracks are culled from the front-of-house, so it may sound it bit murky at times.

Keeping the music of Frank Zappa alive is tricky - not many musicians have the chops to tackle the complexity of his compositions like Montana and More Troble Every Day, but these guys have been at it for years and know their stuff. Sam Ward, the guitarist of tribute band Treacherous Cretins sits in during Peaches en Regalia.

Ike Willis & Zappatika: "Before the Shit Hit the Fan" live in the UK videos

Frank Zappa alumnus Ike Willis and Anglo-Dutch band ZAPPATiKA were on tour in the UK in October 2019. They have shared a playliist with 12 live videos. THey aptly named the collection Before the Shit Hit the Fan.

Ike Willis & Zappatika: "Music is the Best" UK Tour

Frank Zappa alumnus Ike Willis and Anglo-Dutch band ZAPPATiKA will be on the road again the UK in October.

Live dates:

• 10/18 London, UK @ The Black Heart
• 10/19 Plymouth, UK @ The Junction
• 10/20 Brighton, UK @ The Prince Albert
• 10/21 Porth, UK @ The Rhondda Hotel
• 10/22 Southampton, UK @ The 1865
• 10/24 Grimsby, UK @ Yardbirds Rock
• 10/25 Witney, UK @ Fatlils Witney
• 10/26 Liverpool, UK @ The Zanzibar Club

Ike Willis & Zappatika: Free Live EP

Coming soon: a free Ike Willis & ZAPPATiKA live EP. The tracks were recorded during their Cinco de Mayo Weekend Dash mini tour in May. They will be on the road again in the UK in October.

» ZAPPATiKA on Facebook
» ikewillis.com

HCTF review of Highway Maintenance - Live in the UK.

Ike Willis & Zappatika: Highway Maintenance - Live in the UK

Frank Zappa alumnus Ike Willis and Anglo-Dutch band ZAPPATiKA were on tour in the Uk in November last year, having fun and playing well. After the releasing a visual document - The Highway Maintenance road movie an audio companion featuring live songs from the tour has seen the light of day.

ZAPPATiKA are not a slavish tribute band they always something extra to Zappa's repertoire and for this tour they surprised and delighted their audiences with some deep cuts, including the 200 Motels nugget Magic Fingers and stitching together tracks to turn them into avant-garde mini-suites. O, and they take the piss of the Republicans, which no doubt will be labeled as "explicit" on streaming services and their ilk.

Ike Willis & Zappatika: Cinco de Mayo Weekend Dash

Frank Zappa alumnus Ike Willis and Anglo-Dutch band ZAPPATiKA will perform three shows during their Cinco de Mayo Weekend Dash. These guys are fun, the venues are cool, and a beer won't cost you an arm and a leg.

Live dates:

• 05/03 Leiden, The Netherlands @ Q-Bus Muziekhuis
• 05/04 Essen, Germany @ The Freakshow
• 05/05 Lens, Belgium @ The Titans Club

Ike Willis & Zappatika: The Highway Maintenance road movie

Frank Zappa alumnus Ike Willis and Anglo-Dutch band ZAPPATiKA were on tour in the Uk in November last year. They have released the Highway Maintenance road movie, with the members talking about life on the road plus a full hour of in concert footage. A live albym will be released on March 1st through all the usual platforms and later on also on CD.

» ZAPPATiKA on Facebook
» ikewillis.com

ZERO Ensemble: Spring Equinox tour

The latest reincarnation of Z.E.R.O., The Zãþþã Éårlý Rênáissánçê Ørçhêstrå, will perform three shows in March. Founded by Kevin Crosby in 2012 the rock/comedy band with a variable line-up takes on the towering catalog of Frank Zappa. FZ alumni Ike Willis and Craig Twister Steward take part in this latest incarnation.

Ike Willis & ZAPPATiKA: on tour in the UK & The Netherlands

Frank Zappa alumnus Ike Willis and Anglo-Dutch band ZAPPATiKA have announced a tour that will take them through the UK and The Netherlands in November. More shows will be added soon.

Live dates:

• 11/09 London (Camden) @ The Black Heart
• 11/10 (TBC)
• 11/11 Plymouth @ The Junction
• 11/12 Porth (Wales) @ The Rhondda Hotel
• 11/13 Southampton @ The 1865
• 11/14 Grimsby @ The Yardbirds Rock
• 11/15 Edinburgh @ Bannermans Bar
• 11/16 Liverpool @ The Zanzibar Club
• 11/17 Oxford (Witney) @ Fat Lil's
• 11/18 Breda, Netherlands @ Sound Dog (early show 8pm)

The Ike Willis Project: tour dates

The Ike Willis Project will be hitting both USA coasts during a short tour. Main man Ike Willis of Frank Zappa fame is on guitar and - of course - vocals, with Duane Waider on drums, Dig Lewis on bass and JP Cervoni on guitar.

Ike Wills & ZAPPATiKA: stream "Watermelon in Easter Hay" from "Welcome to the Starlight Lounge"

ZAPPATiKA have posted a stream stream of Watermelon in Easter Hay, a track from the Welcome to the Starlight Lounge album, recorded during their tour European tour with Zappa alumni Ike Willis, Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward.

Ike Willis & ZAPPATiKA featuring Jeff Hollie & Craig Twister Steward: Welcome to the Starlight Lounge

The Ike Willis & ZAPPATiKA European tour was a special one. They were joined by two Frank Zappa alumni: Jeff Hollie (sax) and Craig Twister Steward (harp). The new live album Welcome to the Starlight Lounge, recorded during shows in the UK and Germany, is a consolation for those who could not attend in person and a nice souvenir for those who did. The songs are served as one huge single continuous file, just like an actual concert. With the presence of Willis, Hollie and Steward three of the musicians of Joe's Garage were on hand, so it made sense that a sizeable slice of the show consisted of songs taken from one of Frank Zappa's finest albums.

Willis' voice is fine form and Steward's bluesy harp and Hollie's sax are spot on. Anglo-Dutch tribute band ZAPPATiKA are one of the top acts on the circuit, with guitar player Zap Mcinnes comes close to FZ's tone. Percussionist/synth player Hieronymus Bongo also takes care of the background vocals notes, drummer Diego Mocci is a master of any time signature that is put in from of him, Fred Händl's keyboards are playful and bass player Joep Oosterbaan is obviously an avid student of Scott Tunes.

Zap Mcinnes: Do You Really Need to See Me Bleed?

Zap Mcinnes has posted of a stream of his new song Do You Really Need to See Me Bleed?, featuring Emanuela Panisberghi (vocals) and Hieronymus Bongo (drum pads). The song was recorded live @ Vrijplaats in Leiden, The Netherlands on August 20. First ever live performance of this tune, with his ex-wife on the receiving end of the lyrics.

Z.E.R.O.: tour dates

The latest reincarnation of Z.E.R.O., The Zãþþã Éårlý Rênáissánçê Ørçhêstrå, will perform four shows in September to promote their Tolerance album:

Z.E.R.O. putting together a short Northwest tour in September to support our new CD - Tolerance. The line up for the Z.E.R.O. Tolerance 2016 Tour will consist of Ike Willis, Prairie Prince, a special guest all the way from Europe, (former keyboardist from Zappatika) Fred Händl. Remaining members include Rupert Kettle on Lap Steel/Guitar, Rob Morgan from The Squirrels on vocals. and Kevin Crosby (Pojama People, The Squirrels) on Bass/Ukulele. This is a special edition of Z.E.R.O. that may just be a one shot deal.

ZAPPATiKA: "More Trouble Every Day" from "Welcome to the Starlight Lounge"

ZAPPATiKA have put up More Trouble Every Day, a track of their forthcoming live album Welcome to the Starlight Lounge, recorded during their European tour with Zappa alumni Ike Willis, Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward. The album will be released in August.

» ZAPPATiKA on Facebook

HCTF review of The Pony Suite.

ZAPPATiKA: "Welcome to the Starlight Lounge" teaser

ZAPPATiKA have put up a teaser track of their forthcoming live album Welcome to the Starlight Lounge, zecorded during their European tour with Zappa alumni Ike Willis, Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward. The album will be released in August.

» ZAPPATiKA on Facebook

HCTF review of The Pony Suite.

ZAPPATiKA + Ike Willis + Jeff Hollie + Craig Twister Steward: European Spring tour updates - venue change for London, Paris cancelled

ZAPPATiKA and Ike Willis once again team up with fellow Zappa alumni Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward for an European Spring tour. The London show (03/26) has been moved to Under The Bridge. The gig in Paris (03/18) is cancelled due to "Unresolvable Contractual Circumstance", but they hope to announce another Parisian gig soon.

Live dates:

• 03/17 Osnabruck, Germany @ Big Buttinsky
• 03/19 Stamford, England @ The Theatre Lounge
• 03/20 Birmingham, England @ The Roadhouse
• 03/21 Oxford, England @ Fat Lil's
• 03/22 Swansea, Wales @ The Scene Club
• 03/23 Southampton, England @ The Talking Heads (w/ Acton Zappa)
• 03/24 Liverpool, England @ The Zanzibar Club (w/ Charlies Gorilla)
• 03/25 Halifax, England @ Arden Road Social Club
• 03/26 London, England @ Under The Bridge (w/ Acton Zappa)
• 03/28 Duisburg, Germany @ Grammatikof
• 03/29 Frankfurt, Germany @ Das Bett
• 03/30 Halle, Germany @ Objekt5
• 03/31 Dresden, Germany @ Tante JU
• 04/01 Leiden, The Netherlands @ QBUS Muziekhuis

ZAPPATiKA + Ike Willis + Jeff Hollie + Craig Twister Steward: Frankfurt, Halle and Dresden added to European Spring tour

ZAPPATiKA and Ike Willis once again team up with fellow Zappa alumni Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward for an European Spring tour. They have added three shows in Germany (Frankfurt, Halle and Dresden).

Live dates:

• 03/17 Osnabruck, Germany @ Big Buttinsky
• 03/18 Paris, France @ Le Zèbre de Belleville
• 03/19 Stamford, England @ The Theatre Lounge
• 03/20 Birmingham, England @ The Roadhouse
• 03/21 Oxford, England @ Fat Lil's
• 03/22 Swansea, Wales @ The Scene Club
• 03/23 Southampton, England@ The Talking Heads (w/ Acton Zappa)
• 03/24 Liverpool, England @ The Zanzibar Club (w/ Charlies Gorilla)
• 03/25 Halifax, England @ Arden Road Social Club
• 03/26 London, England @ The Jazz Café (w/ The Dyr Sister)
• 03/28 Duisburg, Germany @ Grammatikof
• 03/29 Frankfurt, Germany @ Das Bett
• 03/30 Halle, Germany @ Objekt5
• 03/31 Dresden, Germany @ Tante JU
• 04/01 Leiden, The Netherlands @ QBUS Muziekhuis

ZAPPATiKA + Ike Willis + Jeff Hollie + Craig Twister Steward: more dates for their European Spring tour

ZAPPATiKA and Ike Willis once again team up with fellow Zappa alumni Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward for an European Spring tour. They have added shows in the UK (03/21), Germany (03/28) and The Netherlands (04/01)

Live dates:

• 03/17 Osnabruck, Germany @ Big Buttinsky
• 03/18 Paris, France @ Le Zèbre de Belleville
• 03/19 Stamford, England @ The Theatre Lounge
• 03/20 Birmingham, England @ The Roadhouse
• 03/21 Oxford, England @ Fat Lil's
• 03/22 Swansea, Wales @ The Scene Club
• 03/23 Southampton, England @ The Talking Heads (w/ Acton Zappa)
• 03/24 Liverpool, England @ The Zanzibar Club (w/ Charlies Gorilla)
• 03/25 Halifax, England @ Arden Road Social Club
• 03/26 London, England @ The Jazz Café (w/ The Dyr Sister)
• 03/28 Duisburg, Germany @ Grammatikof
• 04/01 Leiden, The Netherlands @ QBUS Muziekhuis

» ZAPPATiKA on Facebook

HCTF review of The Pony Suite.

ZAPPATiKA + Ike Willis + Jeff Hollie + Craig Twister Steward: "The Pony Suite" video

Watch the grainy, trippy video for The Pony Suite, a collaborative effort by ZAPPATiKA, Ike Willis, Jeff Hollie and Craig Twister Steward.

They will be on tour in Europe, playing shows in Germany, France and the UK.

Live dates:

• 03/17 Osnabruck, Germany @ Big Buttinsky
• 03/18 Paris, France @ Le Zèbre de Belleville
• 03/19 Stamford, England @ The Theatre Lounge
• 03/20 Birmingham, England @ The Roadhouse
• 03/22 Swansea, Wales @ The Scene Club
• 03/23 Southampton, England@ The Talking Heads
• 03/24 Liverpool, England @ The Zanzibar Club
• 03/25 Halifax, England @ Arden Road Social Club
• 03/26 London, England @ The Jazz Café

» ZAPPATiKA on Facebook

HCTF review of The Pony Suite.