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

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)

ZAPPATiKA: From Glasgow to the Isle of Wight

The new ZAPPATiKA live album should From Glasgow to the Isle of Wight, hadn't the master for he planned Live on the Isle of Wight album have been lost (and another copy of the files sounded like shit). Recorded during 2017 UK "Tour Britannia" they picked the best tracks from various performances.

As a seasoned tribute band ZAPPATiKA know Zappa's material inside out - they have shared the stage with quite a few of FZ's band members - but they are not mere copyists and also add something extra. Energy, musical chops and sense of humour are essential for playing Zappa's music and they have it in spades. They let rip during Broken Hearts are for Assholes and City of Tiny Lights. By contrast you can hear a pin drop during Black Napkins and Watermelon in Easter Hay. The highlight is a tight version of the challenging The Torture Never Stops, Many musicians have dropped the ball during this one, but they bring it home safely.

ZAPPATiKA: "From Glasgow to the Isle of Wight" replaces "Live on the Isle of Wight"' album

ZAPPATiKA have been forced to shelf the release of their album Live on the Isle of Wight album. The masters have been lost and another copy of the files sounded like shit. They are now busy mastering the tracks for a replacement album. For From Glasgow to the Isle of Wight, they picked tracks from their 2017 UK "Tour Britannia".

ZAPPATiKA: new album "Live on the Isle of Wight" in October

ZAPPATiKA will their new album Live on the Isle of Wight in October. Originally scheduled for June 1st it will available as free download. It captures their show @ The 1st Floor in Newport on the Isle of Wight on April 23 this year.

ZAPPATiKA: new album "Live on the Isle of Wight" June 1st

ZAPPATiKA will their new album Live on the Isle of Wight on June 1st. It captures their show @ The 1st Floor in Newport on April 23.

. They are sharing streams of Montana and Keep It Greasy.

ZAPPATiKA: Newport (Isle of Wight) added to UK tour in April

ZAPPATiKA have a show in Newport (Isle of Wight) to their UK tour. The date in Edinburgh (April 13) feel through, but they will be playing in Glasgow instead. Expect a performance of Zappa music and general freak out stuff happening on stage.

Live dates:

• 04/08 Ashford @ The Attic
• 04/09 London (Camden) @ The Underground
• 04/10 Oxford (Witney) @ Fat Lil's
• 04/11 Exeter @ Phoenix Arts Centre
• 04/12 Northampton @ King Billy Rock Bar
• 04/13 Glasgow @ Grand Electric Theatre
• 04/14 Carlisle @ The Venue
• 04/15 Liverpool @ The Zanzibar Club
• 04/16 Derby @ The Hairy Dog
• 04/17 York @ Fibbers
• 04/18 Barnsley @ The Londoner
• 04/19 Birmingham @ The Roadhouse
• 04/20 Swansea @ The Scene Club
• 04/21 Cheltenham @ Frog & Fiddle
• 04/22 Taunton (Bridgwater) @ Cobblestones
• 04/23 Newport (Isle of Wight) @ The 1st Floor

ZAPPATiKA: Ashford & Barnsley added to UK tour in April

ZAPPATiKA have added shows in Ashford (April 8) Barnsley (April 18) to their UK tour. Expect a performance of Zappa music and general freak out stuff happening on stage.

Live dates:

• 04/08 Ashford @ The Attic
• 04/09 London (Camden) @ The Underground
• 04/10 Oxford (Witney) @ Fat Lil's
• 04/11 Exeter @ Phoenix Arts Centre
• 04/12 Northampton @ King Billy Rock Bar
• 04/13 Edinburgh @ La Belle Angel
• 04/14 Carlisle @ The Venue
• 04/15 Liverpool @ The Zanzibar Club
• 04/16 Derby @ The Hairy Dog
• 04/17 York @ Fibbers
• 04/18 Barnsley @ The Londoner
• 04/19 Birmingham @ The Roadhouse
• 04/20 Swansea @ The Scene Club
• 04/21 Cheltenham @ Frog & Fiddle
• 04/22 Taunton (Bridgwater) @ Cobblestones

ZAPPATiKA: Live @ The Sound Dog in Breda, The Netherlands - January 27, 2017

Ready to crank some Frank? Here's a soundboard recording of the ZAPPATiKA show @ The Sound Dog in Breda, The Netherlands - January 27, 2017.

ZAPPATiKA:
Zap Mcinnes (UK): guitar & vocals
Hieronymus van Dam (NL): synth, vocals, percussion, keys
Diego Mocci (ITA): drums
Joep Oosterbaan (NL: bass
Emile Chill (USA): guitar & vocals
Osman Meyredi (ITA): keyboards & vocals

Setlist:

1. City of Tiny Lights
2. Broken Hearts are for Assholes
3. Cosmic Debris
4. More Trouble Every Day
5. The Torture Never Stops
6. Black Napkins
7. Ms Pinky
8. I am the Slime
9. Zoot Allures > Whippin' Post
10. Why does it hurt when I pee?
11. Andy
12. Keep it Greasy
13. Encore: Camarillo Brillo > Muffin Man

ZAPPATiKA: UK tour in April

ZAPPATiKA will lie low for awhile after they have performed another Zappy New Year Show @ Sound Dog in Breda, The Netherlands on January 27th. They will back in force in April, with a month long UK tour.

Live dates:

• 04/08 TBC
• 04/09 London (Camden) @ The Underground
• 04/10 Oxford (Witney) @ Fat Lil's
• 04/11 Exeter @ Phoenix Arts Centre
• 04/12 Northampton @ King Billy Rock Bar
• 04/13 Edinburgh @ La Belle Angel
• 04/14 Carlisle @ The Venue
• 04/15 Liverpool @ The Zanzibar Club
• 04/16 Derby @ The Hairy Dog
• 04/17 York @ Fibbers
• 04/19 Birmingham @ The Roadhouse
• 04/20 Swansea @ The Scene Club
• 04/21 Cheltenham @ Frog & Fiddle
• 04/22 Taunton (Bridgwater) @ Cobblestones
• 04/23 TBC

» ZAPPATiKA on Facebook

HCTF review of Welcome to the Starlight Lounge (Ike Willis & ZAPPATiKA featuring Jeff Hollie & Craig Twister Steward).

ZAPPATiKA: another Zappy New Year Show in Breda

The new ZAPPATiKA line-up will perform another Zappy New Year Show, 3 sets of Frank Zappa's music, @ Sound Dog in Breda, The Netherlands on January 27th.

Live dates:

• 01/13 Leiden, The Netherlands @ Qbus Club
• 01/27 Breda, The Netherlands @ Sound Dog

ZAPPATiKA: A Zappy New Year Show

The new ZAPPATiKA line-up will perform A Zappy New Year Show, 3 sets of Frank Zappa's music @ Qbus Club in Leiden, The Netherlands on January 13th. The show will be recorded fully in HD-video & 24-track audio.

Jeff Hollie (USA): saxophone & vocals
Zap Mcinnes (UK): guitar & vocals
Hieronymus van Dam (NL): synth, vocals, percussion, keys
Diego Mocci (ITA): drums
Joep Oosterbaan (NL: bass
Emile Chill (USA): guitar & vocals
Osman Meyredi (ITA): keyboards & vocals

» ZAPPATiKA on Facebook

HCTF review of Welcome to the Starlight Lounge (Ike Willis & ZAPPATiKA featuring Jeff Hollie & Craig Twister Steward).

ZAPPATiKA: first show with the new lineup in The Hague

The new ZAPPATiKA lineup is busy rehearsing for their upcoming tour. The first show has just been announced. On November 25th they will hit the stage at Musicon in The Hague, The Netherlands.

The all new line up of ZAPPATiKA plays its first show in The Netherlands celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Frank Zappa's first official release. A 3 hour tribute concert of Frank Zappa music.

Tickets will be available very soon from musicon.nl.

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.