Acantha Lang
New Orleans Soul & Funk
PERFORMANCE TIME: SUNDAY 25 AUGUST, 4.00PM
On 30th June 2023, New Orleans-born (now London-based) rising Soul artist Acantha Lang released her anticipated debut album ‘Beautiful Dreams’ on her own record label, Magnolia Blue Records, distributed by Kartel Music Group.
‘Beautiful Dreams’ arrives on the heels of some huge achievements for Acantha. She recently had her US TV debut on the acclaimed CBS Saturday Morning show, where she performed three tracks from the album to over 3 million+ viewers. A steadily burgeoning career songwriting for the GRAMMY-nominated Robert Randolph and earning endorsements from legends like Joe Bonamassa, Robert Elms, and noted tastemaker Craig Charles (BBC 6Music Funk & Soul Show / BBC Radio 2) who distinguished Acantha as “brilliant… an independent artist destined for world domination” in the liner notes of his recent compilation album The Craig Charles Trunk of Funk Volume 2, which featured her hit single ‘He Said/She Said.
Charles has also played every single to date and interviewed Acantha on-air. Additional UK radio support has come from x2 Jazz FM B-Listed singles and interviews with DJ Deb Grant and ‘On My Playlist’ feature by Yolanda Brown, plus various BBC Radio interviews, including BBC London with Robert Elms, BBC Essex, and BBC Bristol.
In 2021, she was awarded ‘The New Artist of the Year Award’ (Soul Tracks Readers’ Choice Awards) & ‘Blues Artist of the Year Award’ presented by Jools Holland (Boisdale Music Awards). She was accepted into the Recording Academy’s (Grammy) 2022-member class and her single “It’s Gonna Be Alright” was on the first round of ballots in three categories for the 65th Grammy Awards nominations. Her music has over 1.6 million streams and has been playlisted on top Spotify playlists including earning a spot-on Spotify’s Best Retro Songs of 2021 and Best Funk Songs of 2022 playlist.
In the States, Acantha received the acclaimed KCRW ’Top Tune of the Day’ for her single ‘Ride This Train’ and was interviewed on iHeart’s Night Traxx radio out of Houston, Texas (1m+ listens worldwide) on release day.
Acantha’s debut ‘Beautiful Dreams’ effortlessly blends Stax-inspired funk with Southern blues, as she tells highly personal tales atop spirited, shimmering grooves.
Her storytelling style harkens to age-old blues traditions while grounding itself in contemporary themes. Armed with passion, a unique perspective, and a voice that stops people in their tracks, Acantha Lang’s full-length debut ‘Beautiful Dream’ is destined to propel her from an undiscovered gem into the pantheon of modern soul greats.
WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK OUR PARTNERS OF THE FREE MUSIC PROGRAMME FOR THEIR SUPPORT:
KINO CINEMA RYE, BALFOUR WINERY, PHILLPS & STUBBS, THE RYE RETREAT, BRAMLEY & TEAL HOLIDAY COTTAGES, WILSON WILSON & HANCKOCK, JEMPSONS SUPERMARKETS, ROTHER DISTRICT COUNCIL, PARKER BUILDING SUPPLIES, HERINGTONS SOLICITORS, ARTHUR C TOWNER, SUSSEX PLUMBING SUPPLIES, EAST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL, LAYFIELD'S.
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