The ‘good times’ come to Limerick this weekend when Nile Rodgers and Chic bring the party Live at The Big Top on Friday 25. The ‘70s disco legend has written, produced or played on $2billion worth of worldwide chart hits. He stole the show at Glastonbury 2013 and produced Daft Punk’s summer hit, ‘Get Lucky’.
Formed in 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards, Chic produced some of the best known and most influential hits of the disco era, such as ‘Good Times’, ‘I Want Your Love’, ‘Everybody Dance’ and ‘Le Freak’.
The Bernard Edwards bassline on ‘Good Times’ formed the basis of hip hop’s first major hit, ‘Rappers Delight’. Chic’s productions created hits for Sister Sledge, ‘We Are Family’ and ‘Lost in Music’. Chic’s collaborations with Diana Ross produced, ‘I’m Coming Out’ and ‘Upside Down’. Nile Rodgers produced and lent his funky guitar riffs to David Bowie’s ‘Let’s Dance’, Madonna’s ‘Like A Virgin’ and Duran Duran’s ‘Notorious’. A Chic live show celebrates all these hits. Describing his live show, Nile Rodgers stated in an interview with Irish Times, “When we play live, we want to play music you can dance your heart out to. You can just forget about everything else and be free.”
Chic made their Irish debut at 2009’s Electric Picnic playing to thousands in a heaving Electric Arena. It was the gig of the festival in many opinions. Since then regular festival appearances like Galway Arts Festival and Forbidden Fruit have cemented the band’s reputation as one of the best heritage acts on the circuit.
In 2012 Nile Rodgers collaborated on Daft Punk’s ‘Random Access Memories’ album. He co-wrote and played guitar on three tracks including the singles ‘Get Lucky’ and ‘Lose Yourself to Dance’ which are drenched in Rodgers’ vintage driving funky guitar riffs. In the Summer of 2013 ‘Get Lucky’ made Top 10 in 32 countries and has since sold over 7million copies. Nile calls his trusted 40 year-old Fender Stratocaster guitar ‘The Hitmaker’, with good reason – it can be heard on $2billion dollars worth of hits. Chic have yet to play ‘Get Lucky’ live, Nile stated to NME recently, “The first time I really play it, I want to play it with them [Daft Punk]”. That Daft Punk tour may not happen until 2016 according to current music press rumours.
Nile Rodgers as musician, producer, author and interviewee is in high demand today. He produced ‘Lay Me Down’ with Avicii for the Swede’s debut album which features mega hit ‘Wake Me Up’. Rodger’s collaborations will continue with UK Mercury Prize nominated ‘Disclosure’ and further work with Daft Punk in the new year on previously unheard Chic recordings.
Chase & Status and Felix da Housecat will also benefit from his productions.
Nile Rodgers will have plenty to celebrate at his Limerick debut this weekend. He recently tweeted that he got the ‘all clear’ from doctors: he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010.
He said last week, “I am truly grateful, my journey back to normal has been tough. As of today all of my tests are clean.”
Nile Rodgers & Chic perform Live at The Big Top, Milkmarket Limerick, Friday October 25.
The party does not stop after Chic’s show. Dolan’s is hosting the Chic After Party which will be Access All Areas night with DJs Aoife Nic Canna and Paul Tarpey in The Warehouse, with Lenny and A2DF on the Terrace all keeping the funky disco, soul and R’n’B vibes and basslines playing into the night. Members of Limerick buzz band Leading Armies will be on-stage in the bar.
