Ostrich Records are very excited to announce their first ever event, featuring Glaswegian Doom-Jazz outfit AKU!

Weaving together a searing mix of expressive and inspired solos, incessant and pulsating grooves, and explosive and compelling heads in a fashion that has been described as both cathartic and mind-blowing, home-grown and hard-boiled Glaswegian Doom Jazz forerunners AKU! are a force to be reckoned with.

Led by saxophonist and FX wizard Harry Weir, and featuring trombonist and equally proficient FX master Liam Shortall and drummer Graham Costello, the group blend a varied stylistic mix that draws from a number of sources, including, but certainly not limited to, Afrobeat, Noise-Rock, Spiritual, Dub, Hard Bop, and Hip Hop, with the intention to follow in the footsteps of artists and influences such as Death Grips, Sons of Kemet, Fela Kuti, and The Thing.

Generating a truly raw and unique sound that sees the gargantuan blowing powers of Weir and Shortall trading between the roles of a rhythm and a frontline section over the top of the continually thundering and technically dazzling skills of Costello, AKU! have attracted accolade after accolade for their fresh and deeply evocative style. Performing at some of Scotland’s top jazz festivals including Islay and Dundee, as well as performing and speaking on Rebecca Vasmant’s show on Worldwide FM in London, AKU! have earned themselves several nominations, notably, ‘Best Band’ at the Scottish Jazz Awards.

AKU! released their debut EP ‘Blind Fury’ on Bristol label Worm Discs in November 2020, now available on Bandcamp and all major streaming services.

We cannot wait to welcome them to the Flying Duck for what’s to be a truly triumphant and blistering doom jazz tour-de-force following an 18 month absence of gigs!

See you there…