Soul Food Café are building a following through gigs in Forres, Moray and the Highlands
“We’re on a mission from a higher power to keep music live!”
A local nine-piece band is building a following after successful gigs in the town centre attended by rhythm ‘n’ blues fans of all ages from all over Moray.
Soul Food Café, fronted by singer and moothie player, Krzystof ‘Zed’ Zajacskowski , aim to spread the gospel ‘nothing puts a smile on your face and a wiggle in your step like a tight, professional performance from a seasoned soul act’!
“We have a cracking set list and not too modest to say, a brilliant sound,” explained Zed, “and we’re all about gigging. Live soul and blues is medicine - you can’t help but move to the energy and rhythm of timeless covers.”
Musicians with decades of experience formed Soul Food Café over the last three years to put on shows inspired by classic acts such as The Blues Brothers, The Commitments, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and The Rolling Stones.
“We love modern music too,” added Zed, “and obviously there's a song for every occasion but they don’t make them like they used to!
“Besides, the average age of the band means we’ve gained wisdom with our great taste in music!”
Inspiring their audiences to stand up, get down and boogie, Soul Food Café consider themselves a dance band like their heroes, the famous Motown acts of the sixties and seventies.
Zed added: “Alongside the high tempo stuff, we have a more gritty side inspired by a time when music was more honest and real. Dirty ol’ blues with slide guitar, lead male vocals and harmonica with the energy of Dr Feelgood and Rory Gallagher. Rhythm 'n' blues as it should be.”
All of the band live in Moray, most of them in, or close to, Forres and Findhorn. Some are self-taught but all are lifelong musicians who have played in bands for decades.
“We all come from different musical worlds,” said Zed. “The bassist was into reggae; the sax player, jazz; the pianist is a folkie; the guitarist, a rocker; the harmonica player is a blues man; the drummer is an Ozzie muso; and the singer is a punk!
“We get together once-a-week to practice. We drink beer, put the world to rights, argue then rehearse till it’s grooving. It can be telepathic which is a joy to be a part of.”
Soul Food Café have so far played The Eagle Bar, Universal Hall, Forres Town Hall, The Tolbooth Courtroom and on Forres High Street.
“The response has been amazing,” said Zed. “Live music brings so much to the area. It's an incredible feeling to get an instant reaction, see folk dancing to and appreciating the music.
“We plan to keep working hard to improve the experience with more energy, tighter sounds and set-up, developing what we have for even bigger stages.”
