Friends,

Gong Hay Fat Choy! We are honored to have the first BLESSED of 2011 land on the same week as the Chinese New Year. The year of the Rabbit is traditionally associated with home and family, artistic pursuits, diplomacy, and keeping the peace. Therefore, 2011 is very likely to be a relatively calmer one than 2010 on our world, East Bay, and personal scenes. BLESSED will continue to be a sanctuary of peace, pleasure, community, and celebration for dancers and music lovers. 2011 will also see new art movements projecting a distinct local and global identity taking the world by storm, which is no surprise for us because Oaktown's explosive renaissance with its creative artists and collectives has already drawn worldwide attention.

Speaking of renaissance, joining Ra fe' EL, Kimani, and Discaya on the decks will be special guest, DJ Said of Fatsouls Records (www.fatsoulsrecords.com); this man does it all - record label owner, music producer, event promoter, and dj. After a decade of producing, promoting, and spinning San Francisco events such as the legendary party Atmosfere, Said launched Fatsouls Records in 2007. The Fatsouls label aims to release organic and soulful dance music with an emphasis on Afrobeat, Dub, Deep House, minimal tech and other Afro rhythms. Said and his label have gained a very strong following over the years working with artists like Francois K, Joe Claussell, Kerri Chandler, Ron Trent, Dennis Ferrer, Jerome Sydenham, Alton Miller, Barbara Mendez, DJ Yellow, Lisa Shaw, Stephen Rigmaiden, Hideo Kobayashi, Capitol A, among many others. In addition to Fatsouls, Said has a score of releases on other house music labels like Wave Music, Ibadan Records, and Chez Music. Said is also currently the promoter and resident dj of the San Francisco monthly "We & The Music". Come get BLESSED with Fatsouls!

The essentials:
BLESSED - Saturday February 5, 2011 - 9pm-2am
You!

Special Guest: DJ Said (Fatsouls Records)
FREE!
Somar Bar
1727 Telegraph
Oakland, Ca.
Resident Soulful Music Selectas:
Ra fe' EL
Discaya
Kimani

Past DIVINYL ECHO guest DJs:
Stephen Rigmaiden
Trinidadian Deep
David Harness
Nesto Fuentez
Patrick Wilson
Rahiem Jihad
Rob Rhythm
Ace & Gunz
Lito Carrillo
donGuapo
Don Crisp
Pete Avila
Deepcee
Sobeeze
Jere Bui
Kincaid
Rasoul
Imani
Cali

BLESSED
(every first Saturday of the month)
'Your soul will thank you for it'
Love,
Divinyl Echo