Callum Connell - Drummer & Mix Engineer

British jazz, funk, and street soul masters, Secret Night Gang, led by Manchester natives and childhood friends Kemani Anderson and Callum Connell, spread their uplifting, transcendent, and genre-blending street soul sound through dynamic melodies and jazz-inflected soul prowess, renewing the musical frontiers of the genres. Handpicked in 2021 by legendary broadcaster, DJ, producer, and Brownswood label head honcho Gilles Peterson from Manchester’s vibrant live music scene, the band has since been championed by a wide range of tastemakers, including Rolling Stone, Clash magazine, Jazz FM, Jamie Cullum, and Bandcamp, just to mention a few. "It’s an extraordinary level of musical competence at such a young age. It’s incredibly complete music, tight arrangements and with far reaching musical ambition." (Gilles Peterson) 2021 saw the release of their first self-titled album Secret Night Gang, and a nomination for Breakthrough Act of the Year 2021 at the Jazz FM Awards, as well as for the Worldwide FM Awards for Track of the Year. Selling out shows at Ronnie Scott’s and Jazz Café in London and appearing at festivals such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, Montreux Jazz, and Primavera Sound, they have built a reputation as a must-see live act with memorable performances alongside a collection of today’s leading jazz musicians. In addition to supporting Khruangbin on their UK/EU Tour in 2022, which included a date at London’s Alexandra Palace. "A neat earworm that melds together jazz dance aspects with neo-soul and electronic club sounds" (Clash Magazine) June 2023 brought around the release of their second album Belongs on a Place Called Earth, which takes you through a roller coaster of emotions and received rave reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone, and inclusion on Spotify playlists such as New Music Friday Japan, Midnight Chill, Aloe, and the cover of Bandcamp’s Weekly radio show by Aly Gillani, WordPlay magazine, and many more. The glorious return of acid jazz. Their performances are an immersive experience, watching them enter a flow state so permeable your body may only be swaying, but your soul is on stage with them, enslaved to their groove. OnesToWatch.com The release of the new album led the band to appear at festivals including Love Supreme, Poland’s Jassmine, We Out Here, Cross the Tracks, and Worldwide Festival in France, and they also accompanied Cory Wong on his UK tour. 2024 promises to be an exciting year for Secret Night Gang, with new music is on the horizon, but at present, it is a tightly kept secret.