MUSIC FFF. Friday, 9pm, Bar City, New World Centre, $140 Le French May continues with the celebration of all things gallic, in this instance with a performance by FFF - the initials stand for the French Funk Federation, or, if you prefer, the Federation Francaise de Fonck.
The ensemble mix jazz, funk and heavy metal, taking their cues from artists such as George Clinton, James Brown, Sly Stone, Living Colour and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The band made a splash with a first album produced by Bill Laswell, and broke out of the francophone market with their second release, recorded in English.
Celine Dion's sales eluded them however, and they returned to French for their latest album, Eponyme, but stayed with the American street-music themes of AIDS, drugs, racial, discrimination and sex.
Bar City is a curious choice of venue for them, but the band are said to be at their best live. Last year they won an award for Best Concert of the Year at France's Victoires de la Musique ceremony.
Jam Night. Wednesday, 9pm, The Wanch, free An informal jam session at which the various players who perform regularly at the Wanch reassemble in different line-ups, soloists get a chance to try out their material, and, well, anything can happen.
If the performers at last weekend's Wan Chai Live festival held at The Wanch and its sister bar, Carnegies, are anything to go by, there is a lot of talent out there worth hearing. The venue can get a little oppressive when crowded, but you can stand out in the street with a drink and still see and hear quite a lot of what is going on.