The unstoppable James Brown is still bringing his infectious music to the stage after nearly 50 years in the business.

In the early '60s he began to dominate the R&B charts with his indomitable, gospel singing style and then reshaped the genre into funk for the '70s. For the last two decades his presence has been felt all over the rap world and he remains one of the most sample artists in hip-hop.

James Brown was born into poverty in South Carolina during the Great Depression and was sent to reform school at the age of sixteen. Brown was secured an early release by singer Bobby Byrd who convinced Brown to join his group, the Gospel Starlighters.

With Brown in tow, The Starlighters became the R&B group, The Flames and recorded a demo, "Please, Please, Please" which caught the attention of King Records. King Records re-released the record as James Brown and The Famous Flames the single rose to number 5 in the US R&B charts.

By 1963, James Brown was an R&B sensation whose incredible live show sent audiences into hysteria as witnessed on the live album, Live At The Apollo. Brown became a regular face in the '60's charts with hit singles like "Night Train", "Papa's Gotta A Brand New Bag", "I Got You (I Feel Good) and "It's A Man's Man's Man's World".

In the late '60s, Brown began to pare his arrangements back to the bare essentials with his band working out over anthem filled choruses like "Say it Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud", "Cold Sweat" and "Get Up, I Feel Like A Sex Machine".This stripped down, more uptight version of R&B heralded the funk era and Brown was the "Funky President".

In the early '70s, James Brown unveiled his new backing band, The JBs and continued to score hits with songs like, "The Payback", "My Thang" and "Papa Don't Take No Mess (Part 1)". Although Brown's suffered in the disco era, he became an immeasurable influence on the burgeoning rap scene and was back in the charts in the mid '80s with "Living in America".

A man with untold influence in contemporary music, Brown's ingenious and innovative rhythms can be heard in the music of countless artists from Sinead O'Connor to Public Enemy to The Stone Roses.

James Brown remains "The Hardest Working Man in Showbusiness" and this show at Oxegen from The Godfather of Soul will have the audience in nothing short of a funky cold sweat.

Dublinks Oxegen Preview
Saturday Listings
Sunday Listings

James Brown

Oxegen 2006

Buy Tickets

Tickets: €160 for a weekend ticket with camping
              €130 for a weekend ticket without camping
              €69.50 for a day tickets

Tickets are available from Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.ie

Oxegen
Punchestown Racecourse,
Kildare.
Tel: + 353 (0) 818 719 300