News
Latest music, Masterlink Sessions notes, tour updates and project stories from Redtenbacher's Funkestra.
319 posts
I nearly turned down the opportunity to play bass with the Pete Roth Trio featuring Bill Bruford. Instead, the concerts in the UK, Estonia and Canada became a genuine career milestone—and reshaped how I think about trust, risk and live performance.
Read story
FUNKOPIA Press Reviews — What the Critics Say What do the people say about FUNKOPIA? FUNKOPIA is Redtenbacher’s Funkestra’s 30th-anniversary album: ten original tracks shaped by long-standing musical relationships, live-in-the-studio sessions and a shared commitment to groove, detail and musical conversation. Since its release, writers, broadcasters and listeners have responded to the record from several…
Read story
Greg Coulson & Redtenbacher’s Funkestra – “Thank You Super Sledgehammer” A live band takes on an unlikely musical collision What happens when Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” meets Sly & The Family Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)”? In this case, it became a live-in-the-studio performance that gave every musician in the room something…
Read story
No Future Blues — Chris Booth x Redtenbacher’s Funkestra A live performance built around Chris Booth’s original song “No Future Blues” began with Chris Booth’s song and his voice at the centre of the room. Chris came to Masterlink with an original that needed space, grit and forward motion. The Funkestra approached it as a…
Read story
Jess Hayes & Redtenbacher’s Funkestra – “Distance” A live-in-the-studio take on Yebba’s “Distance” Some songs do not need to be made bigger. They need the right people in the room, the confidence to leave space, and an arrangement that follows the vocal rather than competing with it. That was the starting point for our live-in-the-studio…
Read story
Lovefool Part One & Part Two with Redtenbacher’s Funkestra Lovefool Part One and Lovefool Part Two present a two-part reworking of the Cardigans classic by Georgia Van Etten, Redtenbacher’s Funkestra and the Masterlink Sessions Big Band. Instead of treating Lovefool as a single straight cover, the arrangement opens the song into two contrasting versions. Each…
Read story
Stefan Redtenbacher as Musical Director for Zildjian UK Young Drummer of the Year 2026 Stefan Redtenbacher served as Musical Director for the Zildjian UK Young Drummer of the Year 2026, hosted by Mike Dolbear at Lighthouse Arts Centre, Poole, composing the set piece “Lifeblood” and performing live with finalists. Zildjian UK Young Drummer of the…
Read story
Nurgles – A New Masterlink Sessions Release Masterlink Sessions presents Nurgles, an original instrumental composition by Liam Dunachie, performed with Redtenbacher’s Funkestra and captured live at Masterlink Productions. Centred around the Hammond organ and driven by a focused, forward-moving boogaloo groove, Nurgles reflects the Masterlink Sessions commitment to documenting musicians in real time — with…
Read story
SPOTIFY WRAPPED 2025 – THE LOW DOWN Spotify has released its 2025 Wrapped for artists – the annual 13-slide snapshot covering listeners, hours streamed, countries reached and more. The Funkestra’s numbers look strong, but raw stats only tell part of the story. For the first time, I’ve taken a closer look at how these figures…
Read story
The Lamb of Funk – Redtenbacher’s Funkestra & Horn House We’re proud to release The Lamb of Funk – Redtenbacher’s Funkestra & Horn House, the final single before our new album FUNKOPIA drops on October 3. Rooted in Jazz Funk and Fusion, this collaboration reflects the spirit of Funkestra’s 30-year journey. From jam to Jazz…
Read story
Crowbar – Funkestra x Horn House (Masterlink Sessions) Crowbar is out now – the penultimate single before our new album FUNKOPIA drops on October 3. This release is a collaboration between Redtenbacher’s Funkestra, Horn House and the Masterlink Sessions, reflecting the spirit of creative partnership that has driven Funkestra for three decades. The Music Crowbar…
Read story
Live-in-studio soul for lovers: Any Old Sunday — Jess Hayes x Redtenbacher’s Funkestra (Live Chaka Khan Cover) Introduction — live-in-studio soul for lovers Out now: “Any Old Sunday” with Jess Hayes (Connolly Hayes) and Redtenbacher’s Funkestra—a one-take Any Old Sunday live cover tracked at our Surrey Hills base. This is live-in-studio soul for lovers: warm…
Read story