BIOGRAPHY
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New Zealand-born, South London-based, oft’ wandering, Garth Cartwright is an an authority on Romany Gypsy culture & music, American roots music (blues, soul, Mexican, Native, country, funk, rock'n'roll), alternative literature and adventure travel. He writes on music, travel, film, art, society and whatever else inspires him. He is the author of two books: His writing appears in numerous nonfiction books including The Rough Guide To World Music, Time Out 1000 Songs To Change Your Life, Whole Lotta Zepplin, The Rough Guide To Playlists etc. He wrote the forward to Roots: The Gipsy Kings & Their Journey, penned a human rights report ‘A Little Bit Special’: Censorship & Romania’s Gypsy Musicians (www.freemuse.org) and a World Music Guide for Tower Records (RIP). |
He regularly contributes features to the following: Sunday Times, The Guardian, fRoots, Songlines, The Listener (NZ) and occasionally broadcasts for the World Service arts programme The Strand.
He has written sleeve notes (and often compiled) dozen of albums. These include Rai: The Best Of The Original North African Groove, Country Outlaws, Native American, The Essential Guide To Gospel, The Essential Guide To American Roots Music and lots of Balkan Gypsy albums including Princes Amongst Men – the soundtrack to the book on Asphalt Tango).
Garth DJs with Leon Parker as Princes Amongst Men playing Gypsy music from Europe’s frayed edges. They have a monthly residency at The Ritzy cinema, Brixton, SW8. Check on myspace.com/princesamongstmen2007 for upcoming dates.
Garth has several writing projects underway. These include a reflection on New Zealand, essays on select American musicians, a look at the late, great British record shop and some genre fiction. When any of these near publication then info will be pasted here.