DJs battle all weekend - 21st & 22nd November

Maybe it's something about the cold winter air that makes us DJs feel all competitive, but the last ever Wheelie Bag Clash took place last Sunday at the 100 Club and now there are two more clashes to look forward to this coming weekend!

First of all is The Sagaboys DJ Cup Clash on Friday 21st November in Clapton. I am taking part in this myself and would love to see some of you down there. It's hotting up to be quite a night so make sure you bring your whistles and make some noise! For full details see my previous blog post here.

Then on Saturday 22nd November some of the biggest revival reggae DJs in London are gathering to clash in Dalston. Names include Gladdy Wax, Tiny T and Asher G (The Rocksteady Daddy). One things for sure, this will be quite a contest with some amazing tunes being showcased. Especially as the winner will walk away with £1000 (the winner of the Sagaboys Clash just gets a trophy!)

Details as follows:

I Remember That! (clash and dance) @ Bar 512
Saturday 22nd November 2008
512 Kingsland Road, Dalston, London, E8 4AE
10pm - 5am
admission: £7

Thank you for the music

More sad news today. I was shocked to read of the death of legendary South African singer Miriam Makeba - also known as Mama Afrika.

You can read the story here: www.miriammakeba.co.za

This comes just days after the death of Byron Lee whose band The Dragonaires were responsible for some of the finest ska, rocksteady, calypso and reggae recordings of the 1960s.

Despite the joy the news of Barack Obama being elected the first black president of the United States has brought to the world, this is a sad time as we have lost so many inspiring musical heroes during the last few weeks, including one of my all time favourite singers - Alton Ellis.

Read more about the passing of Alton Ellis, Byron Lee and other Jamaican greats here

Other legends who have just recently passed away are Levi Stubbs (lead singer of The Four Tops), Dee Dee Warwick (soul singer and sister of Dionne Warwick) and Andrew "Mike" Terry (Funk Brother and Detroit saxophonist who played on so many of the great 60s soul tunes).

This coming weekend I am playing Right On! sets at The Vibe Bar and Ronnie Scott's and am dedicating the sessions to the memory of all these wonderful singers and musicians. I will be paying tribute by playing many of their fantastic and life-affirming recordings. Their music will live forever.

Skatalites live at The Albany - 5th December

The world's greatest ska band, The Skatalites, are to play live at The Albany on Friday 5th December. This is their only London date this year so don't miss it!

These internationally renowned veteran musicians are true masters of ska, rocksteady and reggae. Original members Lloyd Knibb, Lester Sterling and vocalist Doreen Shaffer are complemented by talented musicians like Cedric "Im" Brooks and Vin Gordon (aka Don Drummond Jr).

"The Skatalites - Jamaica's answer to the Motown house band and Booker T. and the MG's combined" - Rolling Stone

The Skatalites live @ The Albany
Douglas Way, Deptford, London, SE8 4AG
Friday 5th December
Doors: 7.30pm

Tickets: £15 in advance or £20 on the door. All tickets are standing only.

Box Office: (020) 8692 4446
www.thealbany.org.uk

For more information about the Skatalites, visit their website: www.skatalites.com

Jean-Paul enters DJ Clash - Fri 21 Nov

I'm taking part in the the 2nd Annual Sagaboys DJ Cup Clash on Friday 21st November 2008 and need your support. Admission is free so come down and cheer me on! Last year I came second out of twelve DJs, losing only to Daddee Samson. I'd never taken part in a clash before so wasn't quite sure what to expect, but this year I am fully prepared and want to win the cup from him!

Crowd response plays a big part in judging the DJs, so the more people who come down and clap and cheer for me the better.

The Sagaboys are one of Europe's leading Soca crews and they have many talented soca and reggae DJs amongst them. The music played at this clash is primarily soca and reggae, though there should also be a freestyle round where anything goes (soul, funk, rare groove, etc.)

Like last year, I will be representing the foundations of these genres with my collection of rare calypso, mento, rocksteady and early reggae on original vinyl. If you love this music then please come along. You'll hear some great tunes and be supporting one of the few DJs in London playing old-school calypso to the masses.

You'll also hear some fantastic music courtesy of Daddee Samson, Lady Heartbeat and others, who will certainly be putting up quite a fight.

Details as follows:

The 2nd Annual Sagaboys DJ Cup Clash
Friday 21st November 2008
@ Sam Uhriah House
136 - 142 Lower Clapton Road, London, E5 0QJ
9pm - 2am
FREE entry

Defending the 2007 cup: Daddee Samson

Registered contestants so far: Jean-Paul Séculaire (Right On!), Junior Passion (Klimax Radio), Musik Lover, Paradise Vibes, Zigzag, Nexus, DJ Serenity (Klimax Radio), Lady Heartbeat

MC for the night: Sagaboy Phil Fingarz (Tempo Radio)

You can hear the radio jingle on my MySpace page:
www.myspace.com/rightonclub

Right On! weekend - 14-15 November - Vibe Bar & Ronnie Scott's

I'm extremely sorry to announce that I just received a phone call telling me the management of Ronnie Scott's have cancelled my night there tomorrow (15 Nov). Apparently they double booked the venue and forgot to tell the promoters and DJs until this evening! Unfortunately there was absolutely nothing I could do to change this decision.

All I can do is offer my sincerest apologies to you all. Especially for the unbelievably short notice. If I had any idea this could have happened I would never have arranged the night there.

Not only has this messed up my night and wasted many hours of my time spent in promoting and preparing it, but another 100 or more people have also had their Saturday night messed up including people who were going to celebrate their birthday there and some who had planned to travel from outside of London.

Please could I ask you to pass this information on to anyone you know who might be planning on attending tomorrow night? I would really hate for anyone to waste their time and money travelling down there.

I can only apologise again and assure you I will do everything in my power to never allow this to happen again at any venue I DJ at in the future.

Fortunately tonight (Friday the 14th November) is still happening, so come down to Chick-A-Boom at The Vibe Bar to hear me and Mistah Brown plus special guest Andy Smith (Portishead, Jazz Cafe, Lost & Found, Document, etc.). We'll be playing plenty of ska, reggae, Northern soul and rockin' rhythm & blues.

Chick-A-Boom @ The Vibe Bar
Friday 14th November
The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
8pm - 1am. £5 (NB. over 21s only)

Roy Shirley memorial concert - 30 Aug

The friends and family of rocksteady legend Roy Shirley are hosting a memorial concert on Saturday 30th August.

Artists paying their respects on the night include: Derrick Morgan, Owen Gray, Winston Francis, Dennis Alcapone, BB Seaton, Earl Sixteen and Lloyd Brown.

There will also be radio DJs and sound system operators spinning reggae classics.

Doors open from 8pm til very late and the show begins at midnight. Admission is just £10 with all proceeds going to the Roy Shirley Foundation.

The Roy Shirley Memorial
@ The Silent Whispers Club
21-23 Sedgwick Street, Homerton, Hackney, E9 6AA
30th August 2008. From 8pm
£10

Walking In Rhythm @ Ronnie Scott's - 6 September

After running successfully every Friday for more than 6 months, Walking In Rhythm is to relaunch as a weekly Saturday session upstairs at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Club on the 6th September.

Thanks to two fantastic nights earlier in the year, I have been asked back by resident DJ Jimbo to join him on the decks again at the relaunch party and will be playing another three hour Right On! style set - which means nothing but the finest vintage black dance music on original vinyl.

Expect to hear plenty of soul, rhythm & blues, jazz, funk, ska, reggae and boogaloo plus a touch of samba, mambo, calypso and other exciting sounds from myself and Jimbo.

This will be a unique night in one of the coolest venues in London (see photo) - reminiscent of the days when Right On! ran down the road in Chinatown.

And to guarantee a great crowd, I have been given an unlimited free guestlist for all my contacts. So, if you would like to come along without having to pay a penny, just drop me an email ASAP to paul@right-on.org with the full names of anyone thinking of coming along.

Walking In Rhythm @ Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club (upstairs bar)
47 Frith Street, Soho, London, W1D 4HT (opposite Bar Italia)
Saturday 6th September
9pm - 3am

To find out more about Ronnie Scott's Club visit their website:
www.ronniescotts.co.uk

V&A Motown Weekend - 5th-6th July

Another interesting event coming up at The Victoria & Albert Museum next weekend. To celebrate 50 years of Motown, and coinciding with the V&A's Supremes exhibition, the museum will be exploring the power of soul music, from "Stop in the Name of Love" to "Inner City Blues" and beyond. There will be films, talks, T-shirt printing, Supremes makeovers, dance routines and soul and funk chorus workshops.

On top of this, DJs such as Jo Wallace (Motown), Gladdy Wax and Mistah Brown will be providing a soundtrack of Motown, Northern Soul, Ska, Rocksteady and Afrobeat.

The whole event is absolutely free (note that the Supremes exhibition is not free however), so put on your best threads and get down to explore the impact and legacy of one of the most important record labels of all time.

For full details of this unique weekender, check out the V&A website:
vam.ac.uk/activ_events/events/motown_weekender/index.html

The Shingaling Thing club returns - 19th July

Two of my favourite DJs, Mark Ellis and Will Bourton, are relaunching their much-missed London club night - It's A Shingaling Thing! - at The Apple Tree pub on Saturday 19th July.

The Shingaling Thing at The Net Bar on Hanway Street was one of my favourite club nights because, quite simply, nowhere else played the same sort of quality jazz and Latin tunes. Amazingly it's been around 5 years since the last one, though in that time both Mark and Will have been busy DJing at other nights, such as my Home Cookin' jazz session.

Mark and Will are joined for this relaunch by special guests French Fred and Jo Sadler (both of whom guested at the club back in the day), so expect a top-notch mix of dancefloor jazz, Latin boogaloo, R&B, 60s soul and reggae.

The Apple Tree is found at: 45 Mount Pleasant, London, WC1X 0AE

Admission to the night is free and it runs from "8 til late".

Toots & The Maytals live - Wed 18 June

When I suggested the upcoming La-33 concert as possible gig of the year, I was of course forgetting that Toots and The Maytals are playing live at The Forum in Kentish Town this coming Wednesday (18th June).

I had the honour of DJing after their concert at Koko in Camden almost exactly two years ago and I have to say it was one of the best gigs I've ever been to. The band were on top form and Toots himself was phenomenal. He still had an extremely soulful voice and to be honest didn't sound very different from the records he recorded some 40 years ago.

Not only did the group sound fantastic, but their stamina was astounding. The length of the gig and the exhaustive selection of material from their back catalogue (including both classic and obscure ska, rocksteady, reggae and even mento) had me in awe. I was particularly excited when they played a ska version of "Louie, Louie" (to my knowledge, no ska version was ever recorded in the 1960s/1970s - The Maytals recorded it as a reggae)

So, this should certainly be another night to remember. And to top it off, I've been asked by Mark Lamarr to assist him with DJ duties again.

For full details of the gig and online booking visit The Forum website here or call 0844 847 2405

NOTE: This gig is apparently open to anyone aged 14+. So for the teenage readers who keep asking me where they can go to hear good music - well the answer is: here! (just don't forget your ID)

The last ever Tighten Up - 6 June

After 9 years (and only 4 months at its current venue) well respected London reggae club Tighten Up is to come to an end with one last event on Friday 6th June. Promoters Mistah Brown and Tim P have decided it's time to call it a day and plan to concentrate on other projects.

Special guest selectors for this farewell bash are the ever popular Asher G (The Rocksteady Daddy) and Bilko. Expect the usual mix of classic reggae, ska, rocksteady, old-skool dancehall, roots and heavyweight dub at what will no doubt be a party to remember and an emotional night for the club's loyal regulars. If you're a fan of reggae make sure you get down to this one!

Details as follows:

Tighten Up @ Rhum Jungle (underneath Cottons Caribbean Restaurant)
70 Exmouth Market (Off Rosebery Avenue)
London EC1

Doors: 9pm til 2am
Admission: FREE
Dress code: No hoods (That's it!)

For more info check: www.dancecrasher.co.uk

Tighten Up returns - 7th March

Good news for reggae lovers: Tighten Up is back in a brand new venue from Friday 7th March 2008 (and is planned for the first Friday of each month thereafter)

Rhum Jungle is the name of the venue and it's located beneath Cotton's Caribbean Restaurant. It's an atmospheric basement club which should suit the night right down to a T.

As ever, the music policy is: Ska, Rocksteady, Vintage Reggae, Roots, Old-Skool-Dancehall and Dub from residents Mistah Brown and Tim P with The Mighty Champion MC on the mic.

Admission is free before 10pm and the only dress code is: No hoods allowed.

For full details check the London Dossier club listings or visit: www.dancecrasher.co.uk

The 45rpm Jukebox Jump-off - SAT 23 FEB

I'm very pleased to be playing another Right On! style set this coming Saturday. I've been invited to join resident DJ Simon Stretch on the decks at his Stormy Weather night at Barrio North - a bar opened last year dedicated to vintage and underground music.

We will be spinning a mix of 1950s-1970s black music - all off of original 45s. Expect to hear some fantastic rockin' r'n'b, 60s soul, funk, jazz, ska, reggae, mambo, calypso, boogaloo and whatever other aural curiosities spring to mind.

Simon and I DJ'd alongside each other at the last Rakehell's Revels and complemented each other perfectly, so I am really excited at this chance to DJ with him again.

Details as follows:

Stormy Weather presents the 45rpm Jukebox Jump-off
@ Barrio North, 45 Essex Road, London, N1 2SF (tube: Angel)
SATURDAY 23rd FEBRUARY 2008
8pm til 1.30am; FREE entry

Home Cookin' after-party - Sunday 10th February

Well, this Sunday's Home Cookin' looks like being a really busy one! I've had great response to my promotion and we've even been recommended in this week's Time Out magazine. For full details on the night see my earlier blog post or check out www.right-on.org

If you're thinking of coming, please do get down early, as the band will be on at 7.30pm (you don't want to miss them!) and the night finishes at 10.30pm.

However, for those of you who don't have work the next morning, I can now confirm we will be holding a Right On! style after-party at a secret West End venue (to be revealed on the night). This will feature across-the-board vintage black music from the 50s, 60s and 70s played by special guest DJs Texas Ranger (Trojan Explosion), Mark Professor (Trojan Explosion, Reference Library), Truck Turner (Reference Library) and David Atkinson (Brighton).

Texas Ranger (pictured above at Right On!) and Mark Professor are famous for their sweet reggae selections whilst Truck Turner and David Atkinson are better known for playing dancefloor jazz. However, all of these DJs have vast record collections and play a whole range of styles: from jazz, soul and r&b through to ska, reggae and Latin boogaloo. One things for sure, they all know how to rock a dance.

This is truly going to be an unforgettable night, so I do hope you can make it!

DJ Jean-Paul @ Ronnie Scott's - Fri 25 January

Some very exciting news - I've been invited to guest DJ upstairs at the legendary Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho. Needless to say, this is something of a dream come true for me! It's a weekly night called Walking In Rhythm which has a music policy very similar to Right On! - i.e. the best of vintage black music. This gives me a rare opportunity to play a mixed set like those I play at Right On! I'll be bringing along a bit of everything: jazz, soul, rhythm & blues, doo wop, funk, ska, calypso, reggae, boogaloo, mambo, samba and more - all on original vinyl.

The session is held in the smart upstairs bar at Ronnie Scott's which was given a complete facelift when the club was refurbished a year or so back.

For those who don't know, Ronnie Scott's is probably the UK's most important and famous modern jazz venue. It opened in Gerrard Street in 1959 and moved to its current premises opposite Bar Italia in Frith Street in 1965. Like Ronnie Scott's, Bar Italia is also still going strong and is the perfect place for a late night cappuccino after Ronnie Scott's kicks out at 3am.

This is going to be a night to remember, and until I find a perfect new venue for Right On!, this should be a fix for anyone who has been missing it as much as I have. It's only a fiver to get in too - or free if you get there early enough - so being skint shouldn't be a problem either. And who knows, if I draw a big enough crowd maybe they'll invite me back!

The details are as follows:

Walking In Rhythm @ Ronnie Scott's (upstairs bar)
Date: Friday 25th January
Time: 7pm - 3am
Admission: FREE before 9pm / £5 before 11pm / £8 after 11pm
Address: 47 Frith Street, London, W1D 4HT
Nearest tube: Tottenham Court Road

DJ Jean-Paul @ Trojan Explosion - 30 November

As readers of the Clubs page will know, Trojan Explosion is a monthly Friday session that I rate very highly. It's held in a brilliant basement venue in the heart of the West End and has a great mix of music - both obscurities and classics.

One of the resident DJs there, Texas Ranger, has kindly asked me to DJ with her this Friday, 30th November, while her partner in crime Mark Professor is away in the Caribbean.

Despite the name, the night is a really good mix of rockin' R&B, 60s soul, funk and soul-jazz alongside the ska, rocksteady and reggae. I'm very excited about this as it's a musical formula I love and is quite close to the sort of mix I play at Right On!

Anyway, very short notice I know, but I thought I'd post the info up here in case anyone is looking for somewhere to go this Friday and fancies hearing some of my tunes. Plus it's FREE before 11pm - bonus! Details as follows...

Trojan Explosion @ Market Place (downstairs bar)
11 Marketplace (behind Oxford Street), London, W1 8AH
Friday 30th November; 8pm-1am
FREE before 11pm then £7

Can't Chain Up Me Mind @ The Vortex - 8th-9th November

Can't Chain Up Me Mind is an interesting sounding musical performance coming up at the Vortex Jazz Club on the 8th and 9th November.

Written by Tony Haynes with lyrics by Valerie Bloom and John Matshikiza, this show commemorates the bicentenary of the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade.

Press release:

"This brand new show remembers the Atlantic slave trade, but celebrates its great musical legacy – jazz and the music of Cuba and the Caribbean.

"The first set is built on music typical of West Africa, the Caribbean and Latin-America today – especially the dance rhythms of hi-life, salsa, ska, calypso and soca – music that has evolved from centuries of cultural mixing between Africa and the Americas.

"The second set takes the form of a New Orleans funeral – 'birth, death and life again' – as a metaphor for the historical journey taken by slaves, and their indomitable efforts to maintain their culture and identity in exile and adversity.

"Hymns and spirituals, Yoruba chants and drumming, reggae, samba and modern New Orleans marching music, steel pans, blues and stunning jazz improvisation and powerful, dramatic original songs are all brought together to create a vivid picture of slavery, and the glorious music it eventually gave birth to."

The show features a range of great African, Caribbean and Latin-American musicians and jazz soloists from the Grand Union Orchestra:

Claude Deppa (South Africa) - trumpet, African drums
Kevin Robinson (England) – trumpet, flugelhorn
or Byron Wallen (Belize) – trumpet, flugelhorn
Chris Biscoe (England) – soprano & alto saxophones
Louise Elliott (Australia) – tenor saxophone, flute, congas
Harry Brown (England) – trombone
Tony Haynes (England) – trombone, piano
Andy Grappy (England) – tuba
Josefina Cupido (Spain) – Latin percussion, voice
Bravo Fimber (Trinidad) – steel pan, timbales
Gerry Hunt (England) – guitar, soprano & baritone saxophones
Andres Lafone (Uruguay) – bass guitar
Brian Abrahams (South Africa) – drums, voice

For further details visit: http://www.grandunion.org.uk/

Alternatively you can contact Alison Jones on (020) 7375 1122 or by email on alison@grandunion.org.uk

For details of the Vortex Jazz Club visit their website: http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/

Duke Vin at Coast To Coast tomorrow

This Saturday 27th October, legendary sound man Duke Vin joins DJ Cello as guest DJ at Coast to Coast.

Duke Vin is an important figure in the history of Jamaican music and is said to have one of the best collections in the world. He is also famed for having the only existing original copy of killer Derrick Harriott produced tune "The Tickler".

Duke Vin began his career in the early 1950s as a selector for Tom The Great Sebastian - the first major Sound System in Jamaica. He moved to London later in the decade, introducing England to Jamaican music - ska - through his Sound System, which was one of the first in the UK.

During the 1960s, Duke Vin played at London's top West End clubs: the original Marquee club on Oxford Street and then in it's new premises on Wardour Street, as well as The Flamingo, also on Wardour Street.

Back in 2003, I myself was honoured to have Duke Vin DJ for me at Right On! @ The Thirteen Club in Gerrard Street. This was a rare chance to hear him play in a smart West End club a stone's throw from the location of the Flamingo club where he played in the 1960s. This night was a sell-out and the biggest crowd we'd had to date.

If you love your ska and have not caught Duke Vin in session before, I'd recommend checking out Coast To Coast tomorrow - but do arrive early to ensure you get in.

For full details check out: http://www.coasttocoast.org.uk/

John Holt live - 28 Nov - with DJs Mark Lamarr and Jean-Paul Séculaire

I'm honoured to have been asked to assist Mark Lamarr with DJ duties in support of the great John Holt at his live concert at the Jazz Cafe on Wednesday 28th November.

"Sir" John Holt is a reggae legend and one of the most soulful voices that Jamaica has produced. As lead singer of the Paragons in the 1960s he was responsible for evergreen rocksteady classics like "The Tide Is High" and "Wear You To The Ball". Since 1970 he has enjoyed a hugely successful solo career with his unique brand of soulful reggae. Popular in clubs to this day for tunes like "Ali Baba", "I'm Your Man" and "Maybe The First Time", John Holt is still going strong and continues to record and perform live.

This is a very rare opportunity to see Mr Holt in an intimate venue, as he usually only plays at much larger venues like the Apollo. He'll be at the Jazz Cafe for one night only - so don't miss out!

Doors: 7pm
Tickets: £27.50 advance

Full details from the Jazz Cafe's website here:
http://www.meanfiddler.com/displayPage.asp?ArticleID=3762&URLID=19

You can find more information about John Holt here:
http://wc01.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hifoxqq5ldfe~T1

Tighten Up changes venue

Tighten Up - one of London's top reggae nights - has changed venue. They are now based downstairs @ The Embassy Bar, 119 Essex Road, Islington, N1 2SN

The next date is Saturday 1st September and the night is on every first Saturday of the month thereafter.

For full details check out the listing on the London Dossier clubs page: www.londondossier.info/clubs.htm

The King of Ska live - 23 November 2007

Seems the Prince Buster gig at Fairfield Hall in Croydon was rescheduled from 3 August to Friday 23 November. It will be a rare chance to see him perform in London - so don't miss it!

Venue: Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, London
Time: 8pm
Price: £21.50
Support from: The Dualers

Details are now up on the venue's website: http://www.fairfield.co.uk/

For more on Prince Buster - the King of Ska - see: http://www.myspace.com/princebusteronline

Jimmy Cliff live - 14 July 2007

Reggae and soul legend JIMMY CLIFF plays live at The Croydon Festival this year

Date: Saturday 14th July 2007
Location: Lloyd Park, Coombe Road, Croydon, Surrey

Support from The Dualers

For more info visit: http://www.croydonfestival.com/african_caribbean.html

Skatalites live at The Jazz Cafe

THE SKATALITES Live at the Jazz Cafe

5 Parkway, Camden, London

Tuesday 24th & Wednesday 25th April 2007

+ guest DJ Mark Lamarr (24th) + guest DJ Christine Indigo (25th)

doors 7pm
£22.50 advance

Great club night - Sat 21 April 2007

EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK

@ Bar Sesto,

254 Edgware Rd, London W2 1DS (tube: Edgware Road)

Saturday 21st April 2007

This is a great fun club night at a lovely venue run by three of my good friends (Mark Professor, Texas Ranger and Truck Turner) who are all excellent DJs with huge collections of vinyl.

The night runs from 9pm til 2am and musically anything goes! Soul, Reggae, Rocksteady, Funk, Punk, Indie, Jazz etc. etc. etc. The DJs will be digging deep into their record collections for a unique and completely eclectic selection.

NOTE: Admission is only 3 pounds - BARGAIN!

Alpha Old Boys live - 9th February

An amazing concert covering ska, rocksteady and reggae will be taking place this Friday the 9th February 2007 at the Coronet Theatre in Elephant and Castle featuring a breath-taking line-up of legendary former students of the Alpha Boys' School in Jamaica such as:

Owen Gray
Lester Sterling
Rico Rodriquez
Eddie "Tan Tan" Thornton
Tony Gregory

and many more!

See the flyer below for full details.

For further info please visit the Alpha Old Boys' Association website:
http://www.alphaoldboysassociation.com/coming-events.html

Ska To Reggae - Sat 23 Dec - don't miss!

Just been told about this fantastic event which features a truly amazing line-up of legendary Jamaican ska and reggae singers backed by the great Skatronics Jamaica. I'd advise you not to miss this!

SKA TO REGGAE - Saturday 23rd December

@ The Silver Spoon, South Way, Wembley, HA9 0HB
(behind Wembley Stadium)

A night of live music from Jamaican musical legends starring:

Eric Monty Morris (1st time in the UK)
Larry Marshall
BB Seaton & The Gaylads
Dennis Alcapone
The Marvels

backed by Skatronics Jamaica

Doors open from 9.30pm til late. Show begins at midnight

Compere: David Rodigan
Guest DJ: Mark LaMarr

nearest tubes: Wembley Stadium and Wembley Park

Admission: £20 otd

Suggested dress code: 60s/70s fashions

Mash It Up! returns - Sat 21 Oct

Mash it Up! returns on Saturday 21st October to The Lark In The Park, Copenhagen Street, London N1. This is a nice venue in Islington with a dancefloor area, bar area and chill out room at the back with comfortable seating.

The music policy is as always "upbeat, danceable ska, reggae and straight-up funky-assed funk from the old school". Tickets are again available in advance only and the night runs from 8.30pm-2am. For more details (including DJ info and playlists) visit the Mash It Up! website:
www.mashitup.org.uk

To make bookings, or if you have any questions, contact the promoter - John - by email at: baldheadselector@mashitup.org.uk

Payments can be made online by Paypal to the same address.

Palmeras Kanibales live - 9 October

PALMERAS KANIBALES - A fascinating sounding Latin-ska-funk 8-piece hybrid orchestra from Venezuela will be performing live on Monday 9th October from 8pm

According to the press release you should be prepared to "Wear your dancing shoes! Renounce the mundane! Be ready to get swinging in a night fusing ska, rocksteady, reggae, funk & Afro-Latin grooves. An explosive dancing experience!"

The venue is Darbucka World Music Bar, 182 St John Street, EC1

DJ support is supplied by Muezzin (Costa Urbana) & Jamie Renton (Chilli Fried)

For more info visit www.darbucka.com

Right On!

A huge thanks to everyone who came down to Right On! last Saturday - it was a wonderful turnout and I was really pleased to see so many different people all enjoying the music and grooving on the dancefloor all night.

Respect also goes out to the great Gladdy Wax and Dean Rudland who were awesome and lived up to their reputations once again.

Also thanks to all my door staff, the venue staff and everyone else who helped out in any way (flyering etc.)

I've already got a few nice photos back from the night that I hope to get up online ASAP.

All that remains to say is... watch this space for details of the next one!

Right On! relaunch

My Right On! club night is relaunching on Saturday 23rd September.

Since the last Right On! night in 2005 I have been searching for a new venue and I've finally found one - back in the West End where Right On! started. The venue is called Torts and it's just a couple of minutes from Holborn tube station. It has a late license and opens till 3.30am. To ensure a really good sound I am hiring the legendary Gladdy Wax sound system which plays at the Notting Hill carnival every year. Guest DJs are Gladdy Wax himself and Dean Rudland from legendary Latin record label - Fania. The night has also been chosen as the official launch party for new Fania CD "El Barrio: The Bad Boogaloo" which is due out in late September.

For full details on this exciting night visit www.right-on.org

For more information on Fania records visit www.faniarecords.com

Tribute To Studio One returns

The Tribute To Studio One and Treasure Isle night is back this Saturday (29th July)!

I went to the last one in May and believe me it was a wicked night. Nice big sound, nice big crowd and some sweet sweet reggae and rocksteady plus a little Motown and soul towards the end.

The night is held at The Garman Rooms, Garman Road, off Watermead Way, Tottenham, N17 (near Northumberland Park train station). Doors open from 11pm till dawn and admission is £10 all night. It doesn't really get going till about 1am though. DJs once again are Calvin Francis (Choice FM), System Sound (Station FM) and special guest the legendary Gladdy Wax (Supreme FM). For further info call 07985 116 107

Skavoovie has changed venue

The Skavoovie club night has moved from Pop to Opium, 1a Dean Street, Soho.
The next date is Wednesday 7th June, followed by the 29th June.
After that the night will run on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month.

For more information email skavoovie@btinternet.com

or visit the website: http://www.skavoovie.co.uk

Tribute To Studio One & Treasure Isle

Well I've managed to get hold of a flyer, so, as promised, here are the full details of the forthcoming Tribute To Studio One and Treasure Isle. This event claims to be one of the biggest revival dances in London - so don't miss it!

It takes place this bank holiday Sunday (28th May) @ The Garman Rooms, Garman Road, off Watermead Way, Tottenham, N17 (near Northumberland Park train station)

Doors open 11pm till dawn and admission is £10 all night.

DJs are Calvin Francis (Choice FM), Gemi Magic Sound, System Sound (Station FM) and special guest the legendary Gladdy Wax (Supreme FM).

There will also be a "shuffling competition" so make sure you wear your dancing shoes!

For further info call 07985 116 107

Jamaican foundation extravaganza

There will be a Foundation Extravaganza this coming Saturday (27th May) @ The Forum, 9-17 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, NW5. A truly amazing line-up of acts from Jamaica will be playing live including:

The Etheopians
The Heptones
The Silvertones
and The Melodians

Tickets are priced between £30-£35 and doors open from 8pm-2am.

For more info and ticket booking visit: http://www.meanfiddler.com/displayPage_forum.asp?PageID=428

Gladdy Wax @ Coast To Coast

Legendary Jamaican selector Gladdy Wax is DJing at Coast To Coast this coming Saturday (27th May). Expect some top notch ska, rocksteady and reggae as well as some quality soul and funk. This should be a great night and will most likely be packed so get there early!

Coast To Coast is held at On The Rocks, 25-27 Kingsland Road, E2 (off Old Street)

For full details visit www.coasttocoast.org.uk

Jamaican label art website launched

A great new website has just been launched dedicated to the Art of the Caribbean record label - jamaicanlabelart.com. It is the brain child of two respected reggae collectors who are regular contributors to the Blood and Fire reggae message board.

Check out the website here: http://jamaicanlabelart.com/

For more information contact: mike@jamaicanlabelart.com or Ian@jamaicanlabelart.com

Set The Tone

This Saturday (27th May) sees another Set The Tone session at The Social (downstairs), 5 Little Portland Street, London W1 (tube: Oxford Circus)

Music from 7pm - Midnight with admission being free all night - but it's advisable to get there early as it's a small venue and always fills up quickly.

Resident DJs are: STEPHEN SAUNDERS, NICK AVINIT and DEAN THATCHER and this month's guest DJ is: RICKY BARROW (THE ALOOF)

Music policy is as ever: ROCKSTEADY, SCORCHING SKA and RUDE REGGAE

Future guest DJs are:
24th JUNE: ALAN HANDSCOMBE (REGGAE SHACK)
22nd JULY: DAVE MACK (THE COOL OFF - NOTTINGHAM)
19th AUGUST: JIM COX (THE REGGAE TRAIN)
23rd SEPTEMBER: DJ SKAFACE (SKA'D FOR LIFE)

For further info visit the website: www.set-the-tone-67.co.uk

Mash It Up! returns

Mash it Up! returns this Saturday (20th May) to a secret venue in Islington, London N1

This night promises "the finest in upbeat, danceable ska and reggae and straight-up funky-assed funk from the old school".

Tickets are £5 and are available in advance only - remaining places are available on a strictly first come, first served basis.

Doors will be locked at 10pm to ensure sufficient jumping around time - so you'll need to get there before 10pm. The venue has a quieter area at the back if you want to chat and drinks are at pub prices so turning up before the pubs turn out should not be too much of a hardship. The night will finish at around 2am.

For more details including DJ info and playlists visit the Mash It Up! website: http://www.mashitup.org.uk/

To make bookings, or if you have any questions, contact the promoter - John - by email at: baldheadselector@mashitup.org.uk

Payments can be made online by Paypal to the same address.