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News, views and other words

We’ve finally got round to puting photos from April’s Easy Skanking up on the site. Check the gallery at http://www.stalawatt.com/sound/media/gallery10.html

This year’s Boss Sounds festival, promoted by the Jumpin’ Hot Club and sponsored by Red Stripe, moves to the Cluny and comes earlier in the year than usual.

The festival features headliners Derrick Morgan and Owen Gray on Saturday 20 June,  with the Congos and Freddie MacGregor on Sunday 21 June.  Plus, there’s local vibes over the weekend from Diddley Squat, Emperor’s Dentist and Rob The Rub, plus sound system sets from Ska’d for Life and Pangea.

The weekend also features a selection of movies from Jamaica’s Reggae Film Festival, showing outside the island for the first time.  Screenings will run at the Tyneside Theatre each afternoon.

There’s also the usual after-party at World HQ on Saturday night, of course.

Stalawatt will make a somewhat low-key appearance at the festival this year, playing the first half-hour or so in the Cluny 2 (simply so that we can say we’ve played at all five festivals) before Pangea tak over, joined by MC Ishu.

The Jumpin’ Hot Club’s Mighty Diamonds show, originally scheduled for 29 January, has now been rescheduled for Thursday 4 June.

Support and backing comes from the Rasites, with early vibes from Stalawatt.

Mama and Papa S present a night of easy skanking, roots rocking, reggae dancehall vibes inna sound system style.  It’s like a reggae party, only more so!

Free entry!

Featuring selectors:

Stalawatt (the full crew)
Dub Jon (Bear Sounds)
Calculus (Pangea / Dub inna Pub)
Berney Wailer
Dr Cool Breeze

and MCs:

Birdman
Randy Dread

PA by Bear Sounds

The Telegraph, Orchard Street, Newcastle (behind Central Station), 8pm-1am

The Jumpin’ Hot Club’s Mighty Diamonds show, scheduled for Sunday 29 January at the Cluny, has been cancelled due to the seemingly inevitable visa problems.

The booking agent hopes to rearrange during the summer.

We’ll be in the dancehall room at this year’s Earthday event, alongside tons of other local talent.  The main room has a UK roots showcase, with jungle in the second room.  Full details here:  http://www.newcastlebeats.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9157

We’re back in the Chillspace at Newcastle’s leading psytrance night to celebrate Bob Marley’s earthday with a killer roots rocking reggae selection.  Strictly conscious, strictly dancing vibes.  We’re digging deep in the crates for this one!

Plus, Lionsden do their thing and provide the visuals.

African-Caribbean food, roots rocking reggae dancehall music - what better way to warm up for the Boss Sounds fest?

Stalawatt meets Lionsden (and chef Agnes Offiong) at the Salsa Club - over the crossroads from the Carling Academy (Westgate Road, Newcastle).

11am-4pm each day, free entry.

We’re on NE1 FM tomorrow, standing in (at short notice!) for Greedy G on his weekly Sunday afternoon show - 1pm to 3pm, 102.5 FM in the Newcastle Gateshead area, and ne1fm.com worldwide.

Worldwide?  Gon’ global.

We’ll be in the sound system room at the Boss Sounds festival on Sunday 19 October, running an early warm-up (4-5pm) for the mighty Iration Steppas.

Iration are bringing their full rig, of course.

Check the Reggae in Tyneside page for full festival details.