Details of Wednesday’s sessions at the Tanners here.

The legendary David ‘Ram Jam’ Rodigan returns to Newcastle!

£8 adv / motd

World Headquarters

Curtis Mayfield House
Carliol Square
East Pilgrim Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 6UF

tel. 0191 281 3445

The Jumpin’ Hot Club’s Boss Sounds festival launch part one – an open air ska and reggae party in the very heart of Newcastle, featuring Darlington’s nine-piece ska and reggae band The Equalisers and Ska’d for Life DJs, all on the Pangea sound system.

Grey’s Monument, Newcastle upon Tyne

The Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra was formed by the Madness saxophonist and former bandmate, bassist Mark Bedford. This 12-piece outfit with full horn section plays mainly instrumental classics, and has been favourably compared with the Skatalites. The Boss Sounds festival will be their North East debut.

Dawn Penn is best known in the UK for her 1994 hit No, No, No, a recut of her 1967 Studio One rocksteady single You Don’t Love Me. The festival will be Dawn’s Boss Sounds debut.

Winston Francis’ career began with the Jackie Gleason Orchestra and Carlos Malcolm’s Afro Jamaican Rhythms in the mid 1960s. As a solo artist, he went on to record the Mr Fix It and California Dreaming albums at Studio One before relocating to the UK in the early 1970s. Winston performed at one of the Jumpin’ Hot Club’s earliest reggae shows, at the Live Theatre back in February 2000, and this year’s festival marks a welcome return to the Boss Sounds stage.

Owen Gray’s recording career spans 50 years. He was the first to big up a sound system on record with 1959’s On the Beach, in praise of Sir Coxsone Downbeat – one of the first singles released on the Studio One label. He also had one of the first singles released on the Island label (Patricia, in 1962) after Chris Blackwell relocated to London. An accomplished r ‘n’ b (in the classic sense!), ska, rocksteady, roots, soul and gospel performer, Owen continues to record. He played the fifth Boss Sounds festival, two years ago, showing that he’s still a contender for the sweetest voice in Jamaica.

Dennis Alcapone set up the El Paso sound system in 1969, and quickly made a name for himself. He first recorded for Keith Hudson in 1970, and went on to have hits with Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid and many more. He recorded more than 100 singles between 1970 and 1973, often voicing for several producers on the same day. He was a huge influence on later DJs, most notably Dillinger who first styled himself as Young Alcapone. Dennis has made many Boss Sounds appearances over the years (including the same February 2000 Jumpin’ Hot Club show as Winston Francis), always putting on an entertaining show.

Winston Reedy was lead singer with UK band the Cimarons, before going solo in the early 1980s. He was voted best British male vocalist by listeners of Radio London for three consecutive years in 1982, 1983 and 1984 and had a string of hits including Dim the Light – still one of the most popular UK reggae songs. He remains one of the most popular UK-based reggae artists. Winston played the third Boss Sounds festival (Dennis Alcapone also performed), as well as appearing at 2008’s Tribute to Bob Marley.

The Dub Cats were formed by the late Paul Fox of the Ruts and Dub Honey in 2006, and have gone on to work with a who’s who of reggae music as well as recording their own, original material. The Boss Sounds festival is their debut in Newcastle.

£17.50

Stage 2, University of Northumbria Students Union

Sandyford Road
Newcastle

tel. 0191 2274757

Tickets from box office, RPM or seetickets.com

£5 Friday / £10 Saturday / £10 Sunday / £20 weekend

Ashington Rugby Club

Ellington Road
Ashington
Northumberland

tel. 01670 814123

Tickets from the venue or from WeGotTickets

The Jumpin’ Hot Club‘s Boss Sounds festival launch part two, featuring the brilliant, militant roots of Southall’s finest, Misty in Roots.  Originally formed as the backing band for a UK tour by Jamaican vocalist Nicky Thomas, Misty made their name in the Rock Against Racism movement, and released their debut album Live at the Counter Eurovision in 1979.  John Peel was a big fan, and the band recorded numerous Peel Sessions, as well as several albums with an increasingly African influence.

One of our favourite bands, Misty never fail to deliver a powerful and uplifting live show.  With support from Stalawatt.

£12

The Cluny

36 Lime Street
Ouseburn
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 2PQ

tel. 0191 230 4474

Gah Sound & Promotions presents a reggae and hip hop showcase featuring live shows from the Game Face Family (hip hop, Newcastle) and Nu Chilly (reggae, London/Gambia), plus DJ sets from Calculus (Pangea), DJ Gah and Patrick (Instrument of Jah) with MC Birdman Regimental.

£7/ £6 with guestlist

The Cluny

36 Lime Street
Ouseburn
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 2PQ

tel. 0191 230 4474

Newcastle’s longest running reggae night, established by the Stalawatt crew way back in 1998.  Others come and go, but Dub inna Pub keeps on going strong!  Reggae and dub from resident Dubcat (Pangea sound system), and friends from across the local reggae scene.

Weekly, Wednesday nights. Free entry.

The Tanners, New Bridge Street, Newcastle – tel. 0191 261 9684

map

Have a wander down by the river to The Clarendon every Thursday night for a heavy dose of reggae, ska, rocksteady and dub music.  Relaxed, friendly vibes in one of Sunderland’s oldest pubs (which has its own micro-brewery in the basement).

Weekly, Thursday nights.  Free entry.

The Clarendon

143 High Street East
Sunderland
SR1 2BL

tel. 0191 5103200

map

UK reggae legend Wayne McArthur and his band live in the newly refurbished Paddock Garden.

With support from local band Treenote and sounds from DJ Wal.  Carribean food from specialists Ochis will also be available.

£5 / food extra

The Forum Music Centre

Borough Road
Darlington
DL1 1SG