REGGAE RUNNINGS -- 25 October 2006

By Jesse I

Summer must be getting closer, because the local reggae scene is definitely starting to warm up again; this weekend coming even features two daytime sessions, always a nice change. Although not a straight-reggae gig by any means, dub sounds will certainly be well represented at the New Growth "festival of regeneration" this Saturday 28 October at Ceres community environment park (8 Lee St, Brunswick East). The lineup features Heartical Hi-Fi, Unity Sounds, Don Peyote, Deep Fried Dub and more. On Sunday the 29th, Multicultural Arts Victoria presents Our Backyard, a free one-day musical festival at the Arts Center . As well as markets, the Spiegeltent, live hiphop, and MC battles, PBS FM's Systa BB will be hosting a reggae/dub area featuring the likes of Agency Dub Collective, Dili Allstars, Natty Sistren, Top Ranking, Heartical HiFi, Redda Red, Rastafari Rhythms and I&I. Sounds like a pretty good way to spend a Sunday.

Monthly dancehall reggae night Pressure Drop is taking a break this month - the bass has evidently been proving too much for the Laundry, who are undertaking some serious soundproofing works in the meantime. Look for this wicked night to return to their regular fourth-Saturday-of-the-month on November 25.

To pick up the slack, Saturday 28 October will see a once-off called Roots Tonic take place at Horse Bazaar, the site of the fondly-remembered Bashment Brukout parties a couple years back. Promoter (and selector) Night Nurse tips her hat by featuring Brukout resident Tempa on the bill for this one, alongside Bellyas, Binghi Fire, and I. 9pm til 3am, free entry.

One of the highlights of last summer for me was the free weekly Thursday night High Tide sessions at the Espy. High Tide returns starting on November 2nd, but will be moving from the big and roomy Gershwin room to the more intimate Espy public bar (not to be confused with the front bar!). Ras Crucial and I will again be holding it down as residents, plus weekly guests - coming up over November will be Damajah, Andy Ites, Sista Itations, Nich Power, and Troublemaker.

Note that there will be no High Tide on November 16, but instead, the Espy will be hosting Sydney's Astronomy Class on their Roll Call tour. Their recent album Exit Strategy is really a hiphop release, but there is a lot of reggae influence on this one, and its well worth checking if you're a fan of both genres. You can also catch Astronomy Class on Friday 17th November at the Evelyn.

On Saturday 18th November, it's all about More Fire at Brown Alley, Australia's longest running reggae night. For session #64, residents Chant Down will be joined by veteran Jamaican selector/MC Stick Mareebo, plus Glen Irie, Jahred Badman, Dr Fil, and the return of appropriately named Yo!Rudy. Chant Down have also announced plans for a seriously big all-reggae New Years Eve party at Brown Alley. This one will feature nearly 20 local and interstate acts over two levels, and looks set to be the biggest Melbourne reggae event of the (new) year! More info soon come...

A whole heap of strong new releases this month on 7" vinyl... Starting with roots, the most hyped-riddim has to be Police In Helicopter, a version of the John Holt classic relicked by the Voiceful label. Holt himself is back on this one for a retake of his original alongside Sizzla, while other standout voicings for me include Chuck Fender, Anthony B, and Norris Man. Bed Rock on In Time Music is a sweet original roots riddim with a huge list of artists riding it - Richie Spice was my favourite, though Capleton's cut could be the best if it wasn't for his woeful chorus. Red Razor is the title of another first-class production from the California-based Lustre Kings, who continue to work with artists from places such as St Croix and Trinidad as well as the more common Jamaican names - special respect to them for putting out what is only the 2nd ever 7" single by Midnite! Other wicked new riddims include Blood Stain on High Fence, Statement on Juke Boxx, Let Go on Rootdown, and Chase on Fire Ball.

The biggest dancehall release of the last month is easily "Traffic Jam" on Tuff Gong, a one-off boomshot from Stephen Marley (with help from his brother Damain and Buju Banton) voiced on an interesting reworking of the classic Answer riddim. Jr Gong also appears on a brand new Tuff Gong single "Gangsters and P.I.M.P.S." alongside Twinz of Twinz - PIMPS in this case standing for "Politically Inclined and Motivated by Poverty and Suffering". For the more hardcore bashment fans, check out the Bad Breed on P&L, XXL on Forward (sounding almost like a reggaeton influenced interpretation of the Intercom riddim), Show Off on TJ, and March Out on Massive B.