REGGAE RUNNINGS -- 22 November 2006

By Jesse I

Looks like a whole heap of reggae sessions coming up over the next couple months, starting with a brand new night called "Tune In" this Friday at new bar Radio ( 79 Gertrude St, Fitzroy). Promising a night of roots reggae and vintage classics, this sounds like a nice mellow session - initially starting as a monthly, and then going weekly from January onwards. Sista Itations is running things for this one, with the always-wicked Vida-Sunshyne by her side, plus selection from Tempa, Troublemaker, Andy Ites and I.

For something a little bigger, Wellington 7-piece The Black Seeds play Fractured (at Brown Alley) also on this Friday, with support from the Lazy Daze Soundsystem. The Seeds recently released their new album Into The Dojo, which debuted at number 1 on the New Zealand charts.

Monthly night Pressure Drop makes a welcome return on Saturday night at Laundry, after a couple months off. Alongside residents Nich Power, Tempa, Sista Itations and Vida-Sunshyne will be guest DJ Andy Ites, plus live action on the mic from the mysterious Fadda Hype.

Weekly reggae/dancehall night High Tide has also returned for the summer, this time in the more intimate Espy Public Bar (now you can actually see the palm trees of the bay from the dancefloor!). The vibe was wicked last week, and should just get hotter as the weather warms up - this week's guest selector is Nich Power, followed in coming weeks by Troublemaker, Twist, and Tempa - and entry is always free.

Live Music Week has become an annual PBS tradition, with the station broadcasting one full week of live music every December. The celebration kicks off at Federation Square on December 2nd with 14 hours bands and DJs - of particular note to reggae fans are sets from Bomba at 2pm, and Chant Down Sound (featuring Damajah and Traffik) at 8pm. Come and check it for free in person, or tune in on 106.7 FM.

Sydney's Firehouse crew are long established as one of the premier reggae sounds in Australia, and boast one of the most impressive vinyl and dubplate collections around. They'll be bringing their heavyweight selection to Melbourne for a guest appearance at Rastafari Rhythms monthly dance on December 2, at new venue 131 Lygon St . As well as residents Dirty Harry Selassie and Sista Levi, also appearing will be Adelaide's Jessie Proverbs, plus DJ Damajah and live band Tort Tribe.

Also on December 2 is the latest chapter in the Tafari Dance Massive series of parties at Ace Morning. These nights have quickly earned a reputation as a wicked one for roots fans, promising 100% conscious selection everytime, in a suitably relaxed environment. The last dance for the Tafari crew until Feb next year, this one features selectors Ras Crucial, Binghi Fire, Sista Itations, Twist and Toola.

As if this wasn't enough for one night, Ras Crucial, Damajah and I will also be playing upstairs on Dec 2nd at Croft Institute in the city.

Well and truly settled in at new home Brown Alley, Chant Down's monthly More Fire session now returns to the second Saturday of every month, starting on December 9. More Fire #65 will see residents Chant Down joined by Australia's premier female sound Natty Sistren, plus selectors Binghi Fire, Flavio, and Twist.

Tickets are also now on sale for Chant Down's massive More Fire NYE, featuring the biggest lineup of local reggae talent ever seen on one night - Chant Down, Damajah, Traffik, Natty Sistren, Troublemaker, Andy Ites, Redbelly, Housewife's Choice, Nich Power, Tempa, Night Nurse, Nukc, Krazy Dayv, Toola, Unity Sounds, Humdrum, Papa Stylee, and more! This one will actually be spread over two levels of Brown Alley, and easily looks set to be the biggest reggae night of the (new) year. Full details and ticket info at www.chantdown.com .

Yet another new monthly session kicks off on December 16 at So Bar (270 Russell St, City), this one is called Kinky Roots, and featuring residents Maruza and Nukc. For the debut, they'll be joined by Troublemaker, Night Nurse, and Vibesman. Free entry.

Quickly looking at new releases on 7" vinyl... on a roots tip it's all about the Green Heart riddim on Hi-Score, the long-awaited follow up to their excellent Roots Tonic riddim. Soul Vybz have also released more cuts on their wicked Movie Star riddim, and other riddims to check include Break Time on Road Dog, Living Man on Dasvibes, Mad Notes on Royal Inity, and Bad Tempo on Rockers Master. For fresh dancehall, better riddims for me this month included Sidewalk University & Duck on Jam II, M16 on John John, and Yard Step on SSMG.