REGGAE RUNNINGS - 11 March 2009

By Jesse I


Congratulations to Paula Linane and everyone else who worked hard to make last weekend’s Reggae Festival at Ceres such a success. The event was both very well produced and well attended, so hopefully it’s the first of many.

Sadly, the Michael Rose show at Miss Libertine was less well attended. A legendary artist of his calibre deserved better, and I really can’t figure out why more people didn’t take the opportunity to see him. That said, what the show lacked in numbers, it made up for in vibes. Those present were treated to an intimate showcase of tunes ranging from classic Black Uhuru material to recent dancehall killers such as Shoot Out and Paper Dawg (a personal highlight), and his voice sounded as strong as ever.

Next on the international tour front is Cote d'Ivoire’s Alpha Blondy, the most popular African reggae artist alive today. He’ll be performing on Good Friday (10th April) at Billboard, backed by his 12-piece Solar System band. The Easy Star All Stars (a New York based reggae band best known for their reggae interpretations of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side Of The Moon” and Radiohead’s “OK Computer”) play the following night, Saturday 11th April at The Corner Hotel.

The biggest news in dancehall over the last month has been the increased censorship of the Jamaican airwaves, with “daggering” songs being particularly targeted. If you’re not familiar with daggering, look it up on youtube - it’s hard to do it justice with words! Basically we’re talking simulated sex on the dancefloor, something that has always been a part of dancehall culture in Jamaica, but which has been taken to new heights following Mr Vegas’ hit song “Daggering” in June last year. Violent lyrics are also under fire once again, Prime Minister Bruce Golding stating “we cannot afford to allow this assault not only on our music, but on our psyche and our identity as a people, to continue". Predictably, the government’s moves have been met with derision from the music industry, and the anti-censorship songs have already started to come out. Check Vybz Kartel’s “My Music” for one of the best composed responses to the new legislation.

Looking at upcoming sessions… this Saturday night it’s all about More Fire at Miss Libertine, a real unity dance as Heartical Hi-Fi’s Derek Heartical and Boover Banton play alongside Chant Down Sound for the first time since 2006; plus Tempa, Twist, and Christar. Friday 20th March is Heartical Hi-Fi’s own Basement Session at the Night Owl Bar, with the full Heartical crew plus guests. Also on the same night is “I Love Dancehall” at First Floor, featuring Ldy Banton, SoFire, Bellyas, Jesse Jahmal, Sista Sara, Gaza and Night Nurse; while at Southpaw you can catch Troublemaker, Sista Sara and I at a low-key night called Yard Bounce. Saturday 21st March is Traffic Jam at Workshop, featuring Sista Sara, Redbelly, Night Nurse, and Armagideon Time. Saturday 28th March is the 3rd birthday of Pressure Drop at Laundry, and it looks like a massive one, with resident Sista Itations joined by Sydney’s Firehouse Sound, plus Chant Down, Nich Power, Tempa, Damajah, and Andy Ites. Finally, don’t forget Ring The Alarm every Thursday night at Laundry, for some of the freshest dancehall and reggae sounds anywhere in the city.