Dub Me Always: Vinyl Reggae
18 240 mins
18 240 mins
Dub Me Always is back bringing hard-hitting floor fillers and original dub plates, delivered with passion and zest. With their nights of original ska, rock steady, rhythm & blues, and roots reggae vinyl!
On Wednesday 14 May, Dub Me Always presents another vintage sound system special when Mandingo and Ras Bucky join host DJ David Katz for a night of vintage roots reggae, foundation dancehall and unknown dubplates, + at 8pm sharp, a book launch for Grantley Haynes’ Crack Cocaine Treatment and me!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1165351315289081/
A man of many talents, Mandingo is a Jamaican sound system selector, broadcaster, record producer, journalist and historian. Born in Spanish Town, he attended Friendship Government School, where his father and mother were the headteacher and deputy headteacher respectively, and later attended Campion College and Kingston Technical Highschool. During the 1950s, 60s and 70s, virtually all of the top sound systems in Jamaica played at Friendship Government School, including Count Nick, Tom the Great Sebastian, Mudie’s, Sir Coxson Downbeat, Duke Reid the Trojan, Prince Buster’s Voice of the People, Ruddy the Supreme Ruler of Sound, Mellow Canary, and Sir Percy, among many others, giving Mandingo a solid grounding in the art of the sound system from an early age. After moving to London on a scholarship to pursue civil engineering, under the name Ista Willow his debut record ‘Commandment Rock’ was produced in 1974 by his cousin Honeyboy, the lovers rock pioneer, and several deejay sides were later voiced for Larry Lawrence, including ‘Kung Fu.’ In 1977 he launched the Mandingo label, releasing singles by Sugar Minott, Cornel Campbell, Ranking Joe, General Echo, Hortense Ellis and Hugo Brown; the Hot Steppers imprint was a 1980s offshoot that handled work by Barry Brown, Tetrack, Mickey Simpson, Jah Walton and Ansel Collins, among others. Thereafter, Mandingo has since continued to explore various aspects of the reggae continuum in his writing, radio broadcasts, and public speaking engagements.
Whenever Ras Bucky plays music, he creates memories. Hailing from the parish of St James in Jamaica, he remains grounded and true to the music stemming from the island. Formed in 2002, the Hungry Days sound system was setup by Ras Bucky and Super Mark, his longtime school friend; Ras Bucky subsequently continued to showcase the Hungry Days sound system in the UK. Over the years Ras Bucky has gained a name for himself from presenting “Roots Uncut,” a reggae show on Galaxy Radio, where he played original vinyl that had a deep spiritual message, together with good vibrations.
Grantley Haynes witnessed the trail of misery left in the lives of users, families and their communities, as well as the short-term highs that seduced those addicted to crack cocaine. His book Crack Cocaine Treatment and Me follows the Wheeler Street Crack Outreach team and the development of their pioneering approach to working with users at a time when crack was the most-feared drug on the planet. Prior to his youth outreach work, Grantley launched the careers of Grammy-nominated artists like Pato Banton and Tippa Irie and renowned lovers of rock vocalist Peter Spence. A local DJ turned music promoter, he organised the landmark Birmingham Maximilian MC clash in 1985, featuring Pato Banton, Macka B, Tippa Rie, and Papa Levi. Grantley will be with us in person to discuss his new book and signed author copies will be available, so make sure to come early to avoid disappointment - the book launch starts at 8pm sharp.
Expect deep roots reggae, foundation dancehall bangers and surprise dub plates for your dancing feet and listening pleasure! What will Mandingo and Ras Bucky pull out of the bag? There’s only one way to find out!
7.30PM - 11.30pm
Free Entry
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Please note: After 8pm, the Upstairs bar is for over 18's only.