Boss Sounds, the UK’s biggest reggae festival is taking
place in NewcastleGateshead on the 18th and 19th of
November at the University of Northumbria.
The festival brings together many of greats from the music’s
golden age. Artists lined up to appear include Jimmy Cliff, Prince Buster, Lee “Scratch”
Perry, Horace Andy, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Janet Kay Dennis Bovell’s Dub Band
and the Trojan Sound System. The festival
is promoted by the Jumpin’ Hot Club in association with Trojan Records and
Culture Promotions and forms part of NewcastleGateshead’s world- class
festivals and events programme.
Headlining the festival is the great Jimmy Cliff who will be flying in for an exclusive UK date.
Many will remember Cliff for his appearance in the Harder They Come and he has
agreed to break off filming the sequel to the film to headline the festival.
Perhaps best known for “Many Rivers To Cross” which was taken back to the top
of the charts by UB40. However Cliff dominated the UK charts in the early ‘70s
with hits like “The Harder They Come”, “ You Can Get It If You Really Want” and
“Vietnam” which was hailed by Bob Dylan as the best protest song ever.
Prince Buster will
be making his long awaited north east debut at the show. The Prince who was
immortalized in the Madness hit “the Prince” is ska music’s biggest star famous
for hits, “Al Capone” and of course “Madness” which the nutty boys also had a
hit with in the late ‘70s. If he did not invent the Ska genre he was certainly
a mi-wife at its birth, recording the classic “Oh Carolina” with vocals from
the Folks Brothers. The first Jamaican artist to enjoy international success
his influence on the UK music scene is immense, teaching Georgie Fame to play
ska and inspiring the Two Tone movement.
Lee “Scratch” Perry
is a living legend in reggae music. Perry enjoyed his first taste of UK chart
success with Val Bennett’s “Return to Django” in 1969. It was around this time
he began producing the Wailers on a series of recordings which included “Small
Axe”, “Duppy Conqueror” and “Soul Rebel” which are now considered to be their
finest work. Famous for his dub cuts from his studio, “The Ark” he also worked
with the Clash producing “Complete Control”. The Upsetter, the man Bob Marley
described as “a genius”, as a
producer, arranger and writer he is one of the architects of reggae. He is
ranked alongside Duke Ellington and Miles Davis as a true genius of 20th
century music.
Horace Andy will be
known by many as the voice of Massive Attack, his high falsetto voice has
graced many of their biggest tracks. He was actually voted by MOJO magazine as
possessing the world’s greatest singing voice. He came to prominence in the
early ‘70s on the great Jamaican label Studio One and is one of the key figures
in Jamaican roots music. Horace or “Sleepy” as he is known has always been a
favoured vocalist amongst reggae fans and his eerie, haunting style has been
imitated endlessly by scores of lesser talents over the years. Massive
underground hits “Skylarking”, “Just Say Who” backed for the show by Mafia and
Fluxy, the UK’s answer to Sly and Robble, this will be an undoubted festival
highlight,
The appearance of Linton Kwesi Johnson, Janet Kay and Dennis Bovell’s Dub Band pays tribute to the enduring strength of UK reggae.
Linton was hailed as the original dub poet when he hit the scene during the
punk explosion of the late ‘70s. In 1974 Race Today published his first
collection of poetry, Voices of the Living and the Dead. Dread Beat An '
Blood, his second collection, was published in 1975 by
Bogle-L'Ouverture and was also the title of his first LP,, released by Virgin
in 1978. That year also saw the release of the film Dread BeatAn ' Blood, a documentary on Johnson's work. In 1980 Race Today
published his third book, Inglan Is A Bitch and there were four more albums on the Island label: Forces
of Victory (1979), Bass Culture (1980), LKJ in Dub (1981) and Making History (1983).
A crucial
figure in ‘70s reggae. Dennis Bovell almost single headedly guided UK reggae
music as mainstay with Matumbi, though to his seminal production work and his
virtual invention of “lovers rock” a UK style which went on to conquer Jamaica.
As a producer he has worked with artists as diverse as the Slits, Marvin Gaye
and Dexys Midnight Runners. Dennis
will be bringing his Dub Band to the festival who will also be backing LKJ’s
militant dub poetry. The queen of
lovers rock Janet Kay hit the top of the UK charts with “Silly Games”
with a drum beat which was created by Dennis Bovell. Janet also hit paydirt
with her version of Minnie Ripperton’s “Lovin’ You” which was the perfect
vehicle for her sweet lovers style.
The festival also showcases new talent with Trojan Sound
System which features some of London’s
cutting edge MC’s and is headed by Geordie, “Earl Gateshead”. Back again after
they bossed the show at last year’s event. Regarded by many as the world’s
greatest vintage sound system. Pama
International are one of the UK’s leading
home grown reggae bands playing an addictive mix of ska, rock steady and dub.
DJ for the weekend will be original Roxy DJ Don Letts who will also appearing at the Northern Lights Film
Festival discussing the links between reggae and the punk scene.
Don will also be manning the decks at the official festival
after show party at World Headquarters which will continue the celebrations
into the early hours of Sunday morning. Undoubtedly one of the festival
highlights come down to the “ Worldy” and mix with the cream of Jamaican talent
in the mother of all after show parties.
Boss Sounds aims to illustrate the history of reggae music
bringing together many of its key exponents. Undoubtedly they have assembled
one of the toughest bills ever put together in the UK. It also highlights the
impact reggae has had on the punk and two tone movements as well as
contemporary dance culture. From the music’s roots in ska with Prince Buster
through to the vintage reggae of Jimmy Cliff, the dub sounds of Lee Perry and
Dennis Bovell, the dub poetry of LKJ and the sweet lovers rock of Janet Kay,
through to the man who shaped the sound of Massive Attack, Horace Andy. It’s a
journey from Kingston, Jamaica to Brixton, England and back again, a musical,
political and social journey illustrating how one small island of two million
changed the face of music.
For
more information about this and other forthcoming events in
NewcastleGateshead’s world-class programme, see www.NewcastleGateshead.com
Boss
Sounds Festival is funded by Arts Council England, North East, Newcastle City
Council, Gateshead Council and TyneWear Partnership.
NewcastleGateshead’s
programme of festivals and events is managed by destination marketing agency
NewcastleGateshead Initiative and supported by Arts Council
England, North East, Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council, Northern Rock
Foundation, One NorthEast and TyneWear Partnership.
