‘reggae and the sound system culture’ event 19th July, London

john eden

john eden

male pale and stale
This looks good and I should be there.

Can someone post this on the dubstep forum? It would be good to get some of that lot down there.

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Press release: 07 July 2006:

Leading music industry specialists to discuss ‘reggae and the sound system culture’ in the UK

Music visionary Jazzie B, leading radio DJ, David Rodigan and the founder and owner of Soul Jazz records, Stuart Baker, will be sharing their thoughts, insight and experiences at a unique event taking place on the evening of Wednesday 19th July.

Arranged by the Urban Enterprise Network (UEN), Respect; The History of reggae and the ‘sound system’ culture in the UK will be an evening of visuals, photography, and panel style debate to discuss and highlight, the impact of reggae music, particularly the sound system culture in the UK. This event will look at the development of the roots and dub music movement in the UK, it’s originators, influences, its impact from a social perspective, and how the culture of reggae music is viewed today.

Amongst the topics of discussion will be;
• How can we enable a wider audience to fully engage, understand, and enjoy the history, culture and influences of the reggae scene
• What has been the cultural significance of reggae and dub music on urban culture
• How can those in the music industry help to address and alleviate some of the negative stereotypes associated with reggae music
• Where are the next generation of reggae music’s pioneers?

This event aims to bring together a specially invited audience, consisting of representatives from the media and the capital’s music scene to establish an evening which can educate, inform, as well as entertain attendees.

This event takes place at the, ‘Gramaphone Bar, lounge and restaurant’ 60-62 Commercial Street E1 6LT from 7pm to 11pm (panel debate begins at 7pm prompt). To register to attend, email info@urban-enterprise.co.uk

Further information on this event contact Jeffrey Lennon, on 07772 643372 or visit www.urban-enterprise.co.uk , email jeffrey@urban-enterprise.co.uk

Notes:

1. The Urban Enterprise Network (UEN) is a promotions consultancy which aims to ‘celebrate the capital’s diversity, talent and success. ’
• This event will be delivered through the UEN’s music subsidiary ‘Kaleidoscope – more than just the music’
• Kaleidoscope will deliver a programme of activities which highlights and celebrates various aspects of London’s success and diversity, though linking activities with music.

2. Jazzi B is the founder of the internationally acclaimed ‘Soul2Soul’ brand, one of the UK’s leading music production companies. Soul2Soul boast a successful music label, artist management company, as well as being one of the UK’s leading club ‘sound systems’.
For further information and links to Jazzie B visit www.soul2soul.co.uk

3. David Rodigan is one of the leading and most respected reggae DJ’s in the UK. His career spans over 25 years in the industry, with extensive work with BBC London and Capital Radio. Much respected worldwide, his achievements were recently recognised as he was inducted into the ‘Radio Academy’s Hall of Fame’ earlier this year.
David currently broadcasts his weekly reggae show on KISS FM. For further information on David Rodigan visit www.rodigan.com

4. Stuart Baker / Soul Jazz
Soul Jazz has been described as “distribution powerhouse”, with an outstanding collection of both new and rare music, from reggae, jazz and world music, to electronic, deep jazz, punk, funk, gospel groove, east coast house, Chicago soul, ska and many other styles of music through its diverse catalogue.

Their approach to music also provides an important retrospective on the history of music, highlighted through their distinct and extremely successful series of compilations.

Soul Jazz also celebrates their music philosophy to the world through the ‘Soul Jazz Sound System’ who tour across the world and the much-loved ‘100% Dynamite’ club nights in Angel, London.

For more information on Soul Jazz records visit www.souljazzrecords.co.uk or www.soundsoftheuniverse.com
 
D

droid

Guest
Curious about this myself:

john eden said:
How can those in the music industry help to address and alleviate some of the negative stereotypes associated with reggae music
Click to expand...

This should be interesting. I know Rodigan has been very critical of gay campaigners, but I wonder if the other commentators will offer a different view - or if itll simply be a discussion about the best way to shut Outrage up (as the phrasing suggests).
 
john eden

john eden

male pale and stale
droid said:
Curious about this myself:



This should be interesting. I know Rodigan has been very critical of gay campaigners, but I wonder if the other commentators will offer a different view - or if itll simply be a discussion about the best way to shut Outrage up (as the phrasing suggests).
Click to expand...

He's been quite critical of some of the nonsense that goes along with clash culture as well, and won't play homophobic records. :cool:

I think people are assuming that there is only one stereotype to discuss, which is a shame. A more prevalent one is possibly the music media's "reggae hasn't been very good since Bob Marley and so we don't really need to be covering it, do we?"
 
G

gabriel

The Heatwave
john eden said:
I think people are assuming that there is only one stereotype to discuss, which is a shame. A more prevalent one is possibly the music media's "reggae hasn't been very good since Bob Marley and so we don't really need to be covering it, do we?"
Click to expand...

very good point. there's actually loads of negative and misleading stereotypes surrounding reggae: intrinsic connection with weed, violence at events, that white people aren't welcome, that it was better in the olden days (whether that was the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s or even 2002), that it all sounds the same, that it's overly derivative and repetitive, etc etc etc

i'll be there., should be interesting
 
D

droid

Guest
gabriel said:
very good point. there's actually loads of negative and misleading stereotypes surrounding reggae: intrinsic connection with weed, violence at events, that white people aren't welcome, that it was better in the olden days (whether that was the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s or even 2002), that it all sounds the same, that it's overly derivative and repetitive, etc etc etc
Click to expand...

Agreed - but whats the 'negative stereotype' thats forcing venues and promoters to ban shows and thats been getting all the headlines for the past few years ?

Of course, theres also guns, sexism, glorification of violence and weed use etc - all of which give plenty of ammunition for the wrong kind of criticism, but the use of the term 'negative stereotyping' implies in my mind that the problem is in the eye of the beholder and not in the scene itself, which as we all know is still rife with the above mentioned themes.

The sterotypes exist for a reason. They may be unfair, but there is still a lot of weight to back them up if you listen to dancehall lyrics from the past 20 years or so - Ive experienced the 'white people aren't welcome' one myself...
 
B

boomnoise

♫
john, i couldn't make it. got a post work phone call from an old friend from china who was in london - chose to link up with him instead. i probably owe reggae money now but how was it?
 
john eden

john eden

male pale and stale
Some notes off the top of my head.

It was a very interesting evening, I thought. Well organised, and the fact that I didn’t agree with everything which was said in no way detracts from what was a well organised and fascinating event.

The main difference between the panellists seemed to be one of “traditionalism” (Rodigan and Jazzie B) and “progression” (Stuart from Soul Jazz). I was quite surprised to find myself agreeing with Stuart more than the other two on many points.

Some of the topics which were discussed were: (I can’t remember them all…)

“how did you get into reggae?”

“is there a soundsystem culture in the UK?”

“does the UK industry need a Sean Paul?”

“should gun man and other offensive lyrics be banned?”

“how is reggae perceived in the media?”

Jazzie B and Rodigan laid down a lot of history and wisdom which was great to hear. I think perhaps they fell down a bit by constantly referencing the best music of yesteryear in comparison with stuff that is coming out now. Obviously I agree that most modern bashment isn’t up to much, but I think it’s easy to view the past with rose-tinted specs and it’s maybe hard to stay in tune with the times when you’ve been into something for several decades.

However I do have some sympathy with the ideas of ‘graft and craft’ that Jazzie B and Rodigan put forward – the effort people put into lyrics seems to me to have declined sharply. “Soundsystems” now being a box of records rather than an actual system with all the crew and boxes and aggro that goes along with that has meant a loss of commitment. Pirate radio DJs can fling down x-amount of versions and talk nonsense over them instead of actually selecting and educating and entertaining their audience. (Yes, I think everyone in the room was conscious of turning into their parents…)

Stuart from Soul Jazz was surprisingly optimistic about current music, whether it be bashment or dubstep or whatever. He freely admitted that he didn’t have a huge background in the music, and my guess is that this has perhaps lead him to look at things fresh. He ummmed and ahhhed a lot, but what he said was basically spot on in my view.

On the upside everyone seemed to agree that reggae is now part of the DNA of the UK music scene, and that in one sense a battle has been won there. There was general agreement that the future lay in not imitating JA but producing our own UK urban rebel music (for want of a better term).

There was also a lot of discussion of radio/media.

There were no simple conclusions or solutions at the end, which is probably because there aren’t any.

The homophobia issue was touched on, but certainly wasn’t done to death.

The Q&A’s were great, which is hardly surprising when you looked at the audience. I would say there were about 50 or 60 people in there. About 50-50 black and white. Probably 75% blokes. There was a lot of passion in the room and I think many people were surprised at the turnout and the level of interest shown in the event.

Roll call of the audience (in no particular order)

Dougie Conscious
Barry from Reggae On Top
Marky RDK Hi-Fi
One of the original members of Steel Pulse
Dr William Henry (aka Leslie Lyrics!)
Bigfoot from Station FM
Some of the Channel One Soundsystem crew
Some of the Heatwave crew (inc Stelfox)
And a rag-bag of other promoters, journalists, artists and fans who I didn’t recognise.

The organisers will be doing another event shortly as part of Black History Month. There is talk of it being at City Hall, with the blessing of the mayor’s office.

A number of the contributors from the audience have projects on the go which seem well worth supporting and I will try to post them up here when I have more news.

I introduced myself to Leslie Lyrics afterwards and went all gushy like a teenage fanboy. He was pleased that the mix me and Paul did for Breaking Ranks on Resonance FM had gone down so well (with his "Blind Date" tune) and wants a copy of it....
 
D

droid

Guest
Thanks for using some precious PC time to enlighten us John. Sounds like it was an interesting night.
 
bruno

bruno

est malade
john eden said:
I introduced myself to Leslie Lyrics afterwards and went all gushy like a teenage fanboy. He was pleased that the mix me and Paul did for Breaking Ranks on Resonance FM had gone down so well (with his "Blind Date" tune) and wants a copy of it....
Click to expand...
that mix was ace, john, so optimistic! everyone who has heard it here has loved it to bits.
 
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