REGGAE RUNNINGS -- 7 May 2008

By Jesse I

Big tings a gwaan this month, with the Roots Nation tour touching down in Melbourne on Sunday 25th May for a massive show at the Arts Centre Hamer Hall. Unlike the Raggamuffin festival that took place earlier this year, this will be one for the real reggae fans – not people that just own a red gold and green tam with fake dreads attached, or who think “Red Red Wine” is as good as reggae gets. Headlining is the veteran singer Horace Andy, a legend of the music whose career spans all eras of Jamaican music from the late 60s to the present. In short, he’s responsible for some of the most crucial works in the reggae canon, his distinctive falsetto gracing hits for the likes of Studio One’s Coxsone Dodd, Clive Hunt, Striker Lee, Phil Pratt, Leonard Chin, Everton DaSilva, Lloyd “Bullwackie” Barnes, Prince Jammy, Mad Professor, and Massive Attack. Sharing top-billing for Roots Nation will be “the Messenger” Luciano, making his second visit to Melbourne, this time joined by his own full band, as well as regular spar Mikey General. Rounding out the international lineup is “Father” Jack Scorpio of the Black Scorpio label and soundsystem - a massive figure in Jamaican music, with countless hit records, major dances and soundclash victories under his belt. He’ll be bringing his full dubplate box to town for this show, so this will be a must for all foundation dancehall fans. Local supports include The Red Eyes, Bart Willoughby (of No Fixed Address), Mista Savona, Chant Down Sound, Natty Sistren, Heartical Hi-Fi, Redda Red, Ranking Yoni, Troublemaker, Deline Briscoe and Tjimba Possum.

Dancehall artist Spragga Benz was also supposed to tour this month, but sadly this one has been cancelled by the promoter due to serious illness on her part. Here’s wishing her the best of health and a full recovery.

Without much hype or fanfare, Jamaican dub poet Yasus Afari was in Melbourne last week, here to create links and promote his music and excellent book “Overstanding Rastafari: Jamaica’s Gift To The World”. A true ambassador of Rastafari, Yasus was very generous with his time, holding in depth reasonings everywhere he went, as well as on PBS FM and Channel 31’s upcoming Reggae TV. His book is one of the first detailed accounts of Rastafari to actually be written by a Rasta, and I highly recommend it to anyone with a serious interest in the livity. You can find it for sale at Friends of the Earth and the Last Record Store in Collingwood, and Blue Moon Records in Fitzroy.

Sydney’s Firehouse crew have a fearsome reputation in the Australian sound scene, with one the deepest dubplate boxes in the country, as well as one of the biggest collections of original reggae vinyl. Recent years have seen them ready to take on all comers, as they’ve clashed with sounds including Trooper (JA), Jafa-Mafia (NZ), Earthlinks, Rhythm Collision and Nasty Tek. For the first time since they last clashed back in 2003, Firehouse will now play alongside Melbourne’s original fire sound Chant Down in unity, this Saturday night at Brown Alley (corner Lonsdale and King St). Expect nothing but the biggest tunes and deadliest custom dubplate specials at this one! Support on the night comes from Night Nurse and Subsonic Sound.

Riddim Method is back again at Croft on Friday 16 May, with residents Housewife’s Choice (Bellyas and Fee) joined by guests MC Ali, So Fire, Vibesman, Ras Robbie and I. The same night you can also catch the Red Eyes at the Spot in Brunswick, along with the Nomad (NZ) and Chant Down Sound + Dizzy Dee. Natty Sistren’s Pressure Drop party takes place on Saturday 31 May this month, residents Sister Itations and Vida Sunshyne joined for this one by Rafstar (NZ), Steve Austin, and Wasabi (all reggae set!). Also at Laundry, Ring The Alarm continues every Wednesday night with Sister Itations, Ras Crucial, Vida Sunshyne, Dizzy Dee and I all on rotation, plus weekly guests – tonight features Troublemaker and Sister Sarah, with Bellyas and Lady Banton next Wednesday, and Bass Bin Laden and Fadzai coming up on May 21. Friday May 30 brings more reggae to the Spot in Brunswick, with Bomba, Bustamento, Jalibuba and Chant Down Sound with Dizzy Dee. Heartical Hi-Fi’s monthly Basement Sessions continue to shake up the Night Owl bar on the first Saturday of every month, with residents Uptight, Cassawarrior, and Steve Austin, plus guests - all on Heartical’s massive custom built dub/reggae soundsystem (now upgraded with two extra 18” bass scoops). Also on the first Saturday of every month is Rub-a-dub Underground at Alia (corner Smith and Gertrude, Fitzroy), promising dub, dancehall, reggae, worldgrooves and electro, with DJs Bonnita, Mr Fish, Lord Lingham, Broken Wings, Jolz, Saca la Moise, Tendekasha and guests. Tuesday nights at the Evelyn this month you can still catch Dizzy Dee performing with Mista Savona’s Rootbound System, while Reggae at the Horn continues on the first and third Saturdays of every month with Binghi Fire, Redbelly, Night Nurse and guests.