In the year or so we’ve been running this website, we’ve made no excuse of our love for bashment. The clues in the name, right? But with so many decent local events often our attention is drawn towards Oxford gigs and away from the music we promised to cover. Today, we pick up on the dancehall tip with a focus on one of our favourite riddims from 2010; the fantastic Badda Don riddim. Click the Read More link below for the full audio-included focus.
DJ Derek (pictured above, left) returns to the Cellar on Friday 2nd March alongside The Caroloregians for Oxford’s biggest reggae monthly residency, Skylakin’ Soundsystem. After a fantastic February session hosting The Drop and Mr Benn, ‘The Count’ continues the classic DJ/band combo that’s made his night’s one of the best in the city. For a measly fiver in advance, you get six hours of reggae, funk, dub and dancehall in Oxford’s best late-night venue; get on the Facebook page, invite your friends and kop your tickets, ‘cos it’s a night not to be missed.
DJ Derek returns after eight weeks away, a relatively long time for the 70-year old disk jockey with a clear attachment to the city. His appearace at Aidan’s Christmas session at Hi-Lo in December was his forth Oxford show of the year, always a drawing a big crowd. The Caroloregians hail from Belgium and pack a hefty funky reggae punch after touring across the US and Europe. Check out Rudie is Here to Stay from their 2008 record Pum Pum Hotel:
We were lucky to play alongside JSTAR and East Park Reggae Collective back at the December Skylarkin’ night, our first show outside of own Lord ‘av Mercy! sessions. Since then we’ve landed a monthly residency at The Library on Cowley Road on the last Friday of the month, shared the decks with Mungo’s Hi-Fi at the Bully, and this weekend join The Heatwave crew at the Cellar for a sold-out dancehall extravaganza; get on the Facebook and look out for more details this week.
Recorded on the year of my birth, Tiger’s No Wanga Gut warns of the dangers of greed and gluttony in 1980s Jamaica, and is often cited as one of the first dancehall videos. Rolling on a deep bass dancehall riddim, the song title focuses on food (“dem sell out Marcus Garvey for rice and peas”) but the message runs deeper, urging listeners to think consciously and refrain from selfishness; strictly ital vibes (“no bother grudge nobody”).
Sorry for the lack of updates this week. Next week we’ll have previews to some fantastic upcoming shows in Oxford, including Mad Professor, Iration Steppas, DJ Derek and a salivating lovers rock night at the Bully featuring Paul Dawkins playing classic tracks from his late-1970s British reggae group Tradition. As well as the local focus, we’ll throw in a look at the worldwide dancehall & reggae scene with new tunes, news, videos and features. Once again, thank you for your continued support.
Last week saw the launch of Oxford Brookes Radio, going out live four days a week online for your pleasure. Monday and Friday is a daytime ting broadcasting from 10am till 3pm; Saturdays start at 1pm running ‘til 7pm; leaving Tuesday for full attention kicking off at 3pm till midnight. With a cross section of styles across the week, our particular interest focuses on Tuesday’s, where from 7pm till 10pm features some of the best bass music coming to and resonating from Oxford. Be Ready (who have fingers in the Extra Curricular promoter pie that booked The Heatwave later this month) begin proceedings, going into Original Bass (brought to you by long-time SD.com supporter Rob Cole), with EDMS (Brookes Electronic Dance Music Society) on at 9pm. Make sure you check out Brookes radio and show support for the students giving up their time to play good music; there’s all sorts of shows on the schedule so whatever your tastes you’re bound to find something that tickles your fancy.
In other news, it’s just two weeks until the launch of OX4 FM. The brand new station will be broadcasting out of Blackbird Leys across the airways (yeah on your radio, that old thing you used for music before the internet) on 105.1FM. Again, please find time to support the not-for-profit community venture; we’re very lucky to have a new legal radio station in our area and we should all back it 100%. Check back in a couple of weeks to get the full low-down on the schedule, which promises to have a strong reggae/bashment focus.
Oxford welcomes yet another leading name in UK soundsystem culture this Saturday, with Mungo’s Hi-Fi stopping off at the Bullingdon Arms as part of their UK tour. The current jaunt of the country is in support of last year’s fantastic new album Forward Ever featuring some of the biggest names in reggae and dancehall. On Friday night they play at Bristol’s In:Motion with Tokyo Dub, then head to Cowley Road on Saturday before taking to Bath, Sunderland and Glasgow later this month, then onto Europe in March.
We have the House of Roots / Bassmentality promoter teams to thank for bringing such a recognised name to OX4, and also for asking us (Lord ‘av Mercy!) to play. We’ll be opening proceedings from 9.30pm, with long-time Oxford soundsystem crew Destanation on at 11pm, and Mungo’s nicing up the place from 12.30. It’s just £5.50 on the door before 10pm (£7 after), so come down early and we promise to get you warmed up in the dance. We’ll be playing some big dub, a touch of reggae and a sprinkling of dancehall, saving the madness till later, with Mungo’s throwing everything at you from ragga and bashment to jungle and dubstep, with Good Looking Boy (featuring Warrior Queen, above) just a tiny taste of what to expect.
After Channel One larged up the Cellar last night, we’re so lucky to have yet another true leader of the scene and it’s a real pleasure to be sharing the ‘system with them. Check out our previous Mungo’s Hi-Fi feature, kop your advance tickets, and see you on Saturday evening.
