Please note, doors will now open at 10pm.
Culture Clash clubnight returns to test out the famous Band on the Wall rig! Join us for a celebration of sound system culture with dub reggae hero Mad Professor returning with a live dub set and the big sound of Sir Coxsone Outernational.
Interest in reggae sound systems is currently at an all-time high, and there’s a younger generation of reggae lovers from across the world building their own amps and speakers, cutting dub plates and starting record labels in greater numbers than ever before. The MCs and “live” mixes that were synonymous with reggae sound systems of the past have returned, and there’s now a wealth of festivals, films, exhibitions, books, online communities and academic studies representing all aspects of sound system culture. It’s had a massive influence on genres such as hip-hop, drum & bass, UK dub and grime, and also left an indelible stamp on fashion, language and a range of other lifestyle choices.
“I don’t think you can have a conversation about sound-systems in the UK without mentioning us,” says Lloyd Coxsone. “We’ve been there and done it, and we’ve inspired a generation of sound-systems worldwide.” The veteran soundman has won every accolade the reggae world can offer, and no other sound-system in England can claim such mythical status.
A disciple of Lee “Scratch” Perry, Mad Professor was one of the leading producers in dub reggae’s second generation. His Dub Me Crazy albums helped dub make the transition into the digital age, when electronic productions started to take over mainstream reggae in the ’80s. His space-age tracks not only made use of new digital technology, but often expanded dub’s sonic blueprint, adding more elements and layers of sound than his forebears typically did. In the mid-’90s, he returned to the basics, debuting a more retro-sounding style on the Black Liberation Dub series. Additionally, he ran his own studio and label, Ariwa, which was home to a stable of vocalists (with an emphasis on lovers rock and conscious roots reggae) and some of the finest British reggae productions of the era. As his reputation grew, he became a remixer of choice for adventurous rock and techno acts, most notably revamping Massive Attack’s entire second album under the new title No Protection.
This is a standing show.