Boomshots

Tag: London

  • No Long Talk: Daddy Ernie On Freedom of Choice: “Who Want Vex, Vex!”

    No Long Talk: Daddy Ernie On Freedom of Choice: “Who Want Vex, Vex!”

    Host of UK Radio’s Superjam Reflects On His Legacy

    If you weren’t in London from the ’90s, you may not be aware of Daddy Ernie or the power of his radio show, SuperJam. As he says: “Who’s Daddy Ernie? Some black DJ who used to be on a station in Brixton that everybody used to wear big gold chains and rings.” What you should know is he’s one of the most respected and important British contributors in the history of Jamaican music. He’s also the only person in history to present a reggae show Monday to Friday on a legal radio station. And it was prime time from 1990 to (about) 2003/2004. The way things are, it’s likely he’ll be the sole claimant forever. Daddy Ernie’s SuperJam ran alongside Choice FM’s lifespan (1990–2013), becoming one of the stations most listened to shows and amongst the highest paid specialist DJs on the station.  Podcast After The Jump… (more…)

  • Chronixx & Protoje Live in London

    Chronixx & Protoje Live in London

    Two Leading Lights of Jamaica’s Reggae Revival Touch Down in Brixton

    “If we don’t have new talent there is no future,” said David “RamJam” Rodigan last night onstage at the Electric in Brixton, South London. The elder statesman of British reggae radio has often expressed his concerns about the direction in which Jamaican music has been heading. But last night’s live set by Chronixx and the Zinc Fence Redemption band suggested a brighter tomorrow. Riding high off a recent appearance on The Tonight Show, which sent his Dread & Terrible EP soaring to the top of the reggae charts, Chronixx brought a palpable intensity to the stage from his first tune (“Alpha and Omega”) to his final encore (“Odd Ras”). One highlight of the sold-out show was the surprise appearance of Protoje, fresh off a successful European tour, who stepped in to support his bredren and perform their smash hit “Who Knows” live. After he and Diggy blazed the stage, Chronixx went on to perform “Here Comes Trouble” and even flashed a few lines of Jesse Royal, Jah9, and Damian Marley pon the riddim. As Rodigan exclaimed by show’s end: “History was made tonight… The future of this magnificent music is secure.” Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • WATCH THIS: Reasoning with RDX in London

    WATCH THIS: Reasoning with RDX in London

    Delomar and Renigade Shell Down London Town and Big Up Di Teacha

    Last night at Coronet night club in Elephant & Castle section of London, the dancehall duo RDX made their first ever live appearance in London and as usual they had the ladies going wild. “Dancehall cannot exist without dancers,” the dynamic duo explained to a crowd that included hardcore dancehall followers as well as UK radio heavyweights Robbo Ranx and Tim Westwood. In their post-show interview with Reshma B, RDX  went on to break down the basic skills that all aspiring RDX video girls need to bring to the table. Although they’re known as the Party Gods, RDX also made a song called “Free Worlboss” so with Kartel’s trial about to begin, it seemed appropriate to ask them about the inspiration behind that one. The answer may surprise you. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Reasoning With Peckings “Old School, New Blood”

    Reshma B Chops It Up With The Peckings Family
    peckingsBOOMSHOTS
    Reshma B dropped by the legendary Peckings Studio 1 in Shepherd’s Bush, West London to chat with Chris Peckings about carrying on his family’s musical legacy. Chris tells how his father George Price aka Peckings grew up with the founding fathers of Jamaica’s reggae industry before moving to London in 1960, establishing what would become a UK reggae institution. Since then his sons have released a string of crucial tunes blending new talent like Bitty McLean, Gappy Ranks, and Christopher Ellis with vintage riddims—winning awards and mad respect along the way. Reshma B even got the scoop on how the link between Peckings and producers like Coxsone Dodd, Duke Reid, and Prince Buster became so strong. Listen up as Duke and Chris Peckings break it all down for the ReggaeGirlAboutTown. Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Sean Paul Shells Down Shepherd’s Bush

    Sean Paul Shells Down Shepherd’s Bush

    The Dutty Boy Flings Down The Hits In The UK

    Wednesday night saw DuttyPaul rock west London’s O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire. Every person in the joint was on fire. Girls were shaking their thang as the dutty boy flung down his hits and guys were sweating watching the girls on heat! It was a case of “not for the ill hearted”—and a timely reminder of how much the UK loves Sean Paul. Show Review and Video After The Jump… (more…)

  • Sturgav Hi Fi and Volcano Hi Power at the 02 Academy

    Sturgav Hi Fi and Volcano Hi Power at the 02 Academy

    Two Big Sounds Rock Brixton Easter Weekend

    When you’re talking about classical roots rock rub-a-dub sound systems, there are no more celebrated names in the dancehall of fame than King SturGav Hi Fi and Volcano High Power. Sturgav was established by Daddy U Roy, the legendary DJ who made his name on King Tubby’s Home Town Hi-Fi but went on to create a sound system of his own to provide a means for younger aspiring talents to develop their microphone skills.

    Volcano was founded by the late great Henry “Junjo” Lawes, one of the most renowned producers of the 1970s and 1980s. His music formed a bridge between the roots reggae of Studio One and Joe Gibbs and the dancehall era. Immortal selections like Cocoa Tea’s “Sonia” and Yellowman’s “Zunguzunguzeng” made the Volcano label a trusted brand for any selector looking to pick up a certified boomshot to drop in the dance.

    Bank holiday weekend saw Bagga John Productions pull it all out of the bag as they brought these two legendary sounds to the O2 Academy Brixton. But it wasn’t enough just to bring the champion sounds to the stage—they also brought some serious talent to rock the mic live and direct. Singers like Cocoa Tea, Frankie Paul and Little John joined forces with DJs like Yellowman, Brigadier Jerry, General Trees, and Little Twitch. And of course Daddy U Roy himself worked the stage making this session a night of sweet nostalgia for longtime dancehall fans. The venue was heaving, the crowd excited, emotional and thirsty.

    The girls went wild when Little Twitch gyrated to “No Licky Licky” and they mobbed Cocoa Tea when he reached out to touch the crowd. Some tears were also shed during his version of “Jamaica Farewell.” And when Yellowman came on it was a #f*ckingproblem!! He lapped the stage with jumps and sprints; his trainers hardly touched the floor. One other small problem—although Cocoa Tea sang brilliantly, he stormed off the stage in frustration with the mix he received from selector Danny Dread. #SelectorDontF*ckAroundAndMashUpTheDance. However the music went on and everybody went home with their fill of sweet rub-a-dub vibes. You know what they say—there’s no business like dancehall business. Video After The Jump…

  • DOWNLOAD: Heatwave Carnival Bashment Megamix 2012

    Which Tunes Will Control Notting Hill Carnival This Weekend?

    This just in from the Heatwave UK massive: “We literally spend ALL YEAR going mad splashing rum and dancing to incredibly loud bashment and soca… FINALLY the time has come for the rest of London to jump on our wave. Wherever you live and whoever you live next door to, you need to download this mix and learn it off by heart, and make sure you and all your neighbours know the biggest tunes for carnival.”
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  • Notting Hill Carnival, Post Riots Edition

    Bobby Babylon Flexes Muscle, But Europe’s Biggest Street Jam Raves On

    Naysayers be damned, London showed its true colors at the 2011 Notting Hill Carnival. Scheduled for August 28 and 29th, the date came just three weeks after a firestorm of rioting that spread across Britain following the death of Mark Duggan, an Anglo-Jamaican youth who was shot by police in North London. The wounds from that traumatic spasm of “Anarchy in the UK“—which resulted in 5 deaths, 16 injuries, and over 3000 arrests—will not heal overnight. Nor will we soon forget the ugly divisive rhetoric unleashed by the flareup of violence. But nothing brings people together like a good rave. (more…)

  • The Mystery Of Danny Coxson

    Deadly Dragon Dares To Dig Up Digital Dancehall

    25 years ago a young, Trench Town–born Donovan McLeod a.k.a. Danny Coxson a.k.a Ever Red stepped into a London studio. In one tuff take he created some of the most revered, most whispered about tracks of the 1980s digital revolution. And then, like some mythic Keyser Söze, he was gone. (more…)