Mykal Rose is considered one of the first instigator of the roots movement. His distinctive vocals launched the Waterhouse sound, a new musical style named after The Kingston neighbourhood of Waterhouse where Rose was born. In 1972 he joined up with childhood friend Sly Dunbar. He had a series of solo singles for various producers before being bought to producer Prince Jammy, who introduced Rose to Ducky Simpson. Simpson was trying to reconstitute his vocal trio Uhuru at the time.
Black Uhuru formed in 1972 as a Jamaican reggae group, initially calling themselves Uhuru (Swahili for ‘freedom’). The group’s line-up has altered a lot over the years, with the main constant being Derrick “Duckie” Simpson. Mykal Rose (one of Jamaica’s most well-known singers) joined the band in 1977, before writing most of their most popular material and leading them to international success in the early eighties.
With the enlistment of Errol Nelson, Black Uhuru was born. The trio recorded their 1977 debut album Love Crisis for Jammy, which was later remixed and internationally released as Black Sounds of Freedom. When Nelson quit the band and Puma was brought in, Black Uhuru was complete. After a long list of hugely successful singles and albums including ‘Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner’, ‘Red’, ‘Sensimilla’, ‘Chill Out’, ‘Tear it Up Live’, the trio peaked in success in 1985, when ‘Anthem’ won the first ever Grammy in the newly created Reggae category.
For this tour Mykal will sing some of the band’s most popular hits such as ‘Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner’, ‘Spongi Reggae’, ‘Shine Eyed Girl’ and ‘General Penitentiary’.
Ben Russell & The Charmers (information direct from website)
This Bringing the values of roots reggae that blend with harmony, catchy hooks and foot stomping bass, all embedded in an uplifting original sound, a blended style of where European and Australasian reggae meet.
Front man Ben Russell, originally from Wollongong, Australia, has travelled all over the world searching for the sound we’re all hearing today. After embracing this long sought for sound and enlisting the backing of ‘The Charmers’, Ben Russell And The Charmers have been playing to a wide array of shows across the UK and Europe, refining their sound and attracting the applause from the likes of Sir Bob Geldof and David Rodigan (BBC Radio 1Xtra); 4 time BBC Radio 1xtra play.
Ben Russell And The Charmers have shared stages with internationally acclaimed artists such as, Katchafire, By The Rivers, and joining The Dualers at sell out shows. They been performing on stages at prestigious festivals including, Glastonbury, Boomtown Fair, Secret Garden Party, One Love, and Edinburgh Fringe; becoming a festival favourite and being continually booked year upon year, having their songs exclusively picked by Boomtown Fair to officially advertise the festival, as well as featuring on Boomtown Fair’s Annual Xmas Compilation CD for Charity two years running, not to mention plays on Glastonbury Festival’s official on-site radio station, Worthy FM.
The event takes place tomorrow, January 31st. Doors open at 7pm.
