LAID BLAK – LIVE
Return of the Bristol heavyweights for a special intimate show! Laid Blak have rocked audiences in Oxford so many times that to some extent they need no introduction. However for the uninitiated (where have you been?), the group scored a massive slow-burning hit with the ubiquitous single ‘Red’ back in 2008. Since then the band have established a reputation as one of the foremost reggae bands in the country, toured with Ed Sheeran, been voted the best reggae live act in Northern Europe and released ‘Red & Blak’ – their much-anticipated debut LP.

RED

THIS IS A TINY VENUE FOR LAID BLAK TO BE PLAYING! They’re doing so because they love The Cellar. There are just 50 advance tickets on sale – after that it’s first come, first served on the door. Don’t be late!

BRISTOL LOVE

DJ BUNJY & MC JOE PENG
Veterans of the jungle and hardcore scenes going way back to the Ecstatic and Bristol Exposure raves of the early 90s, these days Bunjy and Joe Peng are not only the the lynchpins behind Laid Blak, but also still a formidable DJ/MC duo, taking in big and bouncy reggae, dancehall, hip hop and drum & bass.

COUNT SKYLARKIN
As he prepares to embark on yet another festival-packed summer, Count Skylarkin spins vintage heard and unheard rocksteady, reggae and ska 45s early doors, then dancehall, dubstep, jungle, garage and who knows what later on.

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Skylarkin’ Soundsystem
Friday 7th June at The Cellar, Frewin Court, Oxford
9pm-3am | £5 advance/£6 door
Facebook event

WRONGTOM meets DEEMAS J live | MIGHTY LEAP live | SKYLARKIN | SULTAN

A near constant companion over the first 10 years of Skylarkin’ Soundsystem has been my fellow South Londoner DJ Wrongtom. One of the finest DJs I’ve ever had the pleasure to share a set of turntables with, Tom’s own productions came to wider prominence courtesy of ‘Duppy Writer’, the acclaimed dubwise remix album for Stockwell laureate Roots Manuva some years back, resulting in a record deal with Tru Thoughts and a new LP featuring long-time collaborator Deemas J.

‘Wrongtom Meets Deemas J In East London’ is a deep, fresh and bouncing reggae, dancehall and dub fuelled LP, with a vibe rooted in East London and paying homage to the culture and sound that first got them both hooked back in the ‘80s, when Fashion Records topped the charts and the likes of Smiley Culture and General Levy rammed the dances.

TONIGHT, for the very first time, the pair debut their full live show, with sides from their debut Tru Thoughts LP brought to life by Desta Zion Wilson‘s award-winning reggae 7-piece MIGHTY LEAP.

PLUS a short set of their own material from Mighty Leap for early-comers, and the sound of Wrongtom, Deemas, Count Skylarkin and House Of Roots’ Sultan on the decks till the small hours.

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Skylarkin’ Soundsystem
WRONGTOM meets DEEMAS J live | MIGHTY LEAP live | SKYLARKIN | SULTAN
Friday 3rd May at The Cellar, Frewin Court, Oxford
9pm-3am | only £5 advance/£6 door
Facebook event

THE SIDEWALK DOCTORS
Back by popular demand, The Sidewalk Doctors play proper old-time, soulful rocksteady and reggae, with nods to the greats of Treasure Isle and Studio One. Between them singer Nathan Thomas and guitarist Lenny Bignell have worked with The Skatalites, Toots and the Maytals, Prince Buster, U Roy and Frankie Paul, among many others. Lots of great tracks from their debut LP ‘Music Is Medicine’ are available to listen to on their website (link above). One of the very best bands currently making reggae in the UK.

DJ DEREK
Still cranking out the tunes at the ripe old age of 70, Bristol Sound grandaddy DJ Derek’s reggae, dancehall and soul selections are as popular as ever. A festival stalwart, over the years Derek has rocked virtually every blade of grass on the British summer circuit and as far away as Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore. A much-loved figure in the music industry, and an icon in his native St Pauls, DJ Derek’s appearances in Oxford are always sell-outs.

COUNT SKYLARKIN
The Count has worked with a host of legendary acts in the world of reggae (The Skatalites, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Toots & The Maytals, Alton Ellis, Max Romeo, Dawn Penn, Horace Andy and The Wailers (UK tour DJ) to name but a few) in a DJing career spanning more than 15 years. But he’s probably best known as the guy who pours rum in your mouth.

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Skylarkin’ Soundsystem
Friday 5th April at The Cellar, Frewin Court, Oxford
9pm-3am | £5 advance/£6 door
Facebook event

The London International Ska Festival happens Easter Weekend across umpteen London venues, variously featuring Ken Boothe, BB Seaton, Vin Gordon, Owen Gray, Rico Rodriguez, Freddie Notes, Mungos Hi-Fi, and much, much more. I’m playing Highbury Garage on the Friday night with DJ Derek and a whole heap of other great acts (see below). Hope to see you there!
Day 2
Good Fri 29 March – 7pm
INTERNATIONAL REVUE starring
BUSTER SHUFFLE (England)
PANNONIA ALLSTARS SKA ORCHESTRA (Hungary)
ED ROME (England)
BOMBSKARE (Scotland)
RAZIKA (Norway)

Club night room 1
SKYLARKIN SOUND SYSTEM
w/ DJ DEREK & COUNT SKYLARKIN

Club night room 2
CELLOS COAST TO COAST SPECIAL
w/ DJ CELLO & KRIS TEBBUTT (Reggae Jeggae)

and more acts tba

All taking place at The Garage
20-22 Highbury Corner, London, N5 1RD.
(opposite Highbury & Islington tube)
Doors 7pm to 4am

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LIMITED DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO OUR BIT!
Click the link and enter ‘skaoffer’

https://www.ticketline.co.uk/order/password/13281060/skylarkin-sound-system-london-the-garage-2013-03-29-23-00-00-1

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Tickets for the many other events as part of the weekend also available now at www.londoninternationalskafestival.co.uk/tickets
* Free entry to LISF 4 Day Ticket Holders

MIGHTY LEAP (live)
Twelve months ago one of the best-loved bands ever to have played Skylarkin’ at The Cellar split up, to the immense disappointment of everyone who’d seen them along the way. Happily Desta Zion Wilson, Dave Pickavance and Greg Machon are once again writing songs and making music together, now under the guise of ‘Mighty Leap’. Expect vice-tight Caribbean rhythms beneath one of the sweetest voices in British reggae.

DJ SHEPDOG
Nice Up! head-honcho, mash-up impressario and occasional exotic dancer, the mighty DJ Shepdog returns to The Cellar by popular demand. Anyone who caught his beach-block set at Outlook Festival will know to expect big bass, surprising singalongs and possibly some mild nudity.

COUNT SKYLARKIN
The Count is the creator and curator of the Skylarkin’ Soundsystem. He books the bands, introduces the acts, spins wicked tunes that’ll send you home singing and (if the situation demands it) writes about himself in the third person.
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Skylarkin’ Soundsystem
Friday 1st March at The Cellar, Frewin Court, Oxford
9pm-3am | £5 advance/£6 door

EARL GATESHEAD (Trojan Soundsystem)
Yeah Yeah!! Trojan Soundsystem lynchpin Earl Gateshead has been selecting reggae music for well over 30 years. These days a regular guest DJ at the likes of Fabric and Outlook Festival, Earl earned his stripes playing punk clubs in the 70s, West Indian squat parties in the 80s and tour DJing for the likes of Big Youth and Dr Alimantado in the 90s.

COUNT SKYLARKIN
Count Skylarkin is a cartoon character. He likes drinking Super Juice and socialising with friends.
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Skylarkin’ Soundsystem
Friday 1st February at The Cellar, Frewin Court, Oxford
9pm-3am | £5 advance/£6 door

Still cranking out the tunes at the ripe old age of 70, Bristolian icon DJ Derek’s reggae, dancehall and soul selections are as popular as ever. Plus resident Count Skylarkin, after a year which saw him DJing as far afield as Dubai following the chart-topping success of ‘Dub Of A Preacherman’. Finally Indecision is also on hand, playing his last set at Skylarkin before taking himself off to the USA. Arrive early to beat the queues!

www.skylarkinsoundsystem.com / www.soundcloud.com/count-skylarkin
The Cellar 10pm-3am / £5 (£4 advance/before 10:30pm)
www.wegottickets.com/event/198279

PLEASE NOTE LINE-UP CHANGE
Sadly Makating have had to cancel for reasons beyond our control. In their place we’ve got one of the foremost live acts in British reggae today – The Drop!

THE DROP
Championed by David Rodigan, and according to DJ Derek, “The best thing to come out of Reading since Huntly and Palmers biscuits” – The Drop have spent the three years since they left their native Berkshire for Brixton wowing audiences and winning fans at festivals all over the country, including a marathon five night stint at Secret Garden Party 2011 and roof raising appearances at Boomtown Fair. Expect booming basslines, rocking roots and culture, extra echo-chamber and soul-drenched vocals. Your Christmas Eve festivities couldn’t be in better hands.

THE RESONATORS
Deep and dubby 8-piece The Resonators make the trip up from Brighton for their Cellar debut. Fronted by two soulful female vocalists (Faye Houston and Kassia Zermon), the band take vintage Jamaican rhythms and bring them forward in time to the sounds of now.
“Truly beautiful and haunting. British reggae at its best.” David Rodigan

TENOSHI
Fresh from his Olympic-long DJ residency at Jamaica House, international man of mystery Tenoshi returns to The Cellar at long last with a brimming bag-full of bass-tastic bangers.
“Tenoshi is making London bounce!” Gaz Mayall

COUNT SKYLARKIN
The past few weeks have seen The Count airing his extensive collection of reggae, dancehall, ska, jungle, garage, dubstep and hip hop all over the UK and even as far afield as Dubai. But he’s never happier than when on home turf, spinning original vinyl selections early doors and after Tenoshi till late o’clock.

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Skylarkin’ Soundsystem
Friday 7th December at The Cellar, Frewin Court, Oxford
9pm-3am | £5 advance/door