Dub Invasion Festival
SEPTEMBER 7th-16th
Mad Professor
The imaginative recordings produced by Mad Professor (born Neil Fraser 1955, Georgetown in Guyana) demonstrate a mastery of electronic gadgetry. Working from his own studios, Mad Professor has overseen more than two hundred albums including ground-breaking remixes for Massive Attack, Sade, and Pato Banton.
Born in Guyana, Fraser earned the Mad Professor tag from his childhood fascination with electronics. At the age of nine or ten he built a radio from scratch. Moving to London at the age of thirteen, Mad Professor continued to experiment with electronics. He bought a semi-professional reel-to-reel tape-recorder in 1975, but was unable to record in sync. This prompted him to purchase more and more equipment. By the following year, he had begun experimenting with dubbing.
Mad Professor has worked with a huge number of reggae artists both from the UK and Jamaica. These include Jah Shaka, Pato Banton, Johnny Clarke, Lee Perry and Horace Andy. His musical styles have included roots reggae, dub, and lovers rock. Mad Professor is perhaps best known for his dub albums, which include 12 installments of the Dub Me Crazy series and 5 albums under the Black Liberation Dub banner. The Ariwa website lists collaborations with The Orb, The KLF, UB40, Jamiroquai, The Beastie Boys and Rancid . He continues to release records and perform live all over the world.
Website / Festival performances: 9/15 (BOS), 9/16 / Free workshop: 9/16
Lee “Scratch” Perry
Lee “Scratch” Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry, on 20th March 1936, in Kendal, Jamaica) is one of the most influential people in the development of reggae and dub music in Jamaica.
Perry began his career in the late 1950s working with Clement Coxsone Dodd’s sound system. He eventually performed a variety of important tasks at Studio One as well as recording about thirty songs, but the pair eventually stopped working together due to personality and financial conflicts.
Working with Joe Gibbs, Perry continued his recording career, but once again, financial problems caused conflict. Perry broke ranks with Gibbs and formed his own label, Upsetter, in 1968. His first single “People Funny Boy”, which was an insult directed at Gibbs, sold very well. It is notable for its innovative use of a sample (a crying baby) as well as a fast, chugging beat that would soon become identifiable as “reggae” (the new sound did not really have a name at this time). During the 1970s, Perry released numerous recordings on a variety of record labels that he controlled, and many of his songs were popular in both Jamaica and the U.K. He soon became known for his innovative production techniques as well as his eccentric character.
In the early 1970s, Perry was one of the producers whose mixing board experiments resulted in the creation of dub.
Adrian Sherwood Ft. Brother Culture
Adrian Sherwood is an English record producer best known for his work with dub music as well as for remixing a number of popular acts such as Coldcut, Depeche Mode, The Woodentops, Primal Scream, Pop Will Eat Itself, Sinéad O’Connor, and Skinny Puppy.[2] Within his role as a record producer, he has worked with a variety of record labels, however his most well-known label is On-U Sound Records, home to acts such as Tackhead, Dub Syndicate, African Head Charge, The London Underground, Little Annie, Creation Rebel, Mark Stewart, Gary Clail, New Age Steppers, Audio Active, Asian Dub Foundation, and the dub collective Singers & Players plus others.
The On-U Sound dub style differs from the traditional dub sounds of King Tubby, or Lee “Scratch” Perry in that many of the extended family of musicians who are part of the On-U crew have backgrounds in Punk, New Wave, or Funk, producing a sound which is not considered pure reggae though traditional reggae performers such as Prince Far I, Bim Sherman, the Roots Radics and even Lee Perry himself are also associated with the label.
Brother Culture aka Kulcha B, the original rasta MC comin’ outta Brixton SW9. Full time recording artist and DJ with the likes of Jah Revelation Sound System, Nick Manasseh, Zion Train, Twilight Circus, Youth, Clash Hi-Fi. Also tours with a number of outfits in the UK and across Europe. He has an I’n'I deal with positive reggae lyrics and vibes. Accepts no imitation but his original rub-a-dub style.
Website / Festival performances: 9/07 (BOS), 9/09 / Free workshop: 9/08
Twilight Circus Dub
The Twilight Circus Dub Sound System is the reggae-style dub project of Ryan Moore, former drummer and bassist of The Legendary Pink Dots, The Tear Garden, and Download. Twilight Circus is becoming increasingly popular and well-known for Moore’s work with artists such as Big Youth, Michael Rose of Black Uhuru and Ranking Joe. He originally started off producing dub albums from his Dutch studio, before recording vocalists for inclusion on his critically acclaimed Foundation Rockers album. In the classic tradition of reggae Ryan continues to release singles, oft in limited edition format on 10 inch singles.
Website / Festival performances: 9/15 (BOS), 9/16
Clive Chin
Producer Clive Chin began his monumental label Impact! in the ’70s – but this man, who recorded Augustus Pablo, Jackie Mittoo, Peter Tosh, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and The Wailer’s first album, had already been raised on a steady diet of the island’s music due to his pops Vincent Gauntlet Chin. Chin Senior played a massive role in bringing the blues & shuffle into Jamaican music through his shortwave radio broadcast in Kingston; extending the family affair to a record store and their renowned Randy’s imprint, with young Clive helping out on the controls from the age of 15 they were recording a soundtrack to Jamaica’s emerging independance from Britain and the birth of soundsystem culture.
Ticklah
Even if you haven’t heard his name, you’ve probably heard Axelrod’s contributions to dozens of familiar projects. As a co-producer (and the keyboardist) of Dub Side of the Moon, he helped craft one of the best selling reggae albums of the decade. As a key member of the Afrobeat collective Antibalas, and as an original member of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Axelrod is known for nailing grooves and then dancing around them in jaw-dropping capacity. His session work with Mark Ronson has put him on tracks by Lily Allen, Robbie Williams, and Amy Winehouse (including the hit “Rehab”). And he’s partnered on hit remixes with DJ Spinna, including Shaun Escofferey’s “Days Like This” and Les Nubians’ “Makeda.” When he’s not collaborating with other musicians, Axelrod tackles his own musical demons; the results are some of the most original music released this year.
Francois K
François Kevorkian, alias François K, (born January 10, 1954) is a French-born, of Armenian descent, US DJ, remixer, producer and record label owner.
Born and raised in France, Kevorkian’s passion for music led to playing the drums during his teen years. He moved to the United States in 1975, where he hoped to find more challenging situations than those back home. Due to the heavy competition for any gig as a drummer in those days, he instead tried his hand at becoming a DJ in underground New York City clubs, around 1976. His career then skyrocketed, and he quickly made this his full-time occupation, although some work was at more commercial venues such as the club New York, New York in 1977. He taught himself tape editing and started making disco medleys, some of which are still popular to this day, such as Rare Earth’s “Happy Song”. He was offered a position doing A&R for a nascent dance indie record label, Prelude Records, which allowed to him to go into the studio and do remixes. His first remix, of a Patrick Adams production, “In The Bush” by Musique became a wild success both in clubs and on the radio. It was the first of many remixes that helped Prelude define the sound of New York’s dance music, including many memorable songs, including “You’re The One For Me’ and “Keep On” by D-Train, and “Beat The Street” by Sharon Redd.
Deep Space NYC / Myspace / Facebook / Festival performance: 9/12
Dr. Israel
A Brooklyn-based artist influenced by dub reggae as well as jungle and drum’n'bass, Dr. Israel has toured Europe several times and appeared on a number of compilations, including both volumes of Crooklyn Dub Consortium. He has also released the solo records 7 Tales of Israel (1996) and Next Step (1997), the latter a collaboration with Brooklyn Jungle Soundsystem; Product Three followed in early 2000; Black Rose Liberation appeared in spring 2001.
“The boundary-crossing works and collaborations of The Legendary Dr. Israel cry out like a call to revolution, embracing styles from reggae to drum ‘n’ bass to hard-core metal. Like Eddy Grant on a counter-cultural warpath, Dr. Israel’s politically charged lyrics and diverse musical foundations deliver a refreshing blast of thought-provoking tracks that will make music fans from all walks stop and tune in. Doc’s ability to represent and reprocess his influences (Black Uhuru, Black Sabbath, Bad Brains, Run DMC, Roni Size) into compelling new forms is astounding. And what ties these styles of music together so organically? The answer is simple: Doc understands that what he loves about all music is BIG BASS and BIG DRUMS. He also understands how to implement that knowledge; this is why Doc is such a truly special musical mind.”
Subatomic Sound
For over a decade Emch has been the producer, selector, and musician spearheading Subatomic Sound System and the Subatomic Sound label. Founded at the turn of the millennium, NYC’s Subatomic Sound System has built a reputation worldwide for explosive shows, genre bending production, and breaking down barriers with their unique adaptation of 1970’s Jamaican sound system culture and dub reggae studio techniques to current music genres, technology, and live performances. A record label, DJ/production crew, live band, and event promoters, the Subatomic Sound crew is at work in NYC on every level. Emch hosts Subatomic Sound Radio blasting out to a footprint of 11 million terrestrial listeners in the greater NYC area on KEXP’s Mo-Glo broadcast on Radio New York, 91.5fm and also on the internet via Brooklyn Radio.net.
As the Subatomic Sound record label head, Emch has produced and released dub reggae innovator Lee Scratch Perry’s first dubstep tracks plus eclectic collaborations with icons like filmmaker David Lynch, Prince Far-i, and UK punk pioneer Ari Up of the Slits as well as new school torchbearers like Anthony B, Elephant Man, Jahdan Blakkamoore, Dubblestandart, and his own group Subatomic Sound System. Subatomic Sound System has toured throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. In 2008, Emch was recruited by Vienna’s top ranking live dub band, Dubblestandart, to play guitar and melodica on tour worldwide with Grammy winning reggae legend Lee Scratch Perry, playing for capacity crowd shows from New York’s Central Park to Europe largest reggae festival, One Love in Poland.
WEBSITE / FACEBOOK / SOUNDCLOUD / Festival performances: 9/07 (BOS), 9/09, 9/10, 9/15 (BOS)
LionDub
Music is often referred to as a universal language, however there are many dialects of music, yet few artists are able to express themselves through more than one.” DJing roots reggae dancehall,hip-hop and jungle since ‘91, LionDub is touring the US, opening for the likes of Damian Marley w/ The Ghetto Youths Crew, The Wailers, DJ Krush, ?uestlove of the Roots, Johnny Osbourne, Terry Ganzie, JahDan, Rob Paine of Worship Recordings, Dj Gravy, Dj Ivy, Noble Society, Ras Kush, Smith and Mighty, the UK Steppers and Aquasky. Recent performances include sets alongside Steel Pulse, Sizzla Kalonji and Israel Vibration,Marcus Visionary, Dj Dara and Max Glazer. Conscious roots, Lovers rock, Deep Downtempo Soul, Dubwise, Current Culture and Dancehall Heat, Hip Hop Gems and Hits. Dubplate specials, jungle anthems and remixes, all served with soulful turntablism.
Jahdan Blakkamoore
Brooklyn may be littered with aspiring reggae and dancehall MCs, but few of them have successfully crossed genre lines like Guyanese born Jahdan Blakkamoore, collaborating with the likes of hip hop heads Dead Prez and DJ Premier, dub legend Lee Scratch Perry, and electronic producers from Brooklyn to Europe to South America.
In 2008, Jahdan teamed up with NYC’s Subatomic Sound System for a collaboration with legendary Jamaican producer Lee Scratch Perry and Vienna’s Dubblestandart, revisting Perry’s classic seventies dub track “Blackboard Jungle” in a rootical dubstep style. The result was a landmark in bringing classic dub vibes to a fresh new generation of listeners. Originally coming up in the Boot Camp Clique, Jahdan’s career took a pretty radical left turn when he collaborated with 77Klash on the Matt Shadetek-produced “Brooklyn Anthem.” The viral success of that tune led to further collaboration with Shadetek and his Dutty Artz label partner DJ/Rupture on the album “Buzzrock Warrior” with grime-influenced production from Shadetek, a cumbia beat courtesy of Chancha Vía Circuito of Buenos Aires’ Zizek crew and more all-star production from Liondub (on the single “The General”), Maga Bo, and Modeselektor, not to mention guest vocals from U.K. grime king Durrty Goodz. Hip-hop heads might know him from his lyrical collaborations with DJ Premier, Afu Ra or Dead Prez. Reggae and Roots fans might know him from his solo releases and his band, Noble Society or his collaboration with Diplo and Switch on their Major Lazer project.
Spy From Cairo
Moreno Visini has written hundreds of songs and produced over ten albums over the past 12 years, including five Organic Grooves albums, three Zeb albums and two The Spy From Cairo albums. He has contributed to Turntables on the Hudson compilations, as well as Buddha Bar and countless others. Furthermore, the talented musician and studio wizard has done remixes for artists as diverse as Tosca, Billie Holiday, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Baaba Maal, Astor Piazolla, Nickodemus, Novalima & many more!
Nickodemus
From the early days of Giant Step, to today’s Turntables on the Hudson parties, Nickodemus has been a key element in the NYC dance music scene for over 10 years. As a DJ & a producer, he explores the intersection of Urban & World Music with sounds of Funk, Folk, Jazz, Hip Hop, House & Dub- all with a message of peace, awareness & love for the dance.
Nickodemus been touring as a DJ & collaborating with musicians all over the World since 1996! He has two albums & remix albums called “Engangered Species” and “Sun People” as well as seven Turntables on the Hudson compilations to date. His songs can also be found on 100′s of compilations as well as several movies & TV shows including: Battle in Seattle, Sex in the City, Dancing With the Stars, True Blood & commercials such as iTUNES, Revlon, Heineken & Michelobe.
In his remix machine, Nickodemus has done mixes for a wide range of artists including: Billy Holiday, Nina Simone, Bebel Gilberto, Sultan Khan, Omar Farul Tekbilek, Thievery Corporation, Astor Piazzolla, The Pimps of Joytime & many more. His latest project on self-owned WONDERWHEEL Recordings, comes after a successful launch of Next Aid in South Africa during the World Cup. It includes recordings & mixes of songs from children in the The Earthchild Project in Capetown.
When he’s not out on tour, in the studio or eating pizza, he saves 1st Fridays @ Cielo & special outdoor events for his eclectic & energetic event called Turntables on the Hudson!
Deadly Dragon
Deadly Dragon Sound System has long been a respected force in the reggae community as selectors, retailers, radio hosts and collectors of reggae music from the foundation of Ska all the way up to the newest riddims bubbling up from yard.
Deadly Dragon Sound System was formed in 1995 in Chicago. Initially, Deadly Dragon was started as a way to share an appreciation of Jamaican music with a local audience who, at that time, had no outlets to hear DJ music of any kind. Within a few months, Deadly Dragon’s Sunday night Empty Bottle had become a legend. Within Chicago’s often segregated environment, Deadly Dragon managed to unite all the tribes under the banner of hardcore reggae music.
In 1998 Deadly Dragon Sound expanded into New York City and quickly became a mainstay in the city’s hot bed of sound systems and selectors. Over the past 12 years Deadly Dragon Sound has held down weekly residencies at some of New York’s finest clubs such as Happy Ending, APT, Joe’s Pub, Pianos and King Size. In addition, Deadly Dragon has brought together a series of live events with such artists and sound systems as Johnny Osbourne, Tony Tuff, Yami Bolo, Mighty Crown, Down Beat, Ranking Joe, Cornell Campbell, Wayne Smith, Stone Love, Chuck Turner, Nardo Ranks, Carlton Livingstone, Shabba Ranks, Major Mackarel and more.
Dave Q
Dave Q, along with Joe Nice and Juakali founded the legendary Dub War parties. Founded in June 2005 in New York City, Dub War was the first dubstep night in America. It has been at the forefront of forward-thinking bass music ever since.
DJ’s and producers as diverse as Digital Mystikz, Kode 9, Loefah, Skream, Ramadanman, Oneman, Brackles, and Shackleton have all had their debut North American shows at Dub War.
Dub War NYC / Festival performance: 9/14
Badawi
Badawi was born Raz Mesinai in 1973 in Jerusalem. By spending a lot of time with Bedouins in the Sinai desert as a youngster, he picked up on their unique musical style. When he reached the age of seven, he was taken under the wing of dervish sheik Murshid Hassan (of the Palestinian refugee camp of Balata), who taught the youngster all about exotic Middle Eastern drumming. Soon he had mastered such percussive instruments as the bendir, zarb, and darbukka. He also discovered spirituality along the way, following the Hasidic rabbi and folk musician Harav Shlomo Carlebach.
After moving to New York City, he found himself immersed in the burgeoning NYC Academy of Underground DJs (which included DJ Spooky and a host of others) and changed his name to Badawi (which means “desert dweller” or simply “Bedouin”). By utilizing home recording technology, he recorded his debut for ROIR, Presents Bedouin Sound Clash, which was released in 1996. A year later, the more experimental (but just as good) Jerusalem Under Fire surfaced, which confirmed him as one of the best dub/reggae DJs of the late ’90s. Further releases followed (during which time Badawi changed the spelling of his name slightly, to Badawi), including 1999’s The Heretic of Ether and 2001’s The Soldier of Midian.
Majestic Twinsound
The Majestic Twinsound is one of New Yorks top reggae roots soundsystems… Twinsound have been playing music for the past 15+ years and have played for almost every artist under the reggae banner. With an arsenal of selections ranging from vintage foundation, ska, studio 1, dub, conscious dancehall and of course roots – put the Majestic Twinsound in any arena and they are sure to nice up the place. Their newly formed record label “Ghetto Roots Records” reflects all the musical styles mentioned above and more.
Q-Mastah
Hailing from Brooklyn, DJ Q-Mastah is a true champion of the underground. Either behind the decks as a DJ, behind the scene as an event promoter or photographer, his mission is to promote cross cultural musical trends and evangelize global rhythm cultures to the mass. In 2008, he founded the Sound Liberation Front, a collective of individuals dedicated to realizing this vision. The SLF has produced music festivals, underground parties and other cutting edge music events throughout New York City.
Inspired by his multicultural background and rooted in the tradition of the Jamaican sound system culture, his eclectic sets seamlessly mix Dancehall, UK Roots, Steppers Dub, Dubstep and other bass heavy genres. Armed with an arsenal of dubplates and an acute musical knowledge and sensibility, his explosive performances are tailored for the dance floor, whether it be at a warehouse party, underground club or major music festival.
Facebook / Festival performances: 9/07 (BOS), 9/15 (BOS), 9/16
Dub Poet Infinity
Dub Poet Infinity, born Anthony Livingston in the parish of Manchester Jamaica, is an accomplished teacher, herbalist, clothing designer, entrepreneur and artist. Influenced by the humanitarian ways of artists like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, King Tubby and Jimi Hendrix, Dub Poet Infinity decided to explore his craft and embrace poetry.
Through his songs “911 Blues”, “Homeless”, and “Man Gone Crazy”, Infinity has conveyed the lack of empathy in society within an artistic context. Those who are familiar with the artist, describes him as “having the ability to connect extremely well with his audience.” Dub Poet Infinity states “I drop word bombs instead of conventional warfare. Protonic, Neutronic, Sonic word bombs!”
Super Hi-Fi
Super Hi-Fi is Brooklyn, NYC’s newest and finest Afro-Dub ensemble. Featuring members of Aphrodesia, Slavic Soul Party, the Blue Man Group, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, and The Josh Roseman Ensemble, SHF’s double trombone attack is already winning over audiences from Williamsburg to the Lower East Side! Dub master Victor Rice has recently remixed the band, check out the tracks! Super Hi-Fi hosted the monthly Afro-Dub Sessions at Rose Live Music, Grand St. in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, featuring a rotating cast of special guest DJs including Ticklah, Subatomic Sound System, DJ DRM and many more.
Double 05
Double-05 is here to prove that “Dub bands are forever”. Individually,we operated as covert agents,seeking sources of sonic subversion. Together we share a universal export. Dub. Dub plate, dubstep, dubrock, funky punky jeggae party to dancehall hiphop. We have no secret bass. We took the essence of all that came before, added our dubversive dinstinctions, pressed the ejector button and catapulted our system of sound into the future of reggae music.
Top Shotta
Top Shotta is Brooklyn’s newest all instrumental rockers reggae/dub outfit. Led by trumpeter/producer djMush1 (formerly of the Slackers, Murphy’s Law, Fireproof, The Scorchers, & currently of Tunnel One Radio [WNYU 89.1fm NYC], Al Paragus HQ studios/When Dance Was Nice, and the Hungry March Band), the band features a 3-pc horn section (Mush1 [tpt], Kevin Birk [trombone], and Seth Paris [tenor sax, and also of No Small Money Brass Band). The band also features a full 4-man riddum section, featuring Patrick Meyer [drums], Steve Cappecci [bass], Ari Chersky [guitar], and Ice [keyboard], as well as two percussion players (Mike Torres and Charlie Ferguson). Top Shotta hits the listener with a wall of sound, featuring horn-laden rockers reggae wet with reverb, echo and DUB.
Top Shotta Band now also features the vocal stylings of the great foundation dancehall singer Peter Ranks (of Barry G’s Wha Dat Sound, as well as Sons Junior and Terrorist Sound). Top Shotta brings new life to classic riddums with inventive soloing and heavy percussion, as well as the unique vocals of dancehall legend Peter Ranks.
With the spontaneity of a jazz outfit and featuring all danceable riddums, as well as one of Jamaica’s greatest cultural dancehall singers, each Top Shotta performance is a unique and one-time only event – come hear for yourself!
DJ Sal P
Salvatore Principato (Sal P.) is best known as the vocalist and percussionist of seminal NYC minimalist-funk band Liquid Liquid, but his nearly three-decade career actually spans a wide variety of genres.
Sal P.’s DJ efforts are as varied as his other musical projects and he has championed the turntables at venues in the U.S., Europe, and South Africa and is known for his blend of Afro-Latin, Rare Groove, and deep disco tracks. Remixes have been released most notably for the Rong Music label in collaboration with musicians and producers such as Dennis Young, Brennan Green & Citizen Kane. He has also worked with Kaos, the Berlin-based DJ and producer & with Ectomorph’s BMG from Detroit . Recent releases & collaborations have come out on the Claremont 56 & Disques Sinthomme imprint, and there’s more to come.
Prince Polo
Reggae/dub artist and producer Prince Polo aka Billy Szeflinski, is a Brooklyn based dub producer, musician, and engineer, following in the tradition of reggae producers like King Tubby and Henry “Junjo” Lawes. He has been making a name for himself in the reggae scene since the late 90′s as a writer/performer/and producer, and has recently been gaining recognition for his progressive approach to recording and mixing reggae and dub music. As a sound engineer at The Kennel Studios in Bushwick, he’s been the man behind the board for live and studio sessions with such artists as Lee Scratch Perry, Eek a Mouse, Destroy Baylon, I Wayne, Rebelution, The Expendables, and Ultra-Magnetic MCs, just to name a few.
The live shows are done in the style of Mad Professor. It features Polo on the mixing board, Dub Select on the horns and controls, and occasional guest singers, deejays, and musicians. As he puts it “It’s like taking a little bit of the studio to the stage, I love the live sound system aspect to it” It is a live dub experience that is not to be missed.
Channel U
Yusuke Yamamoto’s solo project [channel U] features an enticingly eclectic attitude by merging an adept sense of electronica, dub and jazz with the primal sounds of Africa, Brazil and Asia. Tracks on its newly released first album, “APE-MAN TALKING”, exhibit a full range of emotionally engaging music with the use of everything from slick vibes, hypnotic flutes, pacifying melodicas and synths, mesmerizing vocals to world beats, exotic melodies, acoustic instruments and minimal programming. Remixed versions of original [channel U] tracks by Chimp Beams and DUB Nomads, as well as guest musicians, offer additional facets to the already colorful palette. In the end, all elements weave into a rich piece of work that one might call, “the sound of one world”.