London International Ska Festival - Bid in the Resonance FM Fundraiser!

Yes folks it's that time of year, the annual Resonance FM fundraiser is in full swing!

There are many fabulous items and experiences on the auction site not least the AMAZING deal of two wristband tickets to the London International Ska Festival worth £130 each.
Ebay bidding on these tickets starts 17th Feb, see: http://fundraiser.resonance.fm/ and help us stay on air!

I've attended the festival in previous years and am looking forward to going this year - a top notch selection of live acts and DJs.  For me the highlight will be the makers of best Rocksteady LP ever - Carlton and The Shoes!

Happy bidding. Thanks to the generosity of the London International Ska Festival and thanks to you the listeners for your donations.  Without your help we could not broadcast from the best radio station in the world* Resonance FM.
*Stewart Lee says so!

Reggae Sound Systems & DJing

Me with the Copesetic Sound system speakers 2014

I was thrilled to get a mention in this great article about women and reggae sound systems:
https://i-d.vice.com/en_gb/article/the-hidden-women-of-sound-system-culture

A couple of books I can recommend on sound system culture:
This one, Sound System Culture, is written by Paul Huxtable of Axis Sound system and focuses on the history and development of reggae sound systems in Huddersfield where Paul is from:
http://www.axissound.co.uk/sound-system-culture-project-and-book/

The Sonar System is a beautifully illustrated children's book emphasising the importance of sound systems in the cultural history of the 20th century:
http://www.factmag.com/2015/07/08/sonar-system-picture-book-sound-system-culture/

I am pleased to announce that I will be playing with Copesetic sound system again on Friday 6th May 2016 in Manchester.

 A little sooner than that on Wednesday 10th February I'll be playing reggae at David Katz's night Dub Me Always in Brixton alongside Sweetie.  Lots of reggae plans for 2016!

DJing in Manchester - Vintage Reggae Style!

I'm really excited about DJing in Manchester tomorrow night with the Copesetic crew!  They have had a vintage style sound system built and play a Reggae from the golden era of Jamaican music (the 60s).  I'll be taking a little box of treasures to play on the sound, all on 7" original vinyl.  Report to follow!

Exclusive Chris Menist Mix on Today's Lucky Cat

Today's Lucky Cat features an exclusive mix from crate digger extraordinaire Chris Menist (pictured).

You may remember Chris came on the show last series to talk about his compilation of Vietnamese records for Dust to Digital. Chris is now, along with Maft Sai, bringing out vinyl releases of undiscovered nuggets on the labelParadise Bangkok: Zudrangma Reords.

Thank you to Chris for an astounding mix. Track listing to follow....

London International Ska Festival this weekend!

The London International Ska Festival starts today and takes place across a variety of venues this year. The lovely Megumi Mesaku who was on my show earlier this year is playing with her band Ska Cubano. There are many great acts appearing including the Ska and Rocksteady legend Dandy Livingstone who has come out of retirement and is returning to the stage! Information on all the acts and how to get tickets can be found here: www.londoninternationalskafestival.co.uk/ or on Facebook:>http://www.facebook.com/londonskafestival My mate Jean-Paul, who is an excellent DJ, will be spinning Ska vinyl at the after party on Sat 5th May @ Islington Metalworks. More on the musical releases in collaboration with the Festival soon.........

Lucky Cat S6 Ep8 (3rd Dec 2011) Playlist & Podcast

Last Saturday I was joined by the fabulously flamboyant saxophonist Megumi Mesaku. We talked about Ska in Japan and Megumi's musical journey; from playing the sax in a marching band as a youngster, playing with Ska bands the Top Cats, the Trojans and Latin/Ska combo Ska Cubano to releasing her own material. For her new 10" 45 vinyl record Megumi has collaborated with some legendary Reggae musicians.
We also talked about Megumi's home town Soma City which is in Fukushima. Megumi has been raising money for Soma City since the Tsunami hit earlier this year. So far she has raised an impressive £7,000 and last month she returned to Soma City to see the effects of the Tsunami for herself and to give the Mayor the donations. Megumi is still fund raising and needs your help! This Saturday 10th Dec please go along to the Kimono Girls' Jumble Sale this Saturday to buy some lovely hand made gifts for Xmas and support a very worthy cause. 11am - 6pm Pacific Social Club, No 8 Clarence Road, London E5 8HB.
Facebook Event Page.

Miss Megoo and the Yahman Allstars' 10 45 is out now and available from JohnJohn Records.

• Feel So Good - Shirley and Lee
  
• Tokyo Shot - The Ska Flames
  
• Piel Canela - Ska Cubano
  
• What a Wonderful World - Miss Megoo and the Yahman Allstars(Miss Megoo (Megumi) with Rico Rodriguez)
  
• Soma Bota - traditional music from Soma City
  
• Blue Lagoon - Miss Megoo and the Yahman Allstars
  

Exclusive Cha Cha Interview on today's show

On today's show check out my exclusive interview with China's premier Reggae and Soul singer Cha Cha.

Based in Shanghai, Cha Cha has collaborated with a variety of international artists - The Bug, Kode 9, Rankin Joe (for Clive Chin's Randys label), Adrian Sherwood and Vibronics. Earlier this year Cha Cha teamed up with Dutch producer Jay Soul to form AM444 for the excellent funk/soul/dub album Eye Wonder.

Currently Cha Cha is at the Red Bull Music Academy in Madrid - the first ever mainland Chinese participant!

Recent collaborations have been with Chinese Hip Hop MCs and producers.

Earlier this year Cha Cha visited the UK for the first time and I recorded an exclusive interview where Cha Cha talks about her musical roots and the emerging Shanghai bass culture music scene.

Listen Live today at 3.30pm (UK) on Resonance 104.4FM in London or via www.resonancefm.com anywhere.

See also:
Subculture Shanghai
Cha Cha on Red Bull Academy Radio

In Berlin? Cha Cha is performing at the Worldtronics Festival on 1st December with Disrupt - Reach!

Playlist & podcast for today's show uploaded shortly....

龙神道 Long Sheng Dao - Chinese Reggae Band

I've been meaning to investigate this band since Steve Barker (On the Wire) meetioned them to me when I met him in China earlier this year. Their name translates roughly as The Way of the Dragon God I think. Loving the gu zheng Reggae sounds on this track. They also seem to be into uptempo Ska sounds as well. They released their debut album earlier this year. I hope to get hold of a copy to play on Lucky Cat Series 6 (coming to a radio/computer near you soon).

They have a:
Myspace page
and a
Facebook page

Rea more on the Beijing Gig Guide

Isaac Julien’s new film installation Ten Thousand Waves

British artist Isaac Julien's Ten Thousand Waves is a 9-screen installation shot on location in China which aims to weave together stories linking China’s ancient past and present. The work looks at immigration, diaspora and the journeys that people make across continents. The installation premièred at the Sydney Biennale in May and was then shown at the Shanghai Expo. Now it is here in London at the Hayward Gallery (with still photographs also on show at the Victoria Miro Gallery).

Filmed on location in Guangxi province the film has many interesting collaborators; most exciting of all the mighty Maggie Cheung Man Yuk! The soundtrack is by Londoner Jah Wobble and The Chinese Dub Orchestra (an artist who has become interested in fusing digital Dub Reggae with Chinese sounds and traditional instruments, as heard in his CD Chinese Dub).

I haven't been to check it out yet but am dying to go, I will report back asap. I am a fan of Julien's work and of course I don't need to declare my love for Maggie Cheung again! Watch this space for a review of the installation....