uncarved.org blog

The Emmanuel family has announced that the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Policing Authority will be speaking about David Emmanuel’s death tomorrow:

The MPA Commissioner will be speaking about the death of Smiley Culture tomorrow, the 31st March at 10am at City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London, SE1 2AA.

We need to be there in numbers. Please promote. Lee Jasper and Merlin Emanuel will be attending. We ask you to come along and to encourage others to do so. We need to let them know we mean business.

Please tweet this, email the information to friends, post it on your FaceBook pages and do whatever you can to spread the word. We know it’s short notice so we really need your help on this.

Thank you for your support.

No Justice No Peace!

If you can’t it, please put the march to Scotland Yard in your diaries for the 16th of April.

A pdf concerning the march to Scotland Yard on April 16th was also released today.

It’s in pdf format so people can print it out and distribute it as a leaflet. The text is very interesting and I would urge you to read it.

Also today, the Croydon Guardian has reported that a Detective Constable Stuart Hobkirk has sworn under oath that Smiley Culture stabbed himself.

Woofah contributor, psychogeographer and dubstep documenter Georgina Cook is showing some of her amazing photos in London soon:

LAVA GALLERY PRESENTS  GEORGINA COOK

17-23 February 2011

Opening Exhibition Party
Thursday 17th February 2011 | 6PM-9PM | Free Entry
MUSIC FROM MARTELO & SKIPPLE

The bright spark behind Drumzofthesouth returns to London to showcase her photography.

The Drumzofthesouth blog played a big part in the development of the Dubstep scene, from it’s early days in South London to it’s current position as a global movement. What started as a blog later became a monthly club night, which took place at Plan B in Brixton. Georgina Cook now lives in Paris, but she is returning to London to hook up with LAVA Gallery for this event.

Martelo and Skipple are dropping by to DJ at the opening party on 17th February.

More info here.

No shortage of nights out  on my doorstep these days.

This looks good and has Jamie Rodigan involved with the promotion, who seems like a top chap. Which I guess is hardly surprising given his pedigree.

These last few years have definitely marked a new generation coming through. Other examples would be Young Warrior and Joe Ariwa (see interview in Woofah #4), Alpha Steppa (son of one of Alpha & Omega, UK Dub fixtures).

Oh and after plugging Footsie’s grimey reggae “Rastaman Pickney” EP, it was great to read this interview with him where he talks about his Dad having been involved with London’s King Original soundsystem back in the day.

Anyway, Mudd Up looks like being a good ‘un. The Heatwave are guaranteed to rock any party. Papa Face has served most of us tunes for longer than he probably cares to remember, and was also the first UK MC to get a release on Fashion Records (or rather, its subsidiary Top Notch).

1. Launch party for new bashment zine No Ice Cream Sound:

Shimmy Shimmy is proud to launch the first issue of its dancehall print zine ‘No Ice Cream Sound’ on the 17th January….here’s a little sneak peak of what’s in there:

Interviews with Mr Lexx, Natalie Storm, Serocee and Wrongtom, features on up to the time and vintage dancehall, an exclusive chart from The Heatwave…and much more!!

To celebrate we’re having a launch party at Passing Clouds on Thursday 13th January with a brilliant line-up:

• Mr Williamz live p.a. (Necessary Mayhem)
• Wrongtom (Big Dada)
• Why Delila (Wifey)
• Hipsters Don’t Dance DJs
• Cool Hand Luke
• & Shimmy Shimmy DJs (plus extra MCs on the night)

Please see the flyer above (it’s also the cover of the zine), and the link to the Facebook event is here. If you require any further info, or you want to be put on the list, please don’t hesitate to get in contact. Feel free to blog, share…whatever you feel!

www.shimmyshimmy.co.uk
www.twitter.com/itsthelarge
www.soundcloud.com/the_large

2. Remembering the New Cross Fire 30 Years On

On Sunday January 18, 1981 a devastating house fire killed 13 young black people during a birthday party in New Cross, South East London. The black community accused the London Metropolitan Police of covering up the cause, which they suspected was an arson attack motivated by racism. The protests arising out of the fire led to a mobilization of black political activity, but nobody has ever been charged in relation to the fire.

Kwame Kwei-Armah hosts this event to mark the 30th Anniversary of the New Cross Fire incorporating music, film, spoken word and discussion to remember the young lives lost and the impact the New Cross Fire has had on the lives of Britons today.

The event hopes to be an inspiring and uplifting remembrance with contributions from Alex Pascall OBE, Professor Gus John, Menelik Shabazz, spoken word from Courttia Newland, El Crisis and Albany Associate Artist Zena Edwards and music from The Queens of Lovers Rock Carroll Thompson and Janet Kay.

http://www.thealbany.org.uk/event_detail/602/Events/Remembering-the-New-Cross-Fire-30-Years-On

The New Cross Fire was also remembered in a number of reggae songs, as documented by Transpontine.

It’s the 2010 London Anarchist Bookfair this Saturday.

I’ve given it a miss for a few years now (which is fair enough given that I’m not an anarchist!), but might tag along this time to pick up a copy of the new book on Anti-Fascist Action which is being produced in time for the occasion.

In the evening some friends of mine are organising the first in a series of benefit gigs for a variety of causes:

It will be good.

19 September, 4.00pm

Sus (15) SPECIAL SCREENING & PANEL Q&A

Ritzy Cinema, Brixton

Based on Barrie Keeffe’s incendiary 1979 play, SUS is a claustrophobic thriller set around the time of Margaret Thatcher’s landslide election win. On the night of the election, two cops arrest a West-Indian man named Delroy on suspicion of a serious offence and take him in for questioning. Made all the more poignant by today’s changing socio-political climate, Heath’s film is a shocking indictment of past institutional ills that will resonate with contemporary audiences.

To honour Black History month the Ritzy will present a special screening of SUS followed by a panel discussion hosted by Mia Morris, founder of Black History 365 Magazine and www.black-history-month.co.uk, with the below participants, all of whom have been long time active residents of the Brixton community.

Mavis Best – Founder of the “Scrap SUS” campaign

Marsha Prescod – Solicitor and Lecturer at South Bank University, active during “Scrap SUS” campaign

Marcia Rigg-Samuel – Founder of “Sean Rigg Justice and Change Campaign”

Michael Groce – Sparked 1985 Brixton riot when his mother Cherry Groce was shot in the back

Roots Manuva Meets Wrongtom: Duppy Writer (Big Dada CD/MP3/WAV/2xLP)

There’s a bit of a buzz about this right now and rightly so. I’ve previously bigged up Wrongtom on here for his much missed Resonance FM show with Mr Trick and his awesome sleng tengy Tinie Tempah refix.

He’s now turned his hands to Roots Manuva’s back catalogue, mixing it up in a raggamuffin style. Which is great news for me as I’ve always loved Roots Manuva’s lyrics and flow but often found his beats a bit… I dunno… too clever, maybe? Hip hop isn’t my main thing (as I guess is obvious) and UK hip hop has largely passed me by…

“Duppy Writer” is a brilliantly executed project – Wrongtom’s production varies between swingy mid 80s digikal style and more classic rootsy business. And boy, he knows what he’s doing. You’ll find no bland “festival reggae” or stiff techno flourishes here. In fact the whole album works as a kick in the pants to all the bedroom producers out there churning out generic dub tunes whether they be UK roots or dubstep.

Calling this a remix project is doing it a disservice – it’s a complete overhaul which stands as an accomplished UK reggae MC album in its own right. It’s one of the few new albums to get me excited this year, the other being the King Midas Sound one, but for entirely different reasons (“Duppy” is exuberant where KMS is introspective, in fact they function like opposite sides of the same coin, maybe.)

Best tracks to investigate: “Rebuff” with proper cross-fading digi bass soundsystem madness, the soulful “Jah Warriors” with its moody keyboard line, and “Chin Up” which has me skanking around the flat whilst trying to write this.

The album comes wrapped up in a full colour cover by Tony McDermott (who did all those great Scientist covers for Greensleeves, and who I have a brief piece about in the current issue of The Wire magazine).

Duppy Writer is released tomorrow – and there are a couple of launch events inna local style:

“Come and meet the Ghost writer behind all the Roots Manuva Classics.Rodney’s dead twin from Duppy Land will be haunting East London 2-6pm. Can’t stay long he has to get back to being dead.”

Or to put it another way, Roots and friends will be celebrating the release of the record by taking over the shop Pelicans & Parrots at 40 Stoke Newington Road, Dalston, N16 7XJ; 2-6pm; Monday 6th September!

A mixture of instore, pop-up shop and chaotic mess, come through, listen, smile, buy something and get it signed. Should be fun…

Roll up, roll up for a Rootical extravaganza. To celebrate both the release of Roots Manuva meets Wrongtom’s ‘Duppy Writer,’ and the birthday of Roots Manuva himself, Big Dada is throwing a party on the 9th September.

There’ll be all kinds of great music from Roots and Wrongtom, the legendary Don Letts and the debonair Ricky Ranking, as well as first rate record playing from Photomachine. It all takes place at a newish venue called the Alibi, which, we’re assured by them that know, is the place to be. It’s free to get in, but there are only 100 or so places (strictly on a first come, first served basis), so get there early to guarantee entry.

Latest of these highly recommended events: Excellent sessions for the young and old!

Here is the lowdown from the organisers:

Dear musical fever massive,

the next MUSICAL FEVER event will be happening in the hot bed of London nightlife that is SHOREDITCH – and were sure you´ll agree that we have one of the HOTTEST BILLINGS possibly imaginable in the world of revival reggae.

anyone familiar with our previous events or the vintage reggae scene in general, will need no further introduction to the names above.

suffice to say ASHER G, with his DEEP AUTHENTIC sound-system pedigree [MUZIK CITY], wealth of specialist knowledge and experience of playing JA to all and every type of crowd from the foundation of blues-dance and house-party and on – is arguably THE TOUGHEST REVIVAL SELECTOR in the world at this moment in time…

and for this special exclusive session, he´ll be playing alongside probably the worlds deepest collector at the moment, TOMMY ROCK-A-SHAKA [DRUM AND BASS RECORDS] from OSAKA – JAPAN,who as traveled the world over many times during the last decade or so, and been back and forth to JAMAICA to hunt down the rarest, most coveted, sought after gems of REGGAE MUSIC.

Once again, support on this momentous occasion will be provided by one of the handful of original JA MUSIC PRODUCERS still active on the scene -coming from NEW YORK – the right honourable CLIVE CHIN of the legendary´RANDYS´ studio and production house. AND another GIANT of the UK´s´directly linked to JAMAICAN SOUND-SYSTEM´ scene, one to whom an original 60´s / 70´s mantle has been passed down – MR CHUCKY DOWNBEAT.

With a LINE-UP this big, in such a central location [´THE JAMM BAR´ islocated right on the junction of Shoreditch High Street / Old Street /Hackney Road - less than 10minutes from LIVERPOOL STREET STN]- the only slight snag is that the venue only has a 1am license – and accordingly, we´ll be starting the MAIN EVENT PROMPTLY at 10pm to preserve the original style ´meets´ format of presentation. THERE WILL BE NO ADVANCE TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT. We advise everyone to COME EARLY to guarantee entry and avoid disappointment – it´s not like the supporting acts could in any way be regarded as warm-ups!!

we look forward to seeing you there,

best regards

ska_nick & maharishi hi-fi

These should be good:

The first in a new series of live events by curated by comrade Johnny Mugwump. More info here.

Followed by a short walk or bus ride up Stoke Newington High Street, to:

Krautfunkdiscocosmicspacebleeps to burn up the dancefloor

Higamos Hogamos (DC Recordings) Live!
Eat Lights, Become Lights (Enraptured Records) Live!

DJs
Jim Backhaus (Kosmische, Resonance)
Louise XIV (Sleep All Day Drive All Night)
Idle Rich (Sleep All Day Drive All Night)
DJ Matthias, direkt von Stuttgart

Friday 13th August
Eleven pm until four am
Six pounds entry
The Drop, 175 Stoke Newington High St, London, N16 0LH
(downstairs at the Three Crowns, on the corner of Church Street and the High Street)