We recently had Reggae Royalty in the house, when Dawn Penn dropped into the Ujima studios. Dawn Penn had one of the biggest hits in Reggae history with her Global smash; You Don’t

Love Me (No, No, No), reached the top of the charts in 1994. Her song has since been covered by Rihanna and Beyoncé.
Ms Penn was in Bristol ahead of her appearance with Ujima’s Reggae DJ Ramboy Selector at The Kings Head in Easton, Bristol. She was interviewed by The G-Man on Friday’s Back 2 Life Show to promote her greatest hits album Vintage and her new book about her 45 years in the industry.

Since making her debut in 1966, she has sung with some of greats in Reggae history. Legends su

ch as The Skatalites and she recorded her early songs at Studio One the place where Bob Marley started his career with producer Coxsone Dodd at Hope Road, Kingston, Jamaica.

Ms Penn had her first hit in 1966 with Are You There with Prince Buster and has toured the world with her melodic vocals being adored by thousands. She told The G-Man her favourite place to tour was Australia. ‘The people are so friendly and the food fresh!’
Just like the title of her Greatest Hits collection Ms Penn proves she is still Vintage!
To hear the interview with Dawn Penn Go to http://listen-again.ujimaradio.com/index.php?cat=BACK%202%20LIFE%20with%20The%20G-Man

The dignitaries were given a tour around the Ujima studios, entering into a lively debate with the team ahead of the Yes vote for an elected Mayor and paid special attention to our recording equipment.

The Lord Mayor took the microphone and was interviewed on Paul Campbell’s Outlook show. He spoke of his enjoyment in serving the city as Lord Mayor and getting many Bristolians to visit the Mansion House. The Lord and Lady Mayoress end their term this month and we wish them both well in the future and thank them for coming to see us.

In the early 1980′s Joshua was one of Bristols popular Performers who took his brand of Roots Reggae on tour across the Uk and Europe In April 2012 Joshua is just putting out a career retrospective via Bristol Archive records Called Joshua to Jashwa-30 years in the wilderness.
Tickets £11 Available from Bristol Ticket Shop 0117 9299 008 – Doors 7.30pm – All ages (Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult and leave by midnight)

Wednesday June 20th 9.30am to 3.30pm

Arnos Vale, West Lodge, Bath Road, Bristol, BS4 3EW

This session is for people who have no or limited knowledge of parliament but would like to find out more. It Will Help you find out more about the make up of parliament, how it carries out its business and how you can be involved and influence decisions made in parliament.

To find Out More And To Book Your Place Visit:

http://www.supporthub.org.uk/your-local-government-how-it-works-and-how-you-can-get-involved-local-decision-making

Bursary places are available, Please call voscur on 0117 909 9949

Over 70 pieces of work from many of Bristol’s best contemporary and acclaimed street artists will be going under the hammer later this month in order to raise money for one of the South West’s most dynamic charities.

The event, Art for Africa, will see 71 pieces up for auction, with contributions from renowned artists including Paris, Inkie, Xenz, Will Barass, Dicy, Mr. Riks and China Mike as well as live drawing on the night from Mr. Jago, FLX and Greg Minto. There will also be many more contributions from artists aligned with the event’s sponsors King of Paint, Weapon of Choice, Artel and Upfest.

With the Olympics and Arts Council offering up £250,000 for Bristol’s street artists to develop an area around Temple Meads, the auction will mark the start of the season for many of the major names involved. Pieces donated range from classical oil paintings to stencilled skate decks, alongside large contemporary canvases and screen prints, with estimated values ranging from £50 to £1200.

All of the money raised goes directly to Bristol-based charity, Temwa, whose work helps build a sustainable future for the people of Malawi through community-based projects in health education, sustainable agriculture & forestry, schools support and skills training [1].

The event is Temwa’s biggest fundraiser along with its sister auction, The Contemporary Urban Art Auction at Paradise by Way of Kensal Green, London [2].

The event will feature Babyhead’s hilarious frontman Tom Mauger as the auctioneer and, after the final hammer slams, continue into the night with DJ’s and beat boxers [3].

Providing a chance to party with the biggest names on the Bristol art scene, take home their incredible work and raise money for Malawi. Contributors donate quality pieces without any cost to Temwa, including Mr. Jago who said, “You can see where all the money raised goes, directly to support projects in Malawi; it’s amazing to be involved with”.

And Felix Braun (FLX) a renowned street artist who has visited Usisya is an incredible advocate of Temwa’s work, after his visit he said “It was truly inspiring to witness the belief everyone had in the importance of the organisation. Be under no illusions: everything you do to support Temwa is making a huge difference to people in Malawi”.

Temwa’s art events have become quite established within the arban art community, Inkie has said, “having worked with Temwa over the last few years I have seen the dedication & passion they have for their work in Malawi. We work on the annual Urban Art Auction in London every year and it’s been a joy to work with them.”

The event opens at 6pm with the auction starting at 8pm; art will be wrapped upon sale so photographs should be taken before the auction commences. Many artists will be available for interview on the night and this can be confirmed beforehand. Live drawing on the night from well-known street artists Mr. Jago, FLX and Greg Minto, as well as renowned artist’s pieces under the hammer all evening.

[1] Temwa was founded in 2003 by Jo Hook and Sophie Elson. We aim to provide the resources needed to enhance the social capacity of the communities of Nkhata Bay North, a remote rural region of Northern Malawi. Currently our UK office focuses of fundraising and communications. Our fundraising events have strong Bristol community links and we have been supported by Bristol’s artists, musicians,actors, magicians and adventurers over the years. Our fundraising focus is to use the creativity, skills and good will of the Bristol community to support the development of the community in Nkhata Bay North. In this sense we aim to host fundraising events that provide a tangible link with the projects and communities that we raise funds for, we aim to partnership the community of the South West with that of Nkahat Bay North, Malawi.

[2] This is our 8th Bristol Art for Africa, we have had two Urban Art Auctions in London.

[3] The three beat boxers confirmed for the event are Minimus, S30 and Experimental, all are well-known throughout the Bristol music scene.

CONTACT: Sheena Wynne Temwa Communications Officer: 07787581702.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Before the event interviews are available with artists Mr.Jago and FLX, and with Temwa’s director Jo Hook.

Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago 50 year’s independence 2012

ANNOUNCING THE LATEST RELEASE IN OUR UJIMA RADIO 98FM & BRISTOL ARCHIVE RECORDS PARTNERSHIP PROMOTION OF BRISTOL’S CLASSIC REGGAE & ROOTS TALENT SMITH & MIGHTY

‘The Three Stripe Collection 1985 –1990’

Available at the Ujima online shop from 14^TH May 2012

http://www.ujimaradio.com/store/

During the 1990s, “The Bristol Sound” became a global phenomenon with albums from Massive Attack, Portishead and Tricky regularly placed high in polls of the best albums of the decade or indeed of all time. But for those in the know, “The Bristol Sound” had been defined at the tail end of the eighties with a string of releases from the studio of Rob Smith and Ray Mighty.

Perhaps if they hadn’t been so ahead of the field, had released an album instead of a run of singles or if their subsequent signing to a major label had worked out, the names Smith & Mighty would be as well known as those other Bristol artists.

It’s never too late to put the record straight and add another name to the pantheon of Bristol music greats, something they more than deserve. It is with genuine excitement that Bristol Archive Records announce the release of Smith & Mighty, “The Three Stripe Collection 1985-1990”.

The 17 tracks have been personally selected and compiled by Rob Smith and starts with “Walk On” and “Anyone” the two songs that announced the arrival of Smith & Mighty and heralded the coming of “The Bristol Sound”. The tracks selected, comprise a complete overview of the label’s two years as an independent, highlighting just how productive and creative the partnership was.  They took musical ingredients from reggae, funk, hip hop, pop, house, soul and anywhere else that inspired them, added a huge amount of talent, skill, originality, a large portion of the Bristol vibe, some primitive digital technology and turned out cutting edge, boundary crossing dance music the likes of which had never been heard before. Being producers they used these songs to showcase the pool of local talent including; Jackie Jackson, Krissy Kriss, MC Kellz and DJ Lynx.

The majority of these tracks have never been re-released since they appeared as singles more than twenty years ago and for the first time they are gathered together as an album. “The Three Stripe Collection 1985-1990” will be issued on May 14th as a double vinyl LP, CD and digital download,  to borrow from one of the song titles “This Is The Time” to  finally acknowledge the Smith & Mighty legacy and as Krissy Kriss says in that very song, “This is what we call the Bristol Style……just listen”.Clips available on: http://www.ujimaradio.com/store/

Your chance to compere the Olympic Torch Relay stage in Bristol!

Tuesday 22^nd May 2012 in Millennium Square, Bristol.

On 22^nd May 2012 the Olympic Torch will arrive in Bristol. It will be greeted by a fantastic event across the city that will culminate in the arrival of the Torch in the city centre, and a free concert in Millennium Square.

With the Torch comes never before incredible opportunities to perform, showcase, help run the event, connect and build your future!

As well as musical performers, and people to help run the event, we are looking right now for one talented and outgoing person aged between 13 and 19 years old from anywhere in the South West to help compere the main stage of the Bristol Torch Relay event!

Apply now at www.teenagerampage.co.uk and select ‘Compere’ from the menu.

We will be holding a training workshop supported by some of the leading street theatre and performance organisations in the region before the event for all those that apply. We will choose our compere for the stage at that workshop.

So what are you waiting for? Get involved, get connected, work with professionals, and be part of your Torch Relay event!

Visit www.teenagerampage.co.uk to apply…

Applications are now open and will close on 7^th May.

Notes to editor

The compere will be selected from across the South West by a committee of local and national professionals. Applications will be made through the Teenage Rampage website www.teenagerampage.co.uk

The final act will be chosen at a training workshop in the week beginning 7th May.

The winning act will be announced by 14^th May.

The selected act will:

• Compere, with a professional, the main programme on the main stage on the day.

• receive a mentor that will work with them before, during and after your performance.

• become part of a network of talented young performers across the region and gain fantastic opportunities for further promotion and performances.

For further information contact:

Stephen Barnes (Bristol Music Foundation)

Stephen@bristolmusicfoundation.com / 07951 158477

Joel’s motivation came from the loss of her mum to cancer a few years ago.

To donate please visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/en-gb/donate

Announcing the 4th release on 23rd April in Ujima Radio 98FM & Bristol Archive Records partnership promotion – Bristol’s classic reggae & roots talent

AMJ DUB COLLECTIVE

‘Sound History Volume One’

For their first venture into reggae, Sugar Shack teamed up with a new group, AMJ Dub Collective. The group’s name may be new to people, but their part in Bristol’s musical heritage goes back more than thirty years. Mark Spence and Andy Clarke, the band’s rhythm section are graduates of Zion Band from which they progressed to legendary Bristol band Restriction, (music from both bands can be found on our sister label Bristol Archive Records). The third member of the trio is producer John Hollis, another Restriction graduate and for their first release they’ve called on two other former band mates Eric ‘The General’ McCarthy on MC duties and Bristol legend Rob Smith for a brace of mixes. The trio’s aim was to recreate the classic reggae sound that they grew up with, yet they aren’t afraid to bring things up to date where appropriate as well as bringing in some guest musicians for an added Latin twist that harks back to Jamaican music’s origins and close links with Cuba and the wider Caribbean.

The idea for these tracks came from Mark Spence who felt it was long overdue to document in song the City’s rich heritage of sound systems, their selectors, MCs and followers who supported them, a tribute to the reggae scene that nurtured and inspired the members of AMJ Dub Collective and others.

The choice of ‘The General’ on microphone duties was obvious as not only had he taken that role in Restriction, but was also an MC on legendary Bristol sound system Enterprise. His delivery has lost nothing in the last thirty years and it’s great to be able to hear him again. Rob Smith needs no introduction and although his career has covered the “Bristol Sound”, drum and bass and dub step, he has never drifted far from his reggae roots, having been a founder member of both Zion Band and Restriction, it’s only natural that his mixing talents were called upon. This is reggae for the twenty first century, yet reggae built on years of practice and skill, music played on real instruments by real musicians and not something programmed on a PC using the same tired digital effects, “Sound History” will be released as a limited edition 4 track 12” EP complete with picture sleeve, if only all new reggae was made with such care and attention.

To see more info on the track listing, hear a sample + buy your signed exclusive copy go to: http://www.ujimaradio.com/store/

Format available Vinyl @ £7.50 p + p