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CAPITAL LETTERS
Original 70s Wolverhampton Reggae Band
+
Crucial Roots

FRIDAY 26TH JUNE

over 18s only

Doors 7.30pm

Caribbean Kitchen Open till 9pm

The Rum Shack
657 – 659 Pollokshaws Road
Glasgow
G41 2AB

***ON SALE NOW***

£10 EARLYBIRD

TICKETWEB

http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/169123

TICKETS SCOTLAND

http://t-s.co/capi2

IN PERSON
TICKETS SCOTLAND (Argyle St Glasgow & Rose St Edinburgh)
RUM SHACK (657 Pollokshaws Road)

The CD and digital have three additional tracks:
10. Freebird
11. Jah Time Will Come (Live)
12. Power Crazy People – Stop The War (Live)

To be released on www.sugarshackrecords.co.uk

Having reformed in 2013, it hasn’t taken Capital Letters long to get back into their stride and 2015 sees them embarking on a series of European live dates reminiscent of their heyday in the late seventies and early eighties when they were the unofficial UK reggae ambassadors to Europe, constantly touring throughout the Continent.

To coincide with the start of these dates, Sugar Shack Records will be releasing the first all new Capital Letters album in thirty years. The band have spent much of the summer in the studio of Noel Browne, Noel only recently relocated to the UK and built his new studio. He’s a former Studio One Band, Taxi Gang and Maytals keyboard player who is perhaps better known as the man behind New Name Music, the studio he set up in 1987 where he was to achieve success with Luciano, Mikey Spice and Jack Radics amongst many, before building Big Ship Recording Studios in 1995 where he worked with Freddie McGregor, The Wailing Souls, Papa San and numerous others. Utilising Noel Browne’s engineering skills, the band recorded 14 songs which were then passed into the safe hands of regular Sugar Shack collaborator Dave ‘Oldwah’ Sandford for final mixing.

The album kicks off with a trio of classic roots tracks, “Jah Music”, a highlight of their live shows, “Wolf” as recently released in a remix form on a Sugar Shack 12” and “Roots Music”. Just when you think the pattern is set, the band turn things around and with a novel approach they continue with a mainly roots themed set, but in a case of an iron fist inside a velvet glove, hard hitting roots messages are underpinned by often upbeat backing. The songs; “Place On Earth”, “Dat Nah Stop”, “False Natty”, “Tell Me What’s Wrong” and “Opportunity” all contain strong messages that may be missed on casual listening with their deceptive, almost too upbeat backing tracks, an unusual approach that shows just how confident and skilled the band are.

It’s not all politics and preaching. One of the songs is a heartfelt tribute to the band’s home town, Wolverhampton in the British Midlands. It was obvious that with Capital Letters strong ties to the City, this was the perfect track to name the album after and so “Wolverhampton” is the album title and will no doubt have more than a few of the band’s overseas fans checking their atlases. A perfect companion piece to “Wolverhampton” is the track “Jamaica” which paints a charming child’s eye picture of the huge changes and culture shock encountered by the children who arrived in Britain to join the windrush generation during the fifties and sixties.

Co vocalist Lukas doesn’t forget his past as a Lovers Rock artist and we are treated to a solitary love song with “Movie Star”. Lukas puts in such a consummate performance, it makes one hope the band will record more material along similar lines in future.
Capital letters are a band at the top of their game; they have maturity, confidence and musicianship to spare. This is a deceptive album, the more you listen the more it reveals the depth of quality within, good on first listen it grows in stature and really rewards repeated plays.

“Wolverhampton” is released by Sugar Shack records on 23rd March 2015 as a digital download and compact disc available from all leading sites and retailers, there will also be a limited edition vinyl album containing the first five tracks along with their accompanying dub mixes.

Tour Dates so far confirmed:

March 20th: Capital Letters at La Grange à Musique ( Creil, 16 Boulevard Salvador Allende 60100, France)

March 21st : Capital Letters at De Warande ( Warandestraat 42, 2300 Turnhout, Belgium)

April 2nd: Capital Letters at Le Hangar ( 3-5 Rue Raspail, 94200 Ivry sur Seine, Nr Paris, France)

April 3rd : Capital Letters at Canal 93, 63 avenue Jean Jaures, 93000 Bobigny, France)

April 4th Capital Letters at “In Dread We Trust Festival”, Cluses 74300, France)

More dates to follow

ARTIST: Capital Letters
TITLE: “Wolverhampton”
RELEASE DATE: 23rd March 2015
LABEL: Sugar Shack Records
DISTRIBUTION: Shellshock / SRD
FORMAT: Limited Edition Vinyl, CD and Digital Download
CAT NO: FOD106V / FOD106CD
BARCODE: 5052571059111 / 5052571059128
GENRE: Reggae, Dub
WEBSITE: www.sugarshackrecords.co.uk
PRESS CONTACT: Mike Darby, E: mdarby@sugarshackrecords.co.uk / T: 07885 498 402

https://sugarshackrecords.bandcamp.com/album/wolf

http://youtu.be/ILjBWRjnFrs

http://youtu.be/yZIKZXBeWcc

http://youtu.be/8nADRrH1zu8

http://youtu.be/eNvKmoFttt0

http://youtu.be/ua0XtN0paZk

http://youtu.be/N1HISutRlJQ

http://youtu.be/dMNXAsqrlqQ

s all the you tube video links:

(c) Musical Echoes 2014

http://liveanddirect.fr/VIDEOS/CAPITAL-LETTERS-PARIS-NEW-MORNING-2014.html

Photo by Tom Porter taken in Birmingham last weekend

March 23rd The Fleece supporting Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
March 29th The Attic Bar, Stokes Croft

Latest album ‘No War’ is a must buy British Roots classic – visit the record shop

Legendary Handsworth, Birmingham reggae figure Fatman, has returned to the studio and will be releasing the first new Black Symbol album in thirty years when new CD “Journey” is released by Sugar Shack Records.
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Fatman and Black Symbol helped to put Birmingham’s Handsworth area firmly on the reggae map with a series of Black Symbol singles and three albums done in conjunction with other local artists, including the two legendary volumes of “Handsworth Explosion” mostly released on the band’s own eponymous label.
Over the last thirty years, those original Black Symbol releases have grown in status as more and more people discover them and the original Black Symbol recordings will see a comprehensive reissue programme by our sister label Reggae Archive Records.
Although the stream of releases had stopped, Fatman himself continued writing and recording music and having already returned to live performance, to great acclaim, he has decided the time is right to release new music and spread the Black Symbol message to a new worldwide audience.
The ten songs on “Journey” are brand new and have been produced by Paul Horton for Ecks Productions. Paul has twice been nominated for a Grammy Award for his work on Steel Pulse’s “Victims” and Pato Banton’s “Life Is a Miracle”. Although the music benefits from Paul’s experience and knowledge of the latest production techniques, he’s been careful to ensure that the music recalls the Black Symbol of old and retains that original spiritual edge.

Spiritual is perhaps the best word to describe this collection of songs and there couldn’t be a more apt title than “Journey”; our lives are a journey. Fatman’s journey has taken him from St. Ann’s, Jamaica to Handsworth, England and now increasingly he is looking towards Ethiopia and Africa. It is a theme that recurs throughout the songs on this collection.
When Fatman sings “Mama Africa”, he sings of Africa as his home land just as much as Jamaica or England. Africa is the mother that gave birth to all humanity whilst in “Bongoman”; he quotes from Psalm 137 a tale of exile and weaves it into a song of great beauty and spiritual power with Nyahbinghi undertones. The theme of travel is repeated in “Morning Dew” and title track “Journey” where he proclaims that “Rasta no build his house on sinking sand”. Fatman rejects the corruption of modern society, we must come away from the “muddy water” and drink from the pure spring of Rastafari.
Fatman is not afraid to proclaim his faith throughout this album, in fact that’s exactly how he begins with the track “I’m not Afraid”. Positive, uplifting and spiritual messages fill the songs on this collection in tracks like “Do Jah Work” and “Let It Shine” whilst “What A Joy”, celebrates an imaginary coming together in one love and unity of all branches of Rastafari.
Special mention should be given to Empress Bev, whose backing vocals add so much to the unique sound of this album and help it stand out from the crowd. Black Symbol always sounded different from any other British reggae, the music always felt as though it had flowed straight from a spring in the hills of Jamaica rather than coming from the bricks and concrete of Birmingham and that sound is retained. There is still nobody making music like Fatman, one of the unsung voices of British reggae is back and the time is right for his message to spread to every continent. The journey starts here.
“Journey” is released on CD by Sugar Shack Records on 27th January 2014, available from all leading retailers worldwide.

www.sugarshackrecords.co.uk

ARTIST: Black Symbol
TITLE: Journey
RELEASE DATE: 27th January 2014
LABEL: Sugar Shack Records
DISTRIBUTION: Shellshock
FORMAT: CD
CAT NO: FOD100CD
BARCODE: 5052571053324
GENRE: Reggae, Dub,

Tracks:

1. I’m Not Afraid
2. Mama Africa
3. Bongo man
4. Morning Dew
5. Journey
6. What a Joy
7. Nothing for the Poor
8. Let it Shine
9. Jah People
10. Mr. Money Man

30th Anniversary Rerelease
RECORD STORE DAY SPECIAL – April 20th
Released 22nd April 2013 via www.bristolarchiverecords.com and selected retailers

PLEASE VISIT YOUR LOCAL RECORD STORE AND PICK UP YOUR SPECIAL COPY – SUPPORT VINYL – APRIL 20TH 2013

With the release of the latest Black Roots album “On The Ground” and its dub counterpart “On The Ground In Dub” via our sister label Sugar Shack Records, Bristol Archive Records decided to do something special to celebrate the band’s return to the studio. What could be better than a very special reissue of Black Roots self-titled first album, released to coincide with its 30th anniversary and, as this will be a vinyl only release we thought we’d combine it with this year’s Record Store Day event.
“Black Roots” was originally released in 1983, by which time the band was established as one of the UK’s leading live acts with a strong repertoire of socially aware songs reflecting the issues of the day. When it came to their first album, they chose eight of their strongest tracks and assembled what was to become one of the classic British reggae albums of the decade.
Featuring the tracks; “The Father”, “Survival”, “Juvenile Delinquent”, “What Them ‘A Do”, “Opportunity”, “Tribal War”, “Africa” and “Move On”, the album covers themes of social alienation, deprivation, repatriation, Rastafari, violence within the black community and ends, with the tale of a failing relationship. Three decades later, many of the songs are just as relevant and provide the perfect complement to their latest recordings.
This new release will be strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide. 400 copies will be available for Record Store Day, 22nd April 2013, at participating retailers and feature a facsimile of the original sleeve, whilst 100 copies will be available directly from Bristol Archive Records and very select retailers and feature a unique handmade screen printed sleeve as well as being individually numbered, a very special edition.
This is the first time this album has been available on vinyl for twenty five years and there is every likelihood that demand will outstrip supply so be sure to grab your copy.
www.bristolarchiverecords.com / www.nubianrecords.co.uk

ARTIST: Black Roots
TITLE: Black Roots
RELEASE DATE: 22nd April 2013 – RECORD STORE DAY
LABEL: Bristol Archive Records
DISTRIBUTION: Shellshock
FORMAT: Limited Edition Vinyl and Digital Download
CAT NO: ARC265V
BARCODE: 5052571041611

‘JAHGGAE HAS ARRIVED’

Jashwha Moses is back. Having taken nearly three and a half decades between releasing his first single and his first album, last year’s career spanning “Joshua To Jashwha – 30 Years In the Wilderness”, on our sister label Bristol Archive Records, he’s wasted no time in following up its success with an album of brand new material, “No War On Earth” released by Sugar Shack
Records.

Continuing the themes that have infused his previous material, this is proper roots reggae, music with a strong social and spiritual message spread across nine vocals and six dubs. The music is brand new and yet instantly familiar, due to it’s classic reggae sound shaped by Jashwha’s long term collaborator and producer Mikey Taylor-Hall. In addition to brand new songs they have also reworked both “Jah Time Has Come” and “Steel” for inclusion on the new set, helping the sense of familiarity. This album symbolizes the birth of Jashwha reggae Jahggae.
Jashwha and Mikey have hand picked a new backing band and Jashwha has already started to take these songs on the road winning new fans as well as being a welcome return for those who remember his classic shows of old. 2013 looks like being a great year with many shows in the pipeline to support the new album.

Hot on the heels of Black Roots “On the Ground”, Sugar Shack Records continue their quest to bring back proper roots reggae with another outstanding set from Jashwha Moses and Mikey Taylor-Hall, “No War On Earth” is released on 8th April 2013 on CD and digital download, available from all leading retailers
.
PEACE AND LOVE

http://www.reggae.fr/voir-video/1140_Black-Roots-live-et-interview-.html

The double A side twelve inch vinyl release features an exclusive extended mix of the album version of “Pompous Way”, clocking in at nearly seven minutes the vocal is seamlessly followed by the dub in classic discomix fashion. Although recorded this year and dealing with the economic and political mess we are currently facing, the song doesn’t attempt to cater to any current fads. Instead it’s a slice of roots reggae the way it used to be, real musicians playing real instruments and singing about real problems.

For the AA side we have teamed up with Rootikal Productions, which is David Hill and Ashley Beedle – both men are long-time reggae lovers who bring a wealth of musical experience to the project. David is one of the people behind Rootikal, one of London’s most successful reggae nights, which has hosted some legendary guests including Cornell Campbell, Linval Thompson and Al Campbell – plus A-list selectors such as David Rodigan, Channel One and Aba Shanti I. He’s recently overseen the Rootikal Selection series of 45s, reworking versions of hard to find or unreleased Jah Thomas productions and re-editing dubs or adding trombone overdubs with Matic Horns. Prior to that, he worked with David Katz reissuing rare reggae on the Auralux label. Ashley is perhaps best known for his role in X-Press 2, The Black Science Orchestra and the Ballistic Brothers (also with David). In 2010 he recorded an album with reggae great Horace Andy, which led to a European tour. Ashley and David recently had the privilege of remixing several Bob Marley and The Wailers tracks after Island Records gave them access to the original Tuff Gong multi-track masters. They also present the Rootikal radio show together.

Rootikal were given free reign on the mix and their “Rootikal Humble Yourself Version” takes the track in a whole new direction. Shifting the emphasis onto the rhythm, the drum, the bass, the guitar, the horns and adding just a little melodica, the track is reinvented for the twentieth century. It becomes a lost classic from the late seventies and an entirely different listening experience.

In addition to the 12” limited vinyl, there is also a digital download available which adds a further two exclusive mixes from Oldwah, although this is his first official commission, Oldwah has been making his own unique reggae mixes for years and has built a large and loyal following on YouTube.
For further information on Rootikal please see www.rootikal.net

More information very soon on how to pre-order