This summer, a slew of new soundsystems are aiming to bring a bit of carnival spirit to the countryside. They may not boast the customised speaker stacks of the original Jamaican set-ups, but they're adapting the essence of soundsystem culture to decidedly British surroundings.
"Electronic music is so popular at the moment, but it's not easy to do strictly live," says Sheffield producer Toddla T, who's playing the festivals with his new soundsystem-style revue, featuring Shola Ama, Serocee and DRS on vocals. "This is as close as you can get to the rawness of a live show."
Despite the lack of musical instruments, there is something inherently live about the soundsystem experience. Done well, it's a fiery, spontaneous offering that few bands can match. London-based soundsystem the Heatwave provided some of the highlights of last year's festival season, with their dancehall and bashment tunes accompanied by a whole troupe of dancers and MCs, plus a chorus of airhorns and whistles. "What I love about soundsystem shows is the unpredictability," says the Heatwave's Gabriel Myddelton. "You don't know what's going to happen next when you've got several artists on stage."
Mixing it with the youngsters this summer will be 60-year-old reggae veteran and "Gentleman rudeboy" David Rodigan, MBE. "Moody DJs with their heads bowed and their earphones stuck over their head, not looking at or talking to the crowd, is a completely different experience to soundsystem culture," says Rodigan, whose new Ram Jam project unites the talents of General Levy, Breakage and The Nextmen. Yet Rodigan himself remains the star of the show, with his inventive "call-and-response" routines. "I may make statements about the economic situation, about political prisoners, or explain the history of vintage recordings," he explains.
Once you get a taste for soundsystem culture, Rodigan recommends checking out original British-Jamaican soundsystems such as Aba Shanti-I or King Tubby's, both of whom play the reggae-centric One Love Festival in August. "When the bass kicks in, it's a soul-stirring and mind-boggling experience."
