Reggae is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. Australia has several bands and sound systems that play reggae music in a style faithful to its expression in Jamaica. Australia has a relatively small Jamaican community, but reggae penetrated local consciousness via the popularity of reggae among the non-Jamaican population of England in the 1960s and 1970s. Many indigenous musicians have embraced reggae, both for its musical qualities and its ethos of resistance. Examples include Mantaka, No Fixed Address, Zennith and Coloured Stone.

History

The first Reggae sound system in Australia was Soulmaker, established in 1972 by J.J. Roberts, a Jamaican from Saint Catherine Parish. Bob Marley & The Wailers toured Australia in 1979, playing Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. Reggae had success on the radio charts in Australia in the early 1980s when Toots and the Maytals, the first artist to use the term "reggae" in song, went to number one with their song "Beautiful Woman".[1][2] One of the first Australian reggae bands was Untabu. The original members of the band came from Trinidad & Tobago, Bruce Mc Clean - guitar and Errol H Renaud - steel pan, lead singer Ras Roni from Barbados, percussionist Jorge Morales from Puerto Rico and Fijians Rupeni Davui - bass, James Purmodh - drums and Joel Knight - keys. They had releases on Larrikin Records and were resident in a number of clubs in the Darlinghurst and Manly area of Sydney. They also toured the East coast regularly. They performed original music and reggae covers. The Aboriginal band No Fixed Address from Adelaide also had reggae songs in their repertoire.

In 1984, Australian label Corroboree Records had its first release with Dangerous Times.[3] This 7" single was recorded at Channel One Studios with the Roots Radics, voiced and mixed at King Tubby's with Bugs as engineer, and voiced by Dudley Green and General Justice. It Contains the song "Dangerous Dub" on the B side, which was mixed by King Tubby. It was released in Jamaica, the UK and Australia. In 1985 Larry Maluma arrived in Australia from Zambia with master tapes recorded in Zambia. He remixed a couple of tracks, Black or White and Chimutima Chako at AAV studios in Melbourne for a 45 single vinyl which was released in 1986 under his own newly formed independent (Safari Music) label. In 1987, two years after his arrival from Zambia Larry Maluma released his first album Confusion on his own Safari Music label. The video clip "Black and White" from the same album was aired on Countdown Revolution and Rock Arena on ABC. Larry Maluma went on to release his 14th album, Ndakondwa (I'm Happy), in 2014.

The first notable dub release in Australia was Ten Dubs That Shook The World by Sheriff Lindo and the Hammer, issued on the artist's own label, Endless Recordings, in 1988. The LP was reissued on the Creative Vibes label with five extra tracks in 1998, and again by EM Records of Japan in 2006, on CD (catalogue number EM1049CD) and LP (EM1049LP), limited to 500 copies. The CD version contains five extra tracks.

Melbourne-based band The Red Eyes released their first live CD in 2003 Live at the Evelyn, following it with two CD EPs, two full-length albums (Rudeworld in 2006 and Red Army in 2010) and the 2011 single Circles before disbanding.[4] Their catalog contains reggae, dub and occasional drum 'n' bass tracks. The band's lead singer El Witeri is Maori, and their work has been remixed by New Zealand dub producer, Deep Fried Dub.

In September 2006, Astronomy Class released Exit Strategy on the record label Elefant Traks. The record fused reggae and hip hop music. In February 2007, Melbourne-based producer Mista Savona released Melbourne Meets Kingston on Elefant Traks. It is a 21-track collaboration with Jamaican singers and deejays such as Anthony B, Determine and Big Youth. In September 2008, the Sydney-based band King Tide released their debut album To our Dearly Deported on the UK label Urban Sedated. The single "No Dog War" was used worldwide by the Sony corporation for their Wag the Dog campaign. The commercial shot in Brazil featured members from the cast of the feature film City of God. In December 2009, Australian artist Matty Woods released The Ras Gong Guerrilla EP, a 10-track recording that tackles Australian and international political issues such as Indigenous sovereignty, climate change and human rights.[5]

Desert Reggae is a developing contemporary style possibly originating in Central Australia and featuring lyrics often sung in Australian Aboriginal languages. As of 2015, many indigenous Australian artists from the Northern Territory represented by the Aboriginal owned and operated music label CAAMA Music identify as reggae or ska artists (often in combination with rock). Artists include Tjintu Desert Band (previously known as Sunshine Reggae) and Tjupi Band. Some also identify as Desert Reggae artists, with examples including Lajamanu Teenage Band, Rising Wind,[6] Irrunytju Band and Eastern Arrernte Band.[7] Annual music event Bush Bands Bash in Alice Springs features many Desert Reggae bands.[8]

Reggaeton, a music genre that blends reggae, hip hop, and traditional Latin American music, is also popular in Australia. The genre first came to prominence when Puerto Rican reggaeton artist Daddy Yankee released his most notable single, "Gasolina," to Australian radio in 2006. Already a hit worldwide, it reached a peak of No. 12 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified Platinum,[9] making it one of the few Spanish-language songs to reach that position on the Australian charts.

Festivals

A range of reggae festivals and festivals highlighting reggae music are held around Australia. Queensland hosts more than any other state, with Reggaetown and Kuranda Roots held near Cairns in far north Queensland, and Good Love (formerly One Love) held at the Gold Coast. Good Love Festival[10] is one of New Zealand's largest and most iconic music events, and made its Australian debut[11] in 2020 headlined by Shaggy and Sean Paul. In 2022, the festival changed its name to Good Love.[12]

In 2016, the first Jamaican Music & Food Festival was held in Melbourne, Victoria featuring reggae and other music of Jamaican origin. Sponsored by PBS and with live performances by Australian artists, bands and DJs, the festival has also featured many International artists including Jamaican reggae singer Bushman, British vocalist General Levy and soul singer Richie Stephens. In 2019 the festival also took place in Sydney, NSW and featured Mad Professor as its headline performer.[13]

Byron Bay Reggaefest[14] started at The Brewery[15] (28°38′42″S 153°36′17″E / 28.64507°S 153.604697°E / -28.64507; 153.604697; previously known as The Buddha Bar) on 4 December 2010 planned a 2-day festival at Missingham Park, Ballina NSW[16] on 17 & 18 September 2011.

Dub in the Park is an annual festival of dub, roots and world music first held in Adelaide, South Australia in 2016.[17] The festival was discontinued in 2019, but is expected to return in 2022.

South Beach annual Reggae Party Fremantle Western Australia started in 1998.

Former festivals

Raggamuffin Music Festival was an annual reggae music festival that toured Australia and New Zealand. The festival postponed in 2017 and has not returned since.

Radio

Notable Australian reggae radio programs of the past include Splashdown and The Pounding System. Australia's longest running reggae radio show is Jamdown Vershun which has been broadcasting on 92.1 FM in Perth with selector General Justice since July 1979.[18] The Jamaican singer, producer, and broadcaster Mikey Dread produced and presented a reggae radio special for 2JJJ in the mid to late 1980s.

In Melbourne, the PBS 106.7FM program "Babylon Burning" (formerly known as "Chant Down Babylon")[19] has been presented by Jesse I since the late 1990s.

Foreigndub ran a weekly radio show in Sydney on 94.5FM – FBI radio every Sunday from 5–7 pm called 'Foreigndub Airways'. They broadcast the show 2010-2019, now moved to 3-5pm Sunday slot on 2SER and stream worldwide.

Every Saturday afternoon, 4ZZZ presents The Yard, a Reggae show from 4-6pm with selecta Basmati (Rhythm Collision Sound)

Every Wednesday Morning 12 am −2am Fresh 92.7 a community station based in Adelaide has a reggae dancehall show called Dancehall & Ting which has aired since July 2012 and is hosted by DJ Ragz.

In 2013 An online radio station, Australia Reggae Radio (ARR) began broadcasting from Melbourne. ARR plays 24-hour Reggae and Dancehall music, 7 days a week.[20] Run by a former Jamaican music executive and current selector and MC, Zare Demus, ARR features a broad range of reggae and dancehall shows from both Australian and international DJs including, but not limited to, Robert Ragz – Dancehall and Ting from Adelaide, Australia; Basmati – The Yard from Brisbane, Australia; Zare Demus – The Zare Demus Show from Melbourne, Australia; Mumma Trees – Jamdown Vershun from Perth, Australia; DJ Septik – Slow Bounce from Brussels, Belgium and Young Lion – Young Lion Show from the UK.

Chart

In 2017[21] The first-ever chart dedicated to reggae and dancehall music established in Australia by radio presenter DJ Ragz,[22] music producer DJ Wade[23] and Dancehall Reggae Australia.[24]

Notable artists

Australian Releases

Singles
Artist Title Label Format Release Year
Pressure DropReggae Riot’ b/w ‘JahEMI7”1979
Leon De Castro's BabylonSuspicious Minds' b/w 'Hindley StreetWarner Brothers7"1979
Cassava27 years' b/w 'Stir It UpEMI1980
Un TabuOpen Your Eyes' b/w 'Dem Coming DownLarrikinEP1980
IgnitersIgnition' 'Rubby Dub' b/w 'More Flaming Dub' 'Kent Street SkankLarrikinEP1981
Joe DolceReggae Matilda’ b/w ‘Stick It OutAriola 1036837”1981
The AllnitersShe Made a Monkey Out of Me / Allniters Are Alrighters / She Drives Me Around the BendLarrikin/Green7”1981
Us Mob/No Fixed AddressWrong Side of the RoadSoundtrack1981
Strange TenantsSomething Like That / She Asked Me / Soldier Boy / Ground Point ZeroBluebeat12”1982
No Fixed AddressFrom My EyesRough Diamond/Astor/PolyGramEP1982
The LeftoversThe Lemonade Song’ ‘Double Bay’ ‘Yay AlMethod7”1983
The All NightersD-D-D-Dance with the AllnitersPowderworksLP1983
Strange TenantsTake One Step/Two Steps Back / Grey Skies / Killer Zombies / Mr & MrsBluebeat12”1983
Strange TenantsI Work At My Machine’ b/w ‘The FirmBluebeatLP1984
Strange TenantsMovin' InBluebeatLP1984
Vegimite ReggaeTrendy Ex-HippiesConfidential RecordsLP1984
Vegimite ReggaeSend it Out’ b/w ‘FacesConfidential Records7”1984
Club SkaBlack ‘n’ White’ b/w ‘Club DubPowderworks7”1986
Club SkaCupid’ b/w ‘Bottom EndPowderworks7”1986
Club SkaOn The Road’ b/w ‘BesideBeat E Records/Creole Records7”1987
Sherrif Lindo and the Hammer10 Dubs That Shook The WorldEndless Recordings ER001LP1988
Joe GeiaYil LullGammin RecordsLP1988
Spy Vs SpyWorking Week (Dub MixWEA12”1988
Vegimite ReggaeToo Many Years' b/w 'Love is GoneM.A.X. Records 7" 19897”1989
The LatenotesHallelujah SkaUnicorn RecordsCD1990
FractionTribute to Bob and Peter' b/w 'Good TimesRainbow Wirl 12" 199112”1991
Kate Ceberano and MC KyeSatisfiedRegular Records 12" 199112”1991
The Rockmelons feat. KyeBubble & Squeak' from 'Form One PlanetMushroomCD1992
Mixed RelationsLovePolydorCD1993
Christine Anu with Paul KellyLast TrainWhite RecordsCD1993
Dub Congress + StarmanRed PepperSelf-publishedCD1993
Mixed RelationsLovePolydorCD1993
BellydanceOne BloodRegular/FestivalCD1993
Kev Carmody & TiddasSorry BusinessDub MixCD1993
The Natural MysticsNatural CreationSelf-publishedCD1994
VariousTribal HeartAIMCD1994
StarmanWizzdomWizzdom ProductionsCD1995
HoopsnakeOutta My SystemrooArtCD1995
Sacred Sound System feat. KyeMantra MixMushroomCD1996
Wicked Beat Sound SystemMusic from the CoreOne MovementCD1996
Sherrif Lindo and the HammerTen Dubs That Shook The World: Ten Dubs Ten Years OnCreative VibesCD1998
Backy SkankIntroducing Backy SkankMGM CD EPCD1998
BellydanceBabylon Mixed BusinessRoad ShowCD1998
Danny Rankin’ZenithSelf publishedCD1998
VariousDub for the Masses Vol. 1Creative VibesCD1999
Jeff DreadThe Merchant of DubCreative VibesCD1999
Dubble DubDeadly HeadlyHead RecordsCD2000
VariousDub for the Masses Vol. 2Creative VibesCD2001
Backy SkankSuited and BootedMaximumCD2003
George RrurrambuNerbu MessageSkinnyfishCD2004
Mista SavonaMr Savona Presents Invasion DayMr SavonaCD2004
Secret MastersThe Lost Dub TapesMaster TunesCD2004
King TideTo Our Dearly DeportedVitamin RecordsCD2005
BudspellsInna SenseRuffage RecordsCD2005
RastawookieRastawookieSelf-publishedCD2005
Hot Rubber GloveInna Rubba Dub ManorRudekat RecordsCD2005
King TideScared New WorldVitamin RecordsCD2006
Blue King BrownStand UpRoots Level RecordsCD2006
ResurrectorsHealingFuture ClassicCD2006
VariousIsland TimeRudekat RecordsCD2006
DubmarineDub DeepRudekat RecordsCD2006
The Red EyesRude World ?CD2006
RastawookiePerfectly OrdinaryPollyannaism PollyCD2007
Mista SavonaMista Savona Presents Melbourne Meets KingstonElefant TraksCD2007
VariousIsland Time 2Rudekat RecordsCD2007
ZennithI Like ItZennithCD2007
RumpunchSucklin’RumpunchCD2008
Errol H RenaudLiveEman musicCD2008
Fyah WalkSunrise RedRoots and Stream Productions/VitaminCD2009
King TideRoots Pop ReggaeVitamin recordsCD2009
VariousChampion Sound Sampler Vol. 1Champion SoundCD2009
Elephant WiseThe ReasoningDasvibesCD / Digital2009
Raz Bin SamLife is a GiftDasvibesCD / Digital2009
Raz Bin SamOwn This LifeDasvibesCD / Digital2009
Sub-Tribe & The 4'20' SoundDub RoadSub-TribeVinyl / Digital2020
Errol H RenaudTBREman musicCD2011
The StridesThe StridesEarshift RecordsCD2009
Errol H RenaudFreeEman musicCD2017
BudspellsNomadik SoulsVitaminCD2009
Fyah WalkOcean SoundsRoots and Stream Productions/VitaminCD2009
Grace BarbéKreol DaughterMGMCD2008
Secret MastersWordsPowerCD2009

See also

References

  1. Hardwicke, Al. Toots and the Maytals to Ignite UK Festival Circuit. African & Caribbean Music Circuit Ltd. Web. 2007-06-21 <https://pressdispensary.co.uk/releases/c991248/Toots-and-the-Maytals-to-Ignite-UK-Festival-Circuit-.html> Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  2. "reggae". Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 14 March 2017. <Dictionary.com http://www.dictionary.com/browse/reggae>.
  3. "Dudley Green, Mr. General & Mr. Chemist – Dangerouse Times (Vinyl) at Discogs". discogs. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  4. "The Red Eyes". Discogs. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  5. "CAAMA Music catalog 2015" (PDF). CAAMA Music. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  6. "Reggae Dancer". CAAMA Music. 2021. Archived from the original on 10 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  7. "Bush Bands". www.commonground.org.au. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  8. "Daddy Yankee – Gasolina – Music Charts". Acharts.us. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  9. StClair, Monique (2 September 2019). "Shaggy and Sean Paul to headline Gold Coast's newest music festival". myGC.com.au.
  10. Staff Writers. "Shaggy and Sean Paul Headline One Love Festival's Australian Debut In 2020". scenestr - Pop Culture & Entertainment.
  11. "Home - Good Love". www.goodlove.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  12. "Jamaica | Jamaican Music & Food Festival | Australia". jmffestival. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  13. Archived 22 February 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  14. "Byron Bay Brewery". Byron Bay Brewery. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  15. "Missingham Bridge Amphitheatre". Archived from the original on 22 April 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2011.
  16. "Welcome". Dub in the Park. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  17. "Jamdown Vershun " RTRFM / The Sound Alternative". Rtrfm.com.au. Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  18. "Chant Down Babylon". Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 18 April 2009.
  19. "Australia Reggae Radio". radio. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  20. "New interactive music chart for dancehall and reggae launched". Scoop. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  21. "DJ Ragz charts destiny (Jamaica Observer)". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  22. "Jamaica Observer Limited". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  23. "New interactive music chart for dancehall and reggae launched". Scoop. 16 September 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
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