The Boss Sounds Reggae Festival, the UK’s biggest reggae festival will take place on the 18th and 19th of November at the University of Northumbria.
The festival covers all areas of Jamaican music, with artists lined up to appear including Jimmy Cliff (pictured), Prince Buster, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Horace Andy, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Janet Kay, Dennis Bovell’s Dub Band Trojan Sound System, Pama International + DJ Don Letts. The event is in assocation with Trojan Records.
Read on after the turn for the full line-up and daily breakdown of events. Or for more details, visit .
If you're in Sheffield on Monday 30th October, you can catch the world premiere of a new documentary on the career of Paul Weller, under the title Into Tomorrow.
The film also kicks off the Sheffield Doc/Fest - a season of past and present documentaries.
In the film, Weller apparently opens to director Stuart Watts about his life and career - his upbringing in Woking, years in the Jam and Style Council, his relationship with his father-manager, his record company dropping him, his mid-life crisis and his resurgence, using archive and his own music as the soundtrack . There's also contributions from a diverse range of people, including Boy George, Noel Gallagher, his family and his ex-wife.
No news on where else this might be showing, but I expect it will be on DVD for Christmas.
Primark seems to become something of a bun fight when they get in a new range - but as they've never really gone down the 60s route, it hasn't been an issue - until now.
Yes, as you can see from the images here, the company has joined many other high street retailers in going for 60s-styled range - and as it's Primark, for very little cash.
Seen anything else interesting on the high street? Let us know.
A new night in Nottingham is starting up and in need of your support if is to continue.
The night is called Ronnie London's Groove Lounge and is being set up by five lads from the Nottingham Scooter Club. First night is Friday 27th October, with the night running from 7:30pm until midnight. Expect to hear traditional Mod sounds, including soul, R B, boogaloo and hammond groove.
Venue details are:
Grosvenor, Mansfield road, Nottingham
Admission is £3 before 10pm and £3.50 after.
If you can't make this one, it will be on every last Friday of the month hereafter.
For further information on the night, email Gary at or call 07778002589.
A few years back, I was lucky enough to pick up two film posters from a largely unknown late 60s British independent movie called Bronco Bullfrog. One is in storage, the other in a frame.
To buy an original today would set you back a hefty amount, but if you want a reproduction of the iconic boot poster, the film's director, Barney Platts-Mills, has done a reprint and is selling it online.
The film's no classic, but it's a sought-after movie for one reason - the style of the character, Bronco Bullfrog. Bronco was a suedehead.
And this movie, probably by accident, was the only one to catch that look on film.
The original film poster looks impressive on our wall and I'm sure the re-print will be just as eye-catching. And it's just £8 including postage.
There is one drawback - these are cufflinks - so you'll look more than a bit foolish if they were to scale.
These sterling silver cufflinks actually have a cuff-friendly 0.75-inch diameter, but are still worth considering for the vinyl-lover in your life this Christmas.
Available now, they retail for $125 (that's around £66).
First up is this black Crombie (pictured here), with velvet collar, ticket pocket and centre vent. The second coat is a black double breasted pea coat with epaulettes (picture after the turn).
Both have been heavily reduced to £150. Confirmed sightings in Leeds and Liverpool, so looks like most of the major stores should have some stock. But they're likely to go, so get in there as soon as you can.
And if you spot any cool fashions out and about (or indeed anything) and can take a picture (on your camera phone I'd guess), send it over to us at and we'll feature it here. Big thanks to Neil Lee for spotting these and providing the pictures.
It's a late replacement for a cancelled night, but hopefully there'll be a good crowd dancing until midnight to the finest black and white Rhythm and Blues and a splash of Northern.
DJs: Adam Torel and Liam Hughes
Time: 7.00 to Midnight.
Admission: Free
Expect to hear loads of Freddy King, Little Milton, Fenton Robinson, Cookie Jackson, High Numbers, Mitty Collier etc.
For more information .
The Social
5 Little Portland St, W1
Nearest Tube is Oxford Circus.
Review: Stop!
Look! Listen! at the NFT In our endless search for the sights and sounds of the 60s, we are prepared to go anywhere, anytime, at the merest suggestion of a rare track unheard for decades, or a film clip, unseen since those heady, colourful days.
Sometimes, we are rewarded for our persistence, as me and my good lady were, when we attended two of the NFT’s Stop! Look! Listen!
Programmes.
They contained collections of short clips from magazine-type programmes made by the (Orwellian-sounding) Central Office of Information, to publicise Britain’s popular art and culture overseas, principally to the Commonwealth. Those lucky Canadians, Nigerians and Australians got to see some eye-popping colour footage we never did.
Yes, colour! With only a few exceptions, the clips were in glorious, if sometimes faded colour, and I would contend that nothing gives you the flavour of that magical decade more than the colours people were wearing in their clothes.
‘Swinging London Fashion’ opened up with an item about late ‘50’s ladies couture, but quickly moved on to some wild footage of Twiggy and Peggy Moffitt wearing op art jewellery.
The Twig and The Peg need little introduction to readers of Modculture, and to see the two of them dancing and fooling about in very little apart from jewellery ensured my undivided attention. If you’re new to the scene, you’ll almost certainly have heard of Twiggy already, but for Peggy, just think ‘two big eyes on a stick, crowned with a geometric bob’ Her breathtaking features are a template for a good ten per cent of mod girls, with Twiggy making up at least another ten, maybe more. A further clip of Twiggy and friends striding, running and driving around an otherwise grim, grey London in the mid-sixties came and went all too quickly.
A trip down ‘our’ Carnaby Street (i.e. not the pedestrianised lumberjack boot and sports shirt-selling tourist-infested ninth circle of hell it is today) followed, and we hungrily devoured the briefest glimpses of shops like Lord John, Domino Male, and the outrageously-titled ‘Tres Camp’ (!
) It was hard to decide whether to look at the shop windows or the people looking in, and even harder to do, so short was this clip. Another short featured what the average girl wore to the office, and how the lads of the 60’s got any work done at all, is beyond me. Interviews with John Stephen, Tommy Nutter and Laura Ashley (I know, I know, but the programme covered more than just the 60s) and ended with a long feature on Zandra Rhodes.
Essentially these are still classic G9 Harringtons - however, rather than the traditional lightweight jacket, these are a needle cord, which is obviously a little heavier - but probably more suited to winter. Available in either brown or burgundy, they're the usual two pocket jackets with fully vented back, ribbed cuffs and hem, tartan liner and one internal pocket. There's also a two way zip with two-button fastening collar and button fastening flapped hand pockets.
Available now, they're retailing at around £145.
Radio Caroline is/was the most the well-known pirate radio station, but it wasn't the most popular - that was Radio London. John Peel started work on the station in early 1967, taking on the late night show.
The station was mainly top 40, but Peel realised his bosses weren't paying much attention to the tunes played late at night, so he created The Perfumed Garden - two hours to the best of the new music to emerge from America and the UK, some vintage blues, some current pop hits and whatever else caught his eye (or ear).
If you want an idea of what it sounded like, check out 6 music this week - as it's replaying The Perfumed Garden.
Probably not that radical now, but at the time, it was the soundtrack to the counter culture of the era.
It didn't last long, with legislation outlawing the pirates within a matter of months. His last show on 14th August 1967 carried on beyond its usual 2am finish, going through the night until 5:30am. This final show is the one being broadcast by 6music over the week.
Well worth a listen - and if you're out of the UK, it will be available online on 'listen again'.
Barry Murphy once more trawls the TV and radio guides (so you don't have to) to find anything worth tuning into this week. All listings are for UK terrestrial TV, Freeview and national radio, with the shows running from Friday 20th October to Thursday 26th October.
The Passing Show: the Life and Music of Ronnie Lane - BBC2 - Friday 20th October 11.35pm
A biography of the Small Faces musician, with recollections from Eric Clapton, Ian McLagan, Kenney Jones, Pete Townshend and Lane's wife, Susan Gallegos.
Film: From Russia With Love (1963) - ITV 4.
10.00pm - 12.10am
Agent 007 is sent to Turkey to confiscate an encryption device which is actually a trap for him contrived by SPECTRE.
The Avengers - BBC 4. 11.30pm - 12.
20am
A festive party turns sour for Steed.
Tales of the Unexpected - ITV 3. 11.
30pm - 12.40am
Another double bill of the classic series. In the first, a man invents a machine that enables him to talk to plants.
In the second, a selfish woman used to having her own way asks for help.
The Passing Show: the Life and Music of Ronnie Lane - BBC 2. 11.
35pm - 12.35am
(See highlight)
Blues to the Bone: the Life of Etta James (3/3) - BBC Radio 2. 7.
00pm - 7.30pm
Candi Staton presents a profile of R B, blues and jazz singer Etta James. The story winds down with a look at Etta's experimental 70s recordings, her liberation from drug addiction, her Grammy-winning tribute to Billie Holiday, her wicked sense of humour and her great legacy.
Alfie (4/7) - BBC Radio 2. 9.15pm - 9.
30pm
Nick Moran reads a version of Bill Naughton's 1962 play. Now out of the sanatorium, Alfie meets Annie.
I can't say I'm a big Jaeger shopper, but their new menswear range - under the name Jaeger London - might be worth a look.
It's their attempt at pitching at a younger audience, but rather than going for a bad mod range, they claim their range is more inspired by the cut and style of the sixties - - think camel trench coats, polo necks and mohair suits.
From what I've seen, it's worth a look, but with prices a bit on the high side. The picture featured here includes a camel hair car coat (£599), suit (£499), Jaquard shirt (£70) and a silk dogtooth tie (£50).
The range is much more extensive than this and its probably worth a trip to your nearest store to check out the details/quality. And if you like what you see, might be some rich pickings come sale time.
There's also a women's range featured on the website, but so far, I've not been able to find out enough about that - more when I do.
Spotted online is this Prince Buster t-shirt, featuring the man complete with a slightly wonky pork pie hat.
It's made by Anon and is a brown t-shirt with mustard lettering. As well as the image of the ska legend, the wording says The king of ska - Prince Buster - touring Britain and Fly flying ska .
Made of 100% cotton and available in all sizes, it sells for £22.
Most good quality pea coats from a heritage maker will set you back £160 upwards. You get what you pay for - but if that price is a bit rich for you, Topman currently has a pea coat for just £70.
In terms of look, it's not very different from some of the classic models - six anchor buttons, buttoned cuffs, handwarmer pockets and a collar that can be fastened as a funnel neck.
Obviously, it's not all wool for that price - but it is 72% wool and machine washable. Also available in a grey tweed design, it's certainly worth a look if you're investing in a pea coat this winter.
Rather than do the pink thing, Marks and Spencer are doing something a little different for Breast Cancer Awareness Month - they're doing t-shirts for women with a classic 60s Twiggy image emblazoned on the front.
Apart from that, there's not much else to say about it - it's got a round neck, short sleeve, slightly longer length and made of 100 per cent cotton. Apparently the smaller sizes are already in short supply, so you might need to try out a few branches.
Bigger sizes available online.
Price is £15, with a percentage of profits going to charity.
Barry Murphy once more trawls the TV and radio guides (so you don't have to) to find anything worth tuning into this week.
All listings are for UK terrestrial TV, Freeview and national radio, with the shows running from Friday 13th October to Thursday 19th October.
Martin Freeman's the Great Unknown - Ramsey Lewis - Tuesday 17th. Radio 2.
9.30pm
A look at the Chicago-born jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis, who had 60s chart hits with renditions of Wade in the Water, Hang on Sloopy and, most famously The In Crowd.
The Avengers - BBC 4.
11.30pm - 12.20am
Steed's number appears to be up.
Tales of the Unexpected - ITV 3. 11.30pm - 12.
40am
Another double bill of the classic series. In the first, a burglar is confused when his intended victim appears to befriend him. In the second, a man believes an item of furniture could make his fortune.
Sun Ra: Brother from another Planet - BBC 2. 11.35pm - 12.
35am
Director Don Letts's documentary mixes archive performances with interviews with the jazz musician who combined Egyptology with Afro-American politics to create his own philosophy.
Jonathan Ross's Japanorama (6/6) - BBC 3. 11.
35pm - 12.05am
The Japanese concept of kawaii , or cuteness.
Blues to the Bone: the Life of Etta James (2/3) - BBC Radio 2.
7.00pm - 7.30pm
Candi Staton presents a profile of R B, blues and jazz singer Etta James, whose turbulent life has found soulful expression in over 50 years of recordings.
The story shifts to the mid-60s, when James struggled with drug dependancy and produced one of her defining works, the 1967 album Tell Mama. The programme also recalls her 70s funk-inspired recordings.
Alfie (3/7) - BBC Radio 2.
9.15pm - 9.30pm
Nick Moran reads a version of Bill Naughton's 1962 play.
Alfie is concerned about the shadows on his lung.
Well, a little later than I intended (due to a delay on a follow-up competition), here's the winner of the pile of promotional CD albums on my desk.
And the winner is.
...
...
apologies if you didn't win - I'll be drawing the Budgie DVD competition later and running a new competition for the Joe Meek mod/freakbeat album. I might also run a comp for a big pile of retro movies and TV DVDs if I get chance.
A fairly new night that might be of interest (if you're in the area) is Keep On Movin', which takes place around the third Friday of most months at Silk, Midland Road, Wellingborough.
The next date is Friday 20th October 2006, running from 10pm - 2am. Admission is £4 on the door. DJs are Pete Maze, Johnny Vegas Craig Simpson, spinning the finest rarest in Soul, Funk, Latin, RnB, Freakbeat, 60s Garage, Boogaloo, Hammond 60s Mod Movers.
For more information, visit .
Ties are a tough one. It's never easy to find a good quality/stylish slim tie if you don't want to go down the vintage route - the last new one I bought was a plain coloured Prada one for an extortionate amount!
I don't think these John Pearse slim ties will be any cheaper, but they seem to have a lot more in terms of looks. If you didn't know, John was one of the founders of Granny Takes A Trip alongside Nigel Waymouth, with John being the clothes maker (with a Savile Row apprenticeship behind him). After an extended break, he's still making clothes in London today.
And these ties are part of the range on offer. Slim, squared-off ending and with vibrant designs. All are made to order, with prices on application.
Terrestrial: Solomon Burke (pictured): Everybody Needs Somebody.
Friday 6th October. BBC 2. 11.
35pm
Freeview: The Soul of Stax. Sunday 8th October. Community Channel (Freeview 087).
6.30am
Radio: Blues to the Bone: the Life of Etta James. Friday 6th October.
BBC Radio 2. 7.00pm
If you're on the look out for a mod-related book, the archive of titles is now back on the books section.
Just follow the links to each category from the books index page:
It got lost during a recent update, but is now back for good. I think there's 110 book titles there. However, it's not been updated for some time, with some titles just the book cover and some info on publisher and availability.
I'll be working on this in the nearer future - and even in its current state, it's still the best reading guide you'll find.
If you see any errors, omissions etc, please . Or if you can help with a quick 2 paragraph review for any of the titles, even better.
Yes, sure to be the hardest working duck in the bath, it's got the James Brown hairdo, showbiz top, microphone and gold ring, not to mention a fine pair of duck lips. And even if you prefer showers, it'll look great on display somewhere.
Available online now for a bargain $9.
Scootering updated - can you help?
I've just finished a slight re-design of the scootering section of the website, sorting out any layout problems and adding some new content.
I would like to do more on scootering, but to do that, I need your help. No matter where you are in the world, if you can help by sending us any news, YouTube clips, information on new books, general scooter rally news - or if you have any ideas on improving the section - please get in touch with us at:
or use the . All help, as ever, gratefully received.
We featured some over at Retro To Go recently, but her range certainly isn't limited to just homeware - she's also producing some interesting fashion and accessories too, including this rather nice Orla Kiely 60s style Shopper bag.
This two-toned bag is made from soft leather, with stem print lining and leather strap with stud fastenings. There's also an exterior pocket with stud fastening and intererior detailing, a mobile pocket and key chain.
Available in a choice of colours (green dark blue and red), it's available for £330.
When we covered recently, we didn't know it was available in the UK in small numbers - actually, just single figures, with the company having no plans to make any more (yes, I did ring them up).
With that in mind, you might be back to square one in the hunt for a winter coat.
If you're willing to change your colour choice, you can get the Gloverall Pea Coat in a rather smart navy colour.
Apart from the colour, all other details remain the same - made in a wool blend, it has single vent to the rear, wooden navel buttons, two hand warmer pockets, one internal pocket and two flapped pockets. Available for around £170.
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