Weekend nights in Reading have become something to avoid unless you like fighting and listening to the same old cheesy tunes… but wouldn't it be nice if we had something a little different on which to spend our hard earned money? | "...their enthusiasm is infectious." | | About The Skangsters |
Well promotions collaborators Half A Note Jack and 4EverFriday.co.uk have pooled their resources and brought us the new premier live music night in Reading: BeatRoots every Friday at the recently refurbished Q-Bar in Friar Street, Reading. The night will play host to a number of interesting, and ignored music genres ranging from ska, dub, non-mainstream hip-hop, electronica, breaks, live world dance music and support from some of London's biggest independent record labels. On Friday 14 July, an eagerly awaiting crowd was treated to the first of these nights. Jewels and the Jacuzzis
First up was Jewels (AKA Princess Jewels) minus the Jacuzzis on this occasion. Jewels opened with a favourite of mine called So True, the first quarter of which was sung a cappella. Her soul-tinged voice commanded attention and deservedly got it. Following this outstanding start to her set, she continued to play some of the most beautiful original acoustic reggae I've heard for ages, including the brilliant Ring The Alarm. Her set was short, sweet and to the point – definitely someone I'd go out of my way to see again. The Skangsters The thing about The Skangsters is that you know what you're going to get and you know it's going to be great. For those that haven't seen them before, they play entirely ska/reggae covers and not necessarily the popular ones either! They play the songs they want to play and they enjoy it and there's no shadow of a doubt that they are enjoying it - their enthusiasm is infectious.
 | | Pama International - pic by Alex Flahive |
These days their set includes a superb version of Desmond Dekker's King Of Ska, the ever-popular Israelites, also by Desmond Dekker, and perennial favourites like Message To You Rudy, Double Barrel, Liquidator… and so on. It's like the best ska/reggae compilation you could wish for but all played live! PAMA International Taking their name from the 70's Suedehead record label PAMA, these guys whipped up a storm with their dub-fuelled brand of reggae, rock steady and lover's rock, complemented by some sweet soulful singing. PAMA International are fronted by Sean Flowerdew and Finny (ex Loafers) and currently backed by the excellent Fuzz Townshend (Bentley Rhythm Ace/Pop Will Eat Itself) on drums, Simon Wilcox on trumpet and in the case of this show, Kirk on bass (a regular with Lee ‘Scratch' Perry). My personal favourite Earthquake, truly lifted the lid of the venue and was just the most divine thing I heard that night (alongside Jewels' singing of course). Not to be missed is their version of the self penned ‘Truly, Madly, Deeply', a recent hit for The Duallers, the ever popular ‘Second Chance', in fact the whole set was brilliant – look out for them at a venue near you! | 
