Musical Youth

The CD and digital versions of The Midlands Roots Explosion: Volume Two is now available via Reggae Archive Records.

Following the release of The Midlands Roots Explosion: Volume One last year an even stronger selection of tracks has emerged.

Volume two starts off in exactly the same way as its predecessor with Handsworth's biggest musical exports, STEEL PULSE and “Bun Dem”, originally released in 1977 on the Tempus label and produced by the legendary DENNIS BOVELL. 

Reggae Archive Records is set to release The Midlands Roots Explosion Volume Two on 20 May.

The album will be available on double vinyl in a luxurious gatefold sleeve, CD and digital download.

The first volume was released last year and saw the culmination of many years work spent tracking down artists and tapes to shine a light on one of England's greatest, yet most overlooked musical scenes.

Reggae Archive Records is shining the spotlight on some of Birmingham’s reggae acts with the release of The Midlands Roots Explosion Volume One later this summer.

The album will be released on 29 June, available on high quality double vinyl in a deluxe gatefold sleeve, on CD and as a digital download.

The new record is the first in a series of compilations that hope to showcase some of the unreleased, forgotten and barely known musical gems from what was such a vibrant scene.

One of UK's fastest growing and most diverse festivals returns to the beautiful surroundings of Handsworth Park with headliners STEEL PULSE.

The festival takes place on 20 July at Handsworth Park in Birmingham.

Alongside APACHE INDIAN and MUSICAL YOUTH, more artists will be announced over the next few weeks.

Birmingham reggae group MUSICAL YOUTH are the subject of a new feature in the UK’s The Voice newspaper.

The article, entitled ‘Reliving Their Youth’, focuses on founding member Michael Grant’s childhood success in the 1980s, reuniting with Dennis Seaton, and the longevity of “Pass The Dutchie”.

The Jazz Café has announced an impressive line-up of reggae, ska and dub shows at the famous North London venue over the coming months.

Here are the highlights:

British reggae group MUSICAL YOUTH has announced a show at the Jazz Café in Camden, London.

The “Pass The Dutchie” band will be in North London on 26 January and tickets are priced at £15 in advance.

Hot on the heels of performances at the Lambeth Country Show and WOMAD, the organisers behind Camp Bestival have announced Jamaican roots legend MAX ROMEO as the replacement act for TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS.

Ska legends BAD MANNERS will top the bill at BoomTown Fair’s new ChinaTown Theatre, which also forms part of Skankin' City – a new campaign from BoomTown to bring ska music to every corner of the UK.

TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS, MUSICAL YOUTH and MAD PROFESSOR are among the latest additions for Camp Bestival later this summer.

The first major line-up release for the 2013 Boomtown Fair can now be revealed, including TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS, RICHIE SPICE, COLLIE BUDDZ and the NEW KINGSTON BAND along with Jamaican music pioneer LEE “SCRATCH” PERRY.

Former Jamaican Prime Minister (1980-89) Edward Seaga has picked out 100 songs for Origins of Jamaican Music which will be released via VP Records.

The four-CD box set will be launched with a promotion tour in late October and officially released on 6 November.

The set includes:

Jamaican athletes, musicians and artists will come together this summer to celebrate the island’s 50th anniversary of independence at a “cultural extravaganza” in Birmingham.

The “Salute To The Athletes” show is set to take place on 25 July at the Symphony Hall and has been put on for Jamaica’s track and field team, whose pre-Olympic training camp will be based in Birmingham, before they head to London.

The ex-members of British reggae band MUSICAL YOUTH have lost a legal battle with their former lawyers over the copyright of hit single “Pass The Dutchie”.

The Midlands-based band claimed that solicitors gave them bad advice about the royalty money they might make from the 1982 song, which was an adaptation of “Pass The Kouchie” by THE MIGHTY DIAMONDS.