Reggae changed my life

Jamaican music and soundsystem culture in the UK has given rise to a look and feel which has been developing for some 50-plus years.

Reggae Changed My Life
Reggae Changed My Life

It’s a spirit which Paul Bradshaw, founder of independent music magazine Straight No Chaser, and designer Swifty are trying to capture in new exhibition Word Sound Power: Reggae Changed My Life.

Coxone Sound System by Jean Bernard Sohiez
Coxone Sound System by Jean Bernard Sohiez

Ian Swift, or Swifty, has worked on The Face and art directed Straight No Chaser as well as designing the looks of  Mo Wax, Talking Loud records and the design of countless flyers.

The Roaring Twenties poster
The Roaring Twenties poster

The heart of this exhibition comprises artworks, photography and archive material, but Swifty has also been making posters in the style of originals, and dummy speaker cases in homage to original soundsystems, while mounting photographs with huge bolts and applying graphics to plywood.

Count Shelly Sounds
Count Shelly Sounds

This is partly in response to a second wave of reggae which Swift remembers fondly – a post punk age of the Two Tone records era – although the exhibition is a broad church for ska, rocksteady, reggae, roots and dancehall.

Rub-A-Dub Festival poster from 1981
Rub-A-Dub Festival poster from 1981

Swifty says, ‘I’ve tried to reinterpret things graphically, in some cases, because they don’t exist anymore. There’s also a lot of original stuff, unseen photography, vintage memorabilia, flyers and fanzines as well.’

Sound System Map
Sound System Map

Our picks would be two maps created by Swifty, showing a history of soundsystems in London and the UK, starting with pioneer Duke Vin in 1954.

Duke Vin poster
Duke Vin poster

Word Sound Power: Reggae Changed My Life runs from 27 July – 22 October at The British Music Experience, The 02, London SE10

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  • Stephen Moss November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    BLINDER !!!

  • errol gibson November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    how come there aint no mention of the great manchester sounds such as baron hi fi, president amin, casbah, stereo dan, plus many more!!! these sounds ot one time or another destroyed all the big london and birmingham sounds.infact, birmingham was more important than london in the sound system history,if you know your stuff. not even a mention of the great v rocket from nottingham either!!! I think you’ve just scratched the surface. there’s scope for improvement!!!…….still love the map!!!

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