Strummercamp

We’re away this weekend, camping up in the Lake District. If we weren’t I’d be going along to Strummercamp, the annual Joe Strummer bank holiday festival held at Manchester Rugby Club in Cheadle. This year’s line up features Spear Of Destiny, The Membranes, TV Smith and Department X, and good vibes with good people. If you’re nearby and at a loose end, day tickets and weekend tickets are still available. Say hi to DJ Gadge if you see him.

Clash time. This is a ten minute unofficial mix of Bankrobber plus it’s versions Robber Dub and Rockers Galore (with Mikey Dread on the mic), flowing into one another. Turn up the bass.

Bankrobber/Robber Dub/Rockers Galore

A Tale Of Two Cities

Strummerville, an annual mini-festival set up to commemorate Joe Strummer and his influence and enable a load of likeminded souls and bands to get together isn’t happening this year. Instead there is A Tale Of Two Cities, a twin city event with a full line up at The Ruby Lounge in Manchester and another at Off the Cuff in Herne Hill, South London, all filled with the spirit of the man himself. Tickets are £15 and some are still available. Ray Gange (from the film Rude Boy) and Clash and Strummer collaborator Tymon Dogg both appear in London and I can personally vouch that the between act DJ in Manchester, El Gadge, will be spinning some great records because I’ve heard him before. So if you’re free, and in either vicinity, get down there.

This song from Sandinista! was Paul Simonon’s tribute to blues parties ‘across the river in South London with a rocking bass and drum’ and has a very cool walking dub bassline.

The Crooked Beat