Tales from Bradistan

David

2012-01-30T05:28:00.001Z

Today's Bradistani portrait is an old friend of mine for over twenty years now. This was shot for a project I worked last summer. David has always working in the caring professions and currently assists visually-impaired people to improve their lives.

Dear England

2012-01-26T05:18:00.001Z

Here is another great tune from Lowkey, taken from his remarkable album "Soundtrack To The Struggle". Pretty much everything this young rapper released last year was a gem, and the videos that usually accompany the songs have all been brilliant too.

Katie

2012-01-23T05:15:00.000Z

This is Katie who is the singer of the punk band Pedagree Skum who come from Stoke. This image was taken in Leeds a few months ago.

Chris Payne

2012-01-20T05:53:00.000Z

Chris Payne is the bassist of The Members, a band that released two of the greatest sides from the original punk era - "The Sound Of The Suburbs" and "Solitary Confinement". This portrait was taken for my Middle Aged Punks photography project.

Even More Essaouira

2012-01-17T05:31:00.001Z

Here are some more images of Essaouira in southern Morocco, taken in October 2011.

More Essaouira

2012-01-16T05:07:00.000Z

My favourite town to visit in all of Morocco is Essaouira. Every time I visit Morocco I always spend at least a day there and my trip in October 2011 was no exception. I always do the same things there - have a walk in the old medina, eat some freshly grilled fish, drink a decent coffee, enjoy an ice cream and if the weather permits, lounge on the beach for an hour or two.

Here are a few random shots that I took there. The day started very foggy indeed but cleared up as the sun finally broke through around midday. Tomorrow's blog will feature a few more images.

Group Inerane

2012-01-12T05:05:00.000Z

2011 was a decent year for tours of artists from the Sublime Frequencies label. In May, Group Doueh from Morocco were here for the second time and Syrian legend Omar Souleyman made his third UK tour in December. Back in November we were treated to the debut performances by Group Inerane who hail from Niger. I caught up with the band when they appeared in Leeds.

Group Inerane play a similar kind of Touareg guitar music that you can hear from the widely-known Tinariwen but with a much tougher and faster beat. This is music made for dancing rather than for contemplation. So far the band have released two albums on Sublime Frequencies, both with the rough and ready quality that is found on the Group Doueh sets. It would be great to hear an album from them recorded in a decent studio.

There were four instrumentalists present on this tour. Band leader Bibi Ahmed and Touareg legend Koudede both on guitar and vocals, Koutana on bass and Lalo on drums. I turned up a few hours before the gig in order to take some photos and was welcomed with the utmost friendliness from the group. They made me feel like an esteemed guest and were very patient with all of my photographic requests. With it being evening time, outdoor shots were impossible plus it was pouring with rain so I had to work in a not very interesting environment using flash. Despite their tiredness from a long tour, all the group were kind and accommodating. I even got an invitation to visit them in Niger!

The concert itself was great and the sound quality was perfect in the Howard Assembly Rooms. However, it was all-seated so this made the audience reluctant to get up and dance till the very end. Also, Koutana broke a bass string early on and had to play with just three strings for most of the set, although you never would have noticed. It was a great end to their month-long European tour.

HowDo?!

2012-01-09T05:29:00.000Z

A very welcome addition to the cultural life in the city of Bradistan is a new magazine called HowDo?!. The publication is the brainchild of Martyn Johnston along with his sidekick Haigh Simpson.

Funded entirely by advertising, HowDo?! aims to focus on the remarkable diversity and potential that exists here but is so often overlooked or ignored. Bradistan has so much more going for it than the extreme negative image portrayed in the national media as well as its poor reputation generally. There is a lot happening here culturally but you often really have to scratch below the surface to find it. Plus a lot of these activities are not as "joined up" as they really should be.

HowDo?! has started to pull these disparate strands together into a varied and interesting monthly magazine. The first issue with a print-run of 2500 disappeared within days and the second edition of 4500 copies is due to appear anytime now. Inside you will find fascinating and illuminating articles about local arts, cuisine, music, photography and theatre happenings along with refreshing views and opinions. Crucially, the magazine is bursting with enthusiasm about Bradistan and its vast potential.

You can read the online version of the magazine here but it is so much better to hold one in your sweaty palms and smell the ink and paper for yourself. If you actually subscribe to it, then a donation will go to BIASAN, the local refugee and asylum seeker organisation.

HowDo?! is a long overdue venture but one sorely needed here. Let's hope that it flourishes and provides an effective voice for our city, as well as reflecting its strong cultural heritage.

TV Smith (Part Two)

2012-01-06T05:39:00.000Z

I was very honoured to photograph TV Smith for my Middle Aged Punks project when he played in Leeds last month. Formerly with The Adverts, TV was one of the best songwriters from that era but certainly has not received the recognition that he truly deserves. He still plays hundreds of gigs every year and releases solo albums, of which his latest "Coming In To Land" ranks up there with the best of his canon.

TV was a very willing participant in my project and agreed to actually to be photographed the day after the gig so I could take the shots in the natural light. However, the heavens opened and rain started to fall heavily not long before we were due to meet. Luckily I discovered a little covered area around the corner where we were able to do the shoot.

As with all the portraits in this series I am wanting to capture something deeper of the subject than just a typical pose. I am very pleased how the pictures turned out, especially this one.

Safi Port (Part Two)

2012-01-04T05:07:00.002Z

Today I feature the second set of images taken at the port in Safi, on Morocco's Atlantic coast. These pictures were all taken in the shipyard.

TV Smith (Part One)

2012-01-02T05:29:00.000Z

We're talking into corners.
Finding ways to fill the vacuum.
And though our mouths are dry.
We talk in hope to hit on something new.
Tied to the railway track.
It's one way to revive but no way to relax.

We're just bored teenagers.
Looking for love,
Or should I say emotional rages.
Bored teenagers.
Seeing ourselves as strangers.

I have written a bit on this blog about some of the figures from punk rock who have not received their due recognition. TV (Tim) Smith must rank as one of the most underrated songwriters of the genre despite his band, The Adverts, being one of the biggest groups from the first wave of the music. I met up with Tim a couple of weeks ago when his tour rolled into Leeds.

The first three singles from The Adverts all deserve their place in the classics of the genre. "One Chord Wonders" was far more than its humble title suggested. "Gary Gilmore’s Eyes" was a perceptive tale of the American killer who donated his eyes to be used again after his death, with the new recipient being able to look through them. This brought the group national recognition and an appearance on Top Of The Pops. The B-side was arguably even better though. "Bored Teenagers" eloquently summed up the plight of Britain’s youth in the days of high unemployment, few prospects and little to do to take away the boredom. "Safety In Numbers" was not a big success compared to its predecessor but once again was a lyrical triumph, criticising those who were jumping on the punk bandwagon.

The band’s debut album "Crossing The Red Sea With The Adverts" was released in early 1978 and rates as one of the best sets from that era, certainly up there with the classic debuts from the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned. With such an illustrious catalogue of tunes you would think that TV Smith would be spoken of with the same reverence as Joe Strummer, Mick Jones or Johnny Rotten. But alas not. His songs not only define the era as a participant but also as an observer, a very hard feat to pull off.

The Advert’s second album "Cast Of Thousands" which was released in 1979 received a critical mauling and was a flop. It does have some songs as good as the first album but it has a weird production and lacks enough intensity to really hit hard. Some of the added instrumentation like the keyboards don’t really work either. The band deserve the respect for putting out such an experimental set though and if it was produced better then maybe it would have connected more.

So The Adverts broke up and TV continued as a solo artist, as he does to this day. He has put out quite a few albums, all continuing his tradition as one of the UK’s best songwriters but not to the acclaim that he should receive. Many of his concerts are now acoustic affairs but a lot of The Adverts songs don’t get featured. So it was a real treat to see that he was doing a special electric tour (with Italian group The Valentines as back-up), playing all the best songs from The Adverts’ catalogue.

I never saw the band the first time around as I was just fourteen when they split up, but I was amazed how faithful the concert was to the original Adverts’ sound. Almost all the first album was given an airing and it sounded fantastic and you clearly tell that TV was enjoying it. The only disappointment was that there were less than one hundred people there but he told me that he thought it was a really good gig. The title track from his new album "Coming In To Land" was performed as an encore and this track is easily the equal of the best songs from The Adverts. I hadn’t heard it before this night but it slotted in perfectly.

It was a big honour to photograph Tim the following day after the gig and his portrait will appear here soon. Here are a few live shots from the Leeds concert.

Safi Port (Part One)

2011-12-30T05:07:00.002Z

The Moroccan town of Safi is a busy metropolis that not only is the centre for the production of ceramics and phosphates, it is also where the country's sardine industry is located. There is a large port area where hundreds of vessels and even more fishermen go out into the cold Atlantic waters in search of fish. You can buy amazing fresh fish in Safi, and not just copious amounts of the humble sardine.

The port is split into two zones. One is accessible by the public and this is where you can buy fish or just watch the fishermen at work, fixing their nets and preparing for the next voyage. The other side is where boats are built and repaired and is not open to the public.

I made three visits to the port during my last stay in Safi and visited all the areas and found the shipyard the most interesting. I managed to get quite a lot of shots before finally being stopped and then questioned by the police. It wasn't a big problem though and a warning was just issued. By then, I had already got what I had come for.

It is fascinating to watch boats actually being constructed and I was told that a typical fishing boat will around half a million euros. On top of this it will need to be constantly maintained and also need some proper repairs each year.

Today I publish some images taken at the fishermen's side of the port. The next entry will focus on the shipyard.

Safi Ceramics

2011-12-28T05:43:00.001Z

The town of Safi on Morocco's Atlantic coast is the country's capital for the production of ceramics. If you walk through the old medina and come out the other side then you will find the area where all the products are made. You can see pottery being produced at literally every stage and the people here are friendly and don't mind visitors at all. It is also a good location for photography as the area is situated just above the old city and you can get a great panorama in front of you. Here are some images I took back in October 2011.

Three Years On, We Will Not Forget

2011-12-27T05:35:00.001Z

Don't forget the people of Gaza.

Christian Bradistan (Part Six)

2011-12-25T05:24:00.000Z

As it is Christmas Day, here is another image from inner-city Christian Bradistan. This crucifix is located at St. Peter's Catholic Church on Leeds Road.

The Kufiyeh Is Arab

2011-12-23T05:11:00.001Z

That’s why we rock the kufiyeh, cuz it’s patriotic.
The kufiyeh, the kufiyeh is Arabic.
That’s why we rock the kufiyeh, our essential identity.
The kufiyeh, the kufiyeh is Arabic.
Come on, throw up the kufiyeh (throw that kufiyeh up for me).
The kufiyeh, the kufiyeh is Arabic.

This track from British-Palestine rapper Shadia Mansour is top draw revolutionary hip hop. The kufiyeh is the emblematic Arab headscarf whose symbolism has been devalued by those who think wearing one is just a cool fashion statement. Good to see a guest appearance from the brilliant M1 from Dead Prez, whose verse is pure fire.

My Review Of The Year 2011

2011-12-21T05:50:00.000Z

1. New Album Of The Year:

My choice will have to be Lowkey's long-awaited "Soundtrack To The Struggle" which finally appeared but still has to surface as a physical product (after all the hype and expectation you would have thought that they would have got that sorted). Most of his killers were included but a couple of tunes fell a little short. As a searing political soundtrack of the times we live in though, it is an unrivalled set.

2. Re-issue Album Of The Year:

This one is an easy choice. Kourosh Yaghmaie's amazing collection "Back From The Brink" featured the most awesome pre-revolutionary psychedelic rock from Iran I have ever heard. It also wins praise for its brilliant packaging and super cheap price. Yaghmaie's name needs to be universally recognised for such wonderful music. Running it close though was the brilliant "Nippon Guitars" collection from Takeshi Terauchi which was chock-full of Japanese surf guitar and psych workouts. Other great compilations worth searching out include "Those Shocking Shaking Days" (Indonesian early 1970s psychedelia); "Life Is Dance" (more Lollywood musical gems); and a short but sweet self-titled retrospective from the Persian chanteuse Googoosh.

3. Gig Of The Year:

2011 was another great year for live concerts. I managed to see my old buddies Skindred five times with the three shows that I witnessed on their Union Black tour being stupendous. Gilad Atzmon and Jadid Ensemble all in Bradistan were wonderful occasions. There were also a slew of high octane punk gigs of which the Angelic Upstarts and Oi Polloi took my plaudits. However, this year there is a joint winner. First was the sheer heart-warming brilliance of Bradistan Reggae Sunsplash from August which provided an inspiring line-up with the community spirit of this town and its inhabitants. Second was Syrian legend Omar Souleyman's gig in Bradistan which put a big smile on the faces of all who attended.

4. Song Of The Year

This is a new category for this year and I award it to Lowkey for his killer combination with M1 (from Dead Prez) and Black The Ripper entitled "Obama Nation Part Two". Part One was superb but this reprise even bettered it. Righteous anger and indignation at the US President and his country's imperialism has rarely sounded so powerful.

5. Performer Of The Year:

I am making an unchanged choice this year and handing the title once again to Skindred frontman Benji Webbe. Skindred gigs are always an event and Benji is the catalyst at the heart of it all.

6. Film Of The Year:

I only made a handful of trips to the cinema this year mainly due to a lack of time, high ticket prices and a fairly underwhelming selection of choices. The powerful and moving "Incendies" which featured two siblings' search for the truth of their mother's life in civil war strewn Lebanon made a big impact on me. Some critics commented that the twist was stretched just a little too far but it was still mind-blowing with a incredible performance by Lubna Azabal.

7. Documentary Of The Year:

"The Black Power Mixtape 1968-75". This uneven yet revealing documentary about black American revolutionary leaders made by a Swedish crew was very illuminating and really gave the viewer a sense of those heady times and the key personalities.

8. TV Channel Of The Year:

Every year running there is only one winner and that is "Al Jazeera English". Their live transmissions of the Arab revolutions, particularly the battles in Tahrir Square in Cairo, were unmissable viewing. Their only flaw was the poor coverage of the revolution in Bahrain, the suppression of which was aided by the channel's owners.

9. Highlight Of The Year

My main highlight would be my photographic work being recognised locally and ending up being featured in an exhibition would be impossible to top. This has given me extra impetus and focus as a photographer and I am now concentrating on my Middle Aged Punks series which has made a good start and I plan to develop it further in 2012.

10. Scumbags Of The Year:

Israel. No more needs to be said.

11. Heroes Of The Year:

The youth of Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Bahrain in particular who rose up against their respective dictatorships.

12. My Blog Highlight Of The Year:

There have been many brilliant moments and events this year. I don't have one overall highlight but when it comes to my city Bradistan, I will have to mention the brilliant Vaisakhi procession that was a credit to the city; the powerful theatre of both "The Mill - City Of Dreams" and "It's Like He's Knocking"; and last but not least, the awesome Bradistan Reggae Sunsplash. A big thanks also to all those who posed for me and my camera in 2011.

Middle Aged Punks (Part Seven)

2011-12-20T07:31:00.000Z

This week's Middle Aged Punks portrait is of Daz from Manchester.

JC Carroll

2011-12-17T05:09:00.000Z

Jean-Marie (aka JC) Carroll is the guitarist and songwriter of the English punk band The Members. He is responsible for co-writing (with former singer Nicky Tesco) the classic singles "Solitary Confinement" and "The Sound Of The Suburbs".

JC leads the band these days who operate as a power trio with original bassist Chris Payne and the former drummer from The Damned, Rat Scabies. They tour regularly across the UK and Europe. He also works as a solo artist and has composed music for films and TV.

This portrait was taken last month, the day after The Members had played a concert in the nearby town of Hebden Bridge. It is the latest entry in my Middle Aged Punks series.

Safi Medina

2011-12-15T05:24:00.000Z

Back in October I made a week's visit to the coastal town of Safi in Morocco to visit my in-laws. As is usual I carried my trusty camera with me and came back with a decent haul of pictures. I have photographed the small old town (or medina in arabic) a few times before but I always like to keep going back and seeing what and who I can find. These images were taken over the course of a couple of afternoons.

Simon

2011-12-13T05:29:00.000Z

Here is another Bradistani portrait and features Simon who helps the lives of homeless people in our city.

Rat Scabies

2011-12-09T05:01:00.001Z

I started my Middle Aged Punks photographic project back in May and slowly but surely it has taken shape. There are so many figures that I would love to photograph and last month I was privileged to take some portraits of the greatest punk rock drummer of all time, Rat Scabies.

Rat is known as being part of the original line-up of one of the best-ever punk groups, The Damned. Back in the days he had a reputation as being a wild man of the music, a bit like a punk Keith Moon. I first met him back in 1978 when The Damned had reformed as The Doomed for a short time before reverting back to their original name. He was indeed a larger than life figure and musically-wise deserves all his plaudits for being an icon of the time.

Nowadays, at fifty-four years of age, Rat still loves playing live music and keeping active in the scene. It has been fourteen years since he left The Damned and now is the rhythmic powerhouse of The Members. Despite his image, Rat is a softly spoken and humble character who doesn't crave or need to be in the limelight. He can hold his own on pretty much any subject, betraying a clear intelligence and an insightful point of view. Rat also has a deep interest in the Holy Grail and has even been the subject of a book about his search for it called "Rat Scabies And The Holy Grail".

Middle Aged Punks (Part Six)

2011-12-05T07:31:00.000Z

Here is another portrait in my Middle Aged Punks series. This one features Jo from Leeds who is the singer of the band Total Bloody Chaos.

Saturday Morning, Bradistan

2011-11-30T05:35:00.000Z

In the early hours of every Saturday morning I make my way to my local mosque to join my brothers in the fajr prayer. It has now become a regular highlight of my week and I always look forward to seeing the regular attendees and then enjoy a delicious communal breakfast after. I love the stillness of the early morning and seeing the first rays of daylight through the windows. Often we can hear the birds outside joining in with our supplications.

For a change I took my camera there and took these shots of some the sights that can be seen inside. I'm planning to do this more often and build up a little portfolio to document the life and activites here.

The Members

2011-11-28T05:12:00.000Z

The first wave of UK punk spawned an enormous number of bands in a very short space of time and with an incredible amount of diversity. Some groups became icons of the genre and the history books have been very kind to them. Others just made one or two records which are considered classics and then sunk with neither trace nor fanfare.

Many of the original artists are still active today and continue to be functioning at the grass roots end of the music. They can be found travelling around the UK and beyond, crammed into a family car or some beat-up white van. It is easy to think that those who released key records of the original punk era would be getting their due reward for their past efforts. If only life was as easy as that.

The Members were responsible for unleashing two of the very best singles from those heady days. "The Sound Of The Suburbs" and "Solitary Confinement" both sound just as crucial today as when they were first released in 1978. Everything about these two songs is flawless, from the insightful and timeless lyrics; the perfect combination of energy and melodic arrangements; as well as the strong production. If you want to get an idea of what it was like to grow up in the late 1970s with all its alienation and marginalisation then you should listen closely to these two records.

However, when you read the punk history books you will notice that The Members don’t get much of a mention or a lot of plaudits. Maybe it is partly because they didn’t have the strong urban guerrilla chic of The Clash; the ripped clothing of the Sex Pistols or the total chaos of The Damned. Image played an enormous role in how punk was defined but for me it is always ultimately about the music itself. The records, from the obscure to the acknowledged classics, tell a more honest and accurate story than the documentation of fashions and the mere sloganising.

Now slimmed down to a small but powerful trio, The Members are still out there gigging at home and abroad. There’s no hype or media machine behind them, just a lot of hard work done by the band themselves and the support of their modest but appreciative fanbase. Vocalist Nicky Tesco is not with them anymore due to illness but original members JC Carroll (the key songwriter and guitarist) and bassist Chris Payne do an admirable job on singing duties. It seems unlikely but on the drums they have the greatest punk rock drummer of all time Rat Scabies, formerly with The Damned.

I caught up with the band in Hebden Bridge where they could be found playing in a small pub to a modest crowd. Despite the rudimentary set-up (no monitors, broken amps, unmiked drums etc), they sounded remarkably potent and bashed out a set of classics alongside some new numbers. Rat’s drumming adds a slighter harder edge to the proceedings and it was wonderful to observe him at his kit, creating that trademark wall of sound that defined the sound of The Damned. Encores consisted of versions of Kraftwerk’s "The Model" au reggae-style (with a middle section of Augustus Pablo's Cassava Piece rhythm), Larry Wallis’s immortal "Police Car" and the Velvet Underground’s "I’m Waiting For The Man". For me though the undoubted highlights were "The Sound Of The Suburbs" and "Solitary Confinement". Hearing just those two songs live would be satisfaction enough.

Fortunately, I got to spend quite a bit of time with them including a next day photoshoot but more about that next time. For now, here are some live pictures from the gig.

English Dogs (Part Two)

2011-11-25T05:05:00.000Z

Last week I wrote a blog entry about the street punk band English Dogs. I mentioned how the singer Wakey was a unique performer on the stage, full of charisma with a touch of madness thrown in for good measure. As a photographer, I always aim to go beyond the surface when I am taking someone's portrait and I had the feeling that photographing Wakey could be very interesting.

The success of any photo-shoot depends on the relationship between the subject and the photographer. As someone who specialises in portraiture I rely on my subject giving something of themselves to me so that I can make a picture that has some depth in it. With Wakey, I explained to him that I wanted to capture the man behind the character.

At this session I could feel a firm bond of trust between us as I started shooting and as a result I believe I was able to get some images that really showed the deeper side of this punk singer.

Derek

2011-11-22T05:28:00.000Z

Here is another image from my ongoing Bradistani Portraits series. This is Derek, a former work colleague of mine who is now enjoying life as a full-time dad.

English Dogs (Part One)

2011-11-17T05:03:00.004Z

Formed in 1981 in Grantham, Lincolnshire, the English Dogs were one of the most important street punk bands to come out of the UK. Their story is a very interesting one as the band has had at least 2 important line-ups but both playing quite different music. Both of these versions of the band are in existence at this current moment so it is very easy for people to become confused. For this article I will focus on the line-up fronted by the singer Pete "Wakey" Wakefield.

The first classic line-up of the band had a rapid rise to success in 1983 when they signed to the legendary Clay Records label and put out the searing "Mad Punx And English Dogs" 6-track EP. Tunes like "Psycho Killer", "Left Me For Dead" and "Driven To Death" became instant classics of the genre. The line-up was Wakey (vocals), Jon Murray (guitar), Mark "Wattie" Watson (bass) and Andrew "Pinch" Pinching (drums). The success of the EP led to the release of the "Invasion Of The Porky Men" set the following year.

At this juncture, looking at it on paper, it is all appearing to go perfectly for the band. However, the serious and sickening violence that was prevalent on the street punk scene at that time was the key factor that led to Wakey leaving the band. He told me that he was scared not only for his own life but maybe a fan would get killed at one of their concerts. The situation in Germany was worse than the UK where neo-nazi skinheads were regularly attacking gigs. It was here that Wakey quit the group and headed home to relative safety.

The band regrouped after this and carried on after recruiting a second guitarist Graham "Gizz" Butt (who later had enormous fame with The Prodigy), and Adie Bailey, the former singer of the Hebden Bridge group Ultra-Violent. This 5-piece outfit introduced a strong metal edge to their sound and literally became one of the godfathers of the thrash metal genre, heavily influencing bands like Metallica. I will write a bit about this line-up in a future blog.

Since then, a number of different line-ups of the band have existed, both releasing albums and going on tour. The current line-up of the street punk version of the English Dogs is Wakey (vocals), Nick Wynch (guitar), Michael Tatler (bass) and Jay Tatler (drums). I went down to Wakefield to meet them last month and get some portraits for my Middle Aged Punks photo project. For a band that has had so many fall-outs over the years I was surprised to observe such a harmonious foursome. The current members all clearly enjoy each others' company and the atmosphere was very friendly.

The gig itself wasn't that well attended but the band were in fine form. While the musicians were tuning up, Wakey appeared with a box on his head and proclaimed to the audience "I am a man with a box on his head" and continued to ramble strange and weird words for a quarter of an hour. Suddenly, the concert then kicked off and we were treated to about an hour's lethal street punk played at breakneck pace. The set was liberally sprinkled with the big tunes from their repertoire as well as some new numbers from their current EP, pleasantly titled "Get Off My Fucking Moon".

Wakey is a charismatic performer in every sense of the word, wrenching every piece of available energy out of his body to keep himself in the zone. He is mad as a march hare while he is on stage and is clearly one of the great iconic figures of UK punk. Here are some pictures from the Wakefield concert with portraits to follow in a future blog entry.

Church or Car Wash?

2011-11-14T05:42:00.001Z

Driving up Carlisle Road in the Manningham area of Bradistan, you are faced with two stark choices. Do I go to church or get my car washed?

Inspirational Sound

2011-11-12T05:13:00.001Z

Bradistan has always had an active reggae scene but the destruction of the old frontline at the end of the 1980s led to its heart being ripped out. Key clubs closed down and the vacuum was filled for many years by a healthy pirate radio presence. The survival of the music in the city has often been down to a small number of committed individuals.

Nyah Shanti and Conquering Lion sound systems ran things where it came to roots reggae and dub in the early 1980s. When the digital reggae revolution led by Prince Jammy exploded in 1985, it was the beginning of the end of this era in Bradistan. Dancehall and then ragga took over and the promotion of dub and roots ended up being led by white figures in the city.

In 1991, the former pirate radio DJ Rootsman started his legendary Dub Me Crazy nights and these were, at the time, the most successful roots and dub nights outside of London. All the key new school producers played at these events but the size of the crowd was always very modest. When Rootsman started making records and made a name overseas, the Dub Me Crazy nights ground to a halt. For five years though, it provided a healthy antidote to the proliferation of gun and slack tunes that were dominating reggae at that time. Also, the night set a blueprint that others would later follow as well as influencing numerous people who would attempt to make their mark on the music at a later date.

Although the demise of Dub Me Crazy created a gap locally in terms of the promotion of this type of reggae, in 1999 the baton was taken up by Peter and Hugh who formed Inspirational Sound and now represent the new generation of roots and dub in Bradistan.

Starting out in black venues like the Palm Cove and Checkpoint, the crew eventually started promoting their regular night called Dub Lab. They invited many important figures from UK dub to play here like The Disciples, Iration Steppas, Vibronics.

Once they had been able to establish themselves as a sound system, it was inevitable that Inspirational Sound would build their own studio and start releasing tunes. Their first release was in 2009 with "Warning"/"Sing Jah Praise" featuring local singer Stephanie. Since then, they have continued to release tunes regularly which has given them a lot of exposure not just nationally but also abroad. This had led them to perform in a number of European countries.

It is always good to meet people who are passionate and enthusiastic about what they do. Inspirational Sound are now carrying the torch for roots and dub in Bradistan and their music is continuing to improve and develop. For more information about them, visit their website.

More Anthrax

2011-11-10T05:01:00.000Z

To follow on from my article about the UK anarcho-punk group Anthrax, here are a selection of portraits of the band members. Unlike so many bands from the original punk era, the membership of Anthrax remains completely unchanged. Considering that the group were formed in 1980, this is a remarkable achievement.

The band members shown below (from top to bottom) are Gary (vocals), Shaun (guitar), Peter (drums), Dee (guitar) and Gareth (bass).

Rockers

2011-11-07T05:40:00.000Z

Rockers is one of the most important figures when it comes to reggae in Bradistan. For a good thirty years now, he has played in pubs, clubs and other venues with still the same amount of enthusiasm as he has always had. One of my earliest Bradistan reggae memories is walking past the legendary "Perseverance" public house on Lumb Lane which was the old frontline back in the 1980s. Blaring out from inside was a dubplate from Maxi Priest who was still a few years off from becoming a mega-star. The lyrics broadcasted out "Rockers International Roadshow...."

All the classic and now-defunct reggae clubs in the city featured Rockers at the controls at some point. I clearly remember him mashing up "The Mayflower" every weekend and then you would find him in the darkness of one of the illegal shebeens, spinning a mixture of the latest tunes or some sweet Lovers Rock.

Currently, he is collaborating with his old sparring partner Cooler, dropping tunes at the Old Vic in Little Horton each Sunday afternoon. That's where I caught up with him to take the above portrait. Below are some classic images of him from back in the old days.

Shitty Limits

2011-11-04T05:38:00.000Z

Last month in Bradistan, a great little festival called Means To An End was held. It was a weekend-long hardcore punk affair hosted in the 1 in 12 Club. I passed through mainly to check out Anthrax but ended up seeing a couple of other bands that impressed me. One of them was Shitty Limits who hail from Guildford in the south of England. Amazingly, it was their penultimate gig as they are splitting up. To me, they seemed to be a band on top of their game. Their live set was completely explosive and the assembled hordes loved them.

Middle Aged Punks (Part Five)

2011-11-02T05:30:00.001Z

Here is another instalment in my Middle Aged Punks photographic series. This shot features Jackie from Manchester.

Occupy Bradistan

2011-10-31T05:49:00.000Z

Following the inspiring example set by Occupy Wall Street and Occupy London, I see that a small encampment has been established in Bradistan's Centenary Square. It seems that the worldwide movement against the greed of capitalism is gathering apace and I am pleased to see this issue being brought to our local streets.

I passed through quite early yesterday morning as I was up bright and early but there was no sign of anyone from the camp, just a lone passer-by on his way somewhere.

Anthrax

2011-10-28T05:17:00.000+01:00

British anarcho-punk band Anthrax were formed in Gravesend in 1980 so they actually have a better claim to the name than their American thrash metal namesakes. However, the worldwide success of the latter has meant that most people only know one band with this name. However, despite their relative obscurity, take it from me, the British group are far superior.

After putting together their first demo back in 1981, Anthrax soon came to the attention of the legendary Crass record label. This led the band releasing their first tune "All The Wars" on the compilation album "Bullshit Detector Volume 2" a year later. This was swiftly followed by the EP "Capitalism Is Cannibalism". The title track is an authentic punk killer with its angry, feedback-drenched sound and catchy chorus. The band themselves weren't too happy with the end result though due to problems with Crass' production style. However the EP was a big hit in the indie charts and brought the group a lot of attention.

A follow-up EP "They've Got It All Wrong" followed the next year on Pete Stennett's Small Wonder Records. It was another powerful release, full of energy and once again was a success.

And then that was that. Apart from a tune here and there on a compilation, there was to be no album and the band split up, by then fed-up with a lot of the goings-on in the punk scene and the regular violence that was breaking out at concerts. The group therefore became something of an enigma in the years that followed.

Fast forward to 2007 and all the original band have reformed and put out a compilation CD "One Last Drop" which gathered together all their recorded output. They start to play gigs again and write new material. The interest is definitely out there as the compilation sold out and is now completely unavailable.

Amazingly, Anthrax never played in Bradistan in their heyday so it was a big treat for their northern fans to see that they were going to play at the legendary 1 in 12 Club, an event that happened earlier this month. I went down there to meet them and get some photographs for my Middle Aged Punks project. These portraits will be published in a future blog entry.

The band members were really friendly and I spent a lot of time chatting to them about numerous subjects. The gig itself was a success and it was great to hear the old classics played live. The crowd showed them a lot of love and even when one song was completely messed up, no-one really gave it much of a second thought apart from laughing it off. For me, "Capitalism Is Cannibalism" was the set's biggest highlight and it was good to hear them showcase some new material.

Here are some pictures from the gig and hopefully we won't need to wait thirty more years before Anthrax come to visit us again!

The Future

2011-10-26T05:59:00.004+01:00

I began this blog almost three years ago and published my first piece on the 24th December 2008. Today's entry will be number 969 which means I have done around 300 blogs a year since I began. However, having had a busy summer working on other projects and increasing demands on my time through one thing or another, I have decided to scale the blog back. I did think of actually closing it at the end of this year but I still believe I have things to say and images to publish that I hope that you, the reader, will find interesting.

The blog started about a couple of weeks after I bought my first digital SLR camera and this blog has captured my journey from a total novice photographer scrabbling around in the dark in terms of how to take pictures, to today where there has been quite a bit of interest in my work. I still don't think I am that good as a photographer but it is a hobby that I want to continue to pursue and improve. Therefore, I am going to broaden my horizons a bit and establish a different presence on the internet solely for my photography.

Tales From Bradistan has featured a whole cornucopia of different subjects including my own personal views and photography about the state of our city and the people who live in it. There is a significant musical archive ranging from arab music through punk to reggae and a lot of points in between. I published a lot less articles about film and politics than I would have liked to but time was too often against me. Stacks of photographs from some of the travels I have been fortunate enough to undertake, particularly in Morocco and Syria, are scattered liberally throughout the blog with a wealth of information for the traveller to hopefully find useful.

So what will the blog feature in the future? Well, the answer is much the same as it has always done but there will be less of it. I will continue to publish images and write articles (I already have quite a backlog of stuff to deal with), but I won't be updating it daily anymore. So it is not at all a case of goodbye, but more see you later.

Please check regularly for updates or subscribe to my twitter feed for when I have published any new pieces. Thanks for all those who have supported the blog and voiced their encouragement up until now. It is very much appreciated.

Ashok

2011-10-25T05:28:00.000+01:00

Today's Bradistani portrait is Ashok, a local Pakistani man.

Middle Aged Punks (Part Four)

2011-10-24T05:59:00.000+01:00

Here is the next Middle Aged Punks portrait and features Gary from Leeds. Gary plays in the band Sewer Suckers who I saw supporting The Subhumans last month.

Bradistan Monopoly Now Out

2011-10-22T05:02:00.000+01:00

Seven months ago I wrote a blog entry about Bradistan being immortalised in the popular board game Monopoly. Well, the game has now been released presumably in time for the "Christmas Rush".

The local rag Telegraph & Argus is reporting some of the landmarks which are included. Pride of place in the Mayfair square is the beautiful Alhambra Theatre, an amenity that the local council wanted to destroy a couple of decades back just like the current plight of our beloved Odeon. There is no news about whether the Odeon has been included in the game, but I presume not as it might not exist for much longer.

Some of the sights reported to be included are fairly obvious but I would like to take a look at the game for myself and see what is actually there. I have barely visited the town centre in the last weeks so it is just a case of finding the time to get that done.

I do wonder who will actually buy this game though? Can't see anyone not from here buying it apart from a few nostalgic ex-pats, and a lot of current Bradistanis probably won't want to be reminded about the terrible state of the city centre right now. The game will probably seem very old-fashioned to those reared on Playstations and the X-Box but the manufacturers must feel that they can shift a few to make it worth their while.

Hand On Your Gun

2011-10-21T05:45:00.000+01:00

This year has seen a whole slew of crucial sides from Lowkey, the UK's best rapper in my opinion. His album "Soundtrack To The Struggle" has finally been released but only digitally unfortunately, so I am waiting until a physical CD comes out before I buy it. Most of the songs have now come out with accompanying videos which are usually brilliant efforts by Global Faction.

"Hand On Your Gun" is another fiery tune that continues Lowkey's high standards. I love the music sample which is the song "A Gringo Like Me" taken from the spaghetti western film "Gunfight At Red Sands" composed by the immortal Ennio Morricone. This is actually one of my all-time favourite spaghetti western songs so I am doubly happy with this tune.

For me songs like this are the revolutionary soundtrack to what is going on in the world today. As we used to say in the reggae scene "strictly education style!".

Mensi

2011-10-20T05:43:00.001+01:00

Following on my blog about the classic UK punk band the Angelic Upstarts, here is a portrait that I took of the singer and leader Mensi. It was a big honour to photograph such a legendary figure for my Middle Aged Punks project, particularly as he is someone who I have the utmost respect for. Mensi is undoubtedly one of the most genuine and passionate artists from that whole genre and one who I believe has not received the respect or standing that he truly deserves.

In this portrait I not only wanted to capture Mensi's humanity but also the weight that has been on his shoulders as a spokesman of his generation for over thrity years.

Cooler

2011-10-19T05:39:00.000+01:00

Here is another important figure from Bradistan's Reggae Past. Cooler has been a DJ and sometime MC in the city for as far back as I can remember. He told me that he started out like many others by aiming to build his own sound system and having to "borrow" whatever he could get his hands on to do that. He has literally spent his whole life immersed in the music and is still active today.

I first worked with Cooler around 1985 or so when I was just starting out as a reggae selector. I had got a week-night gig at the legendary Bibi's club which not surprisingly was a bit of a flop. I turned up with a carrier bag of records and Cooler was on hand to supply MC duties. We had an enjoyable couple of sessions but unfortunately Cooler couldn't remember anything when I told him about them!

Cooler spent a few years away from the city, ending up in Plymouth in south-west England when he put on numerous reggae sessions. Now back in his native Bradistan, he controls the airwaves every Sunday afternoon on Unique FM before doing a live stint at the Old Vic public house in the Little Horton area of town.

UK Classics (Part Sixteen)

2011-10-18T05:04:00.000+01:00

Being a confirmed republican and a believer that British rule in Northern Ireland should come to an end, I therefore have been forced to stretch the UK classic tag a little for this blog entry. Hailing from Belfast, Stiff Little Fingers were one of the best bands from the late 1970s punk scene and this tune, "Suspect Device", was their debut single, released in 1978.

I was fortunate enough to witness SLF on their debut UK tour supporting the Tom Robinson Band just a few short months after this footage was shot. They were brilliant live and had not honed themselves into the quite polished unit they were to become a year or so later. This track, plus the follow-up "Alternative Ulster" and then their debut album "Inflammable Material" all took the punk scene by storm in those days. By the time I saw SLF again, which was in 1980, they were one of the world's biggest punk bands.

"Suspect Device" was a tune that just seemed to perfectly fit the situation in Northern Ireland at that time. Paramilitary activity against British rule was at its height and the repression in republican communities by the British army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary was intense. SLF were actually living in a warzone and the perspective they brought to punk was original and refreshing.

Tahir

2011-10-17T05:29:00.000+01:00

Another day and another Bradistani portrait. Most of these recent intimate shots were taken as part of a project I was working on throughout the summer, which was photographing local people. This one is Tahir.

Angelic Upstarts

2011-10-15T05:19:00.003+01:00

I'm an upstart
Hey whatcha gonna do
I'm an upstart
Listen I'm talking to you

Sham 69 and the Angelic Upstarts were the first UK punk bands that really dealt with specific working class issues in depth, rather than just on a generic level. Both of them have not had the recognition they truly deserve, Sham mainly because of Jimmy Pursey going off the rails, but the Upstarts? I, for one, do not understand how they have not received serious accolades now that punk's history has been heavily documented. Maybe they simply were just not "cool" enough for a lot of journalists and writers. For me though, they are up there with the best of them.

Formed on a South Shields council estate in 1977, the Upstarts soon attracted notoriety due to their aggressive music and uncompromising attitude. Their debut single "The Murder Of Liddle Towers" was self-released in 1978 and then picked up by Rough Trade and went on to sell many thousands of copies. It told the story of a boxing coach who was killed while in police custody and is one of the most incendiary punk 45s ever released. Even today it sounds incredible, dripping with anger, and its less than polished production being perfect. The B-side "Police Oppression" was also a brilliant track and singer Thomas "Mensi" Mensforth still gets harrassed from the police who have never forgiven him for these tunes.

Critical acclaim led the band to sign a major label deal and the release of their second single "I'm An Upstart". Once again this was a blistering piece of UK punk that hasn't lost its intensity over thirty years later. The band eventually received mainstream success with their third effort "Teenage Warning", which got them on Top Of The Pops and was to be their biggest hit.

Singer Mensi was never afraid to tackle issues that affected ordinary working class people, both at home and abroad. "Two Million Voices" dealt with rising unemployment, while "Last Night Another Soldier" described how working class youth who join the army become just cannon fodder for the ruling class. Other notable efforts included the moving "Solidarity" which expressed common cause with Polish workers and "Guns For The Afghan Rebels" was a cry of support for the mujahideen then fighting the Soviet invasion.

It is true that some of these tunes may sound a little naive when evaluated with the benefit of hindsight but Mensi always wore his heart on his sleeve and could never be accused of being a bandwagon jumper like so many punk figures who have received more acclaim in the history books than him. He has always stood for the small man fighting against oppression and this is what still drives him today. At the recent Leeds show, he announced from the stage that he has made mistakes in his life but he will always be a diehard anti-fascist for as long as he is alive. The band still play numerous anti-racist benefit concerts and help to support the plight of anti-fascist prisoners.

The Upstarts, like Sham 69, were plagued for a while with a small neo-nazi following but this has now come to an end after it was made clear that the fascists would be confronted physically if they continued to attend their concerts. How far-right boneheads could even think that the Upstarts shared the same grubby politics as them remains a mystery. One of the band's greatest sides is "I Understand" which was a classic reggae-punk crossover that dealt with the plight of the Rasta Richard Campbell, whose death in custody was another mysterious occurence.

Over thirty years after their greatest anthems were released, the songs of the Angelic Upstarts take on a new resonance in these times of global recession and rising unemployment, not to mention the UK continuing to be involved in imperial adventures overseas. These tunes are arguably far more relevant than anything The Clash or the Sex Pistols ever put out. The Upstarts might have lacked a certain level of finesse but their integrity was never in doubt.

My own personal Upstarts connection started when I was thirteen years old and teaching myself guitar by playing along to tracks like "Police Oppression". By the time I was fifteen in early 1981, my little band supported the Upstarts at our first ever concert. I remembered them being really friendly and supportive to us and, in particular, drummer Decca Wade giving our fourteen year old sticksman help and encouragement. We were crap on the night but the Upstarts were brilliant. Unfortunately, neo-nazi skinheads were in attendance and the gig tragically ended in serious violence.

Exactly thirty years on I am once again in the company of Mensi although he is the only surviving member of the band. It is easy to be sceptical about the changing line-ups of classic bands so many years later but the guys playing as the Upstarts right now are a tough, sturdy unit. The dual guitars of Dickie Hammond (from Leatherface) and Neil Newton work together beautifully; former Red London member Gaz Stoker is solid on bass; and young Jonnie Halling from Crashed Out is beat-perfect on the drum kit. Their set in Leeds was as tough as could be expected with pretty much all of their classics given an airing. The sauna-like conditions in the venue were hard to bear though!

I will publish a portrait of Mensi in a separate blog but here are some portraits of Dickie, Gaz, Neil and Jonnie. Big thanks to the band for giving me ample time to take these shots and also to Stevie Caldwell whose selfless help was much appreciated in setting up this shoot.

Faces of Bingley Music Live 2011 (Part Two)

2011-10-14T05:00:00.000+01:00

Here is the second portrait I took at Bingley Music Live last month. This one is of Jo who lives in Stockport near Manchester. The image was taken just as the available light was fading fast but I do like how this portrait ended up being lit.

Red Dread

2011-10-13T05:34:00.000+01:00

Here is the first in a new little series featuring portraits of figures who have been notable in the history and development of reggae in Bradistan. Jerry Crawford, also known as Red Dread, is a good initial choice as he was one of the people behind the success of the recent Bradistan Sunsplash reggae festival.

I first became involved in the Bradistan reggae scene back in 1985 and I can remember seeing Jerry then. If there was a dance on or something to do with the local West Indian community then he wouldn't be far away. For many years now, Jerry has run a community recording studio, working with numerous youths and helping to shape their talents.

Jerry got his unusual monicker as he used to dye a couple of his trademark dreadlocks bright red although it has been a while since he has sported such a look, as you can see from this portrait.

1 In 12 Club

2011-10-12T05:37:00.003+01:00

Following on from my last Great Bradistani post which featured 1 in 12 Club founder member Gary Cavanagh, I finally get the chance to publish a couple of pics that I took earlier on this year.

The 1 in 12 Club has now been going for an incredible thirty years and is run by its enthusiastic members. Regular gigs are held here and there is a vegan cafe upstairs. While so many places in Bradistan have closed down and scenes come and gone over the years, it is remarkable that this iconic club is still going strong.

Middle Aged Punks (Part Three)

2011-10-11T05:01:00.001+01:00

Here is the front shot of the man featured in the last entry in my Middle Aged Punks series. Dave hails from Leeds and has been a punk since the mid-1970s. I drove up to Otley to meet him as this is where he now lives and did the photoshoot round the back of his modest little bungalow.

Dave is a striking looking character, both from the front and back and I am sure that many people would be scared of him, judging him by the way he looks. In reality, you couldn't meet a friendlier person and he chatted away almost without a pause during the ninety minutes or so I spent with him.

In all the intimate portraits I am taking these days, my goal is to capture the emotion of the person I am photographing as well as something of their character. I found this session to be one of the most intense I have done to date, looking down my lens straight into the eyes of my subject from less than a metre away. It is quite an honour when someone gives so much of themselves to my camera in these portraits, especially when there is no attempt to make any kind of artificial pose. I just hope that I have been able to adequately capture the dignity of the individual, and if I have then my job has been successful.

Men Working Overhead

2011-10-10T05:37:00.000+01:00

There's no-one here, just the sky!

Phil

2011-10-08T05:29:00.000+01:00

Today's Bradistani portrait is Phil, one of numerous unsung local heroes working with challenging and vulnerable people.

Great Bradistanis (Part Eight)

2011-10-07T05:06:00.003+01:00

Another local resident fully deserving of the title Great Bradistani is Gary Cavanagh. With help from his lifelong friend Matt Webster (a Bradistani punk legend), Gary recently published the acclaimed book "Bradford's Noise Of The Valleys". This hefty tome documents two decades of the city's musical history across numerous genres. Gary says that it took him seven years to compile the book and you can see that it has been a massive task due to the amount of detail contained within it. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to know in real depth the bands, musicians and the records that have come from here.

Gary first became active locally in the late 1970s when the punk movement was in full swing. He was instrumental in getting local punks to hang out at the radical Fourth Idea bookshop which was regularly being attacked by thugs from the far-right. Having punks on the premises protected the shop and created a social centre for the like-minded youth in the city. Gary was also at the forefront of establishing the local Claimants' Union, providing advice for the legions of the unemployed.

It was actually thirty years ago, in 1981, that the Claimants' Union morphed into the legendary 1 in 12 Club, Bradistan's collective-run social centre. The 1 in 12 began through a number of local benefit gigs held in various venues until the collective was able to establish its' own building seven years later. It has become well-known across the world and still holds regular concerts and events.

Gary's passion for helping the unemployed still continues to this day and he can still be spotted at the Claimants' Union in the Bradistan Resource Centre in the Little Germany area of town. That is where I met him and he was telling me that he is currently working on the second volume of the book. I got a taste of what a difficult job it is as he reeled off a number of names of bands and musicians and I could barely remember any of them, such is how artists can easily get forgotten in the sands of time. Unfortunately, Gary received no help from the local newpaper the Telegraph & Argus, and he had to spend countless hours in the local library going through years of old copies looking for music news. I can therefore imagine that it will be a few more years before this next edition can be published.

Every city has its' share of people who like to consider themselves the movers and shakers of the local area, endlessly patting themselves on the back and boosting their own egos, usually through the formation of self-serving cliques. Bradistan is no exception to this but the humble, friendly Gary Cavanagh does his job without any fanfare at all. For over thirty years he has tirelessly worked for the less fortunate and is now doing his best to document Bradistan's vast and rich musical history. And yet, he is still under most peoples' (and the media's) radar. Here's to the next thirty years Gary!

To contact Gary and also to get more information about his book, please click here. Below is a short but informative little piece from the local TV.

Faces Of Bingley Music Live 2011 (Part One)

2011-10-06T04:59:00.000+01:00

I was fortunate enough, while backstage at Bingley Music Live, to meet a couple of extraordinary looking women and take their portraits. This one is of Maddy, and she was a natural in front of the camera.

John Hegley

2011-10-05T05:27:00.001+01:00

The acclaimed poet and comedian John Hegley made a whistle-stop visit to Bradistan last month. He did a performance at the Theatre In The Mill which coincided with the British Science Festival which was held in the city.

John's pieces ranged from the hilarious to the absurd, taking in all manner of subjects including his childhood growing up in Luton. He also featured a selection from his new book "The Adventures of Monsieur Robinet". I wasn't very familar with his repertoire before the show but it was very amusing indeed and he delighted the packed audience. John had studied at Bradistan University and he told me that he always enjoyed visiting the city and held many happy memories of his time here.

I was lucky to get this portrait as the light was fading fast and most of my shots didn't come out. Fortunately, there was this one that came out OK and I think it captures John's personality well.

Trotsky

2011-10-04T05:57:00.000+01:00

No, it is not the influential Russian left-wing revolutionary but the long-standing drummer of UK punk stalwarts The Subhumans. I photographed Trotsky for my Middle Aged Punks project when the band played in Wakefield recently.

I have a lot of admiration for these musicians who were the backbone of the UK punk scene so long ago, especially the ones who have stayed so close to the grass roots of the genre. It can’t be easy to summon up the same levels of passion as when you are in your youth but The Subhumans are definitely the real deal. What I also like is that there is barely any barrier between many of these bands and their fans, which makes a refreshing change from witnessing artists all too often consumed with their own self-importance. Now living in Germany, Trotsky was a pleasure to meet and chat to, as well as being a willing photographic subject, which helps a lot!

Make It Yourself

2011-10-03T05:40:00.000+01:00

I snapped this image at Leeds Mela. I have never seen something like this before, where you have to pay for your tea and then have to make it yourself.

Sylvia Tella

2011-10-01T05:06:00.000+01:00

Here are a selection of images of the brilliant Sylvia Tella taken at Bradistan Sunsplash reggae festival last month.

Laila Lazer K

2011-09-30T05:59:00.000+01:00

This portrait is of Laila Lazer K who is the singer of the increasingly popular Manchester band Sonic Boom Six. Their interesting sound draws on a number of influences including ska, reggae, metal, punk and hip hop. Recently, the metal influence has become more prominent and I think this is making them a better band with a more complete sound. Their earlier tunes are a bit too commercial for my liking but newer material like "What Doesn't Kill You Make You Stronger" suggest a band that will be definitely worth checking out live. Sounds like a strong Skindred influence going on too. This image was taken backstage at Bingley Music Live.

Middle Aged Punks (Part Two)

2011-09-29T05:01:00.001+01:00

I started my Middle Aged Punks photography project back in July and I have been increasingly busy with it, meeting bands and talking portraits of the stalwarts of the scene. This shot is of Dave from Leeds. I will feature him again shortly with a portrait from the front but this image was definitely worth capturing.

Andreas

2011-09-28T05:27:00.001+01:00

Today's Bradistani portrait is Andreas, a Spanish national who has been living in our city for a couple of years.

Leeds Mela

2011-09-27T05:37:00.001+01:00

Leeds Mela, or more accurately Leeds Asian Festival, took place last weekend. It was just a half-day affair and I went over for a couple of hours when it was still quite early and not many people were about. To sum up, it isn't a patch on the Bradistan Mela, being a fairly modest enclosed space in Roundhay Park. The organisers in their infinite wisdom, thought it would be a good idea to have just one way in and one way out so you had to walk about a quarter of a mile just to enter. Then the jobsworth security tried to not to let me in without my camera but backed off when I protested. I stayed for a bit of the entertainment which was OK although marred by the MC continually reminding us that the event was free.

When I arrived the sun was out and it was boiling hot. There were two small rain showers and when the black clouds started circling I thought it best to make a hasty retreat. Luckily I had just started driving when a torrential downpour came down. I don't know if the Mela was able to recover from it but the roads out of Leeds were totally waterlogged. Anyway I took these few shots while I was there.

Sweet Dreams

2011-09-26T05:28:00.000+01:00

At long last, here is my final image from my Tunisia trip back in April. This was taken on the train from Mahdia to Sousse. Tunisian trains are cheap, clean, run to time and are an easy way to get around the country. I took half a dozen journeys during my week there although I strike a note of caution about using this mode of transport. On half of these trips the window was hit by a rock thrown by someone outside. It is quite a shock when you are travelling, especially when it is dark, and one missile hit a window where a young mother was sat with her baby. Luckily, the railways use really strong glass so no damage was done. This chap doesn't seem too perturbed by possibility of the window being attacked though as he enjoys a nice forty winks.

Jenifah Nyah

2011-09-24T05:07:00.002+01:00

Reggae chanteuse Jenifah Nyah comes from Bradistan and used to be known as Jennifer Gad. She had released a well-received 12" back around 1987 with the tracks "Babylon Fall" and "Natty Nah Run" (her husband Rupie Dan had also put out a sister 12" featuring him on the same rhythm tracks). Then the duo relocated to Jamaica and Jenifah ended up being part of the legendary group Black Uhuru. The line-up at this time featured original member Duckie Simpson and Andrew Bees took care of the lead vocals. With Jenifah in the trio, the band released two albums "Dynasty" and "Unification" and toured across the world.

Jenifah and Rupie released two albums together, "Solid Foundation" and "Reparation" but both artists are not that well-known in the reggae world. However, Rupie's mid 1980s side "My Black Race" remains one of the most in-demand roots tunes from those times due to its heavy rotation on Jah Shaka's sound system.

I caught up with Jenifah at the recent Bradistan Sunsplash reggae festival. Unfortunately, I missed her live set but I did manage to bag this portrait of her backstage.

The Subhumans

2011-09-23T05:32:00.002+01:00

The Subhumans are one of the most important bands that are associated with the anarcho-punk musical genre that reached its’ peak in the early 1980s. Formed in Wiltshire in 1980, they soon received much attention due to a well-received demo which then led to them releasing their debut "Demolition War" EP on Flux Of Pink Indians’ own Spiderleg record label in 1981. This, and the following releases over the next three years or so, enabled them to build up a massive following in the UK and beyond.

Numerous punk bands existed in those exhilarating times but only a select few became really big and influential, of which The Subhumans were one. The anarcho-punk scene was characterised by heavy political lyrics (although not necessarily "anarchist"); a strong focus on animal rights and vegetarianism; as well as being anti-war and against the system. This was often in marked contrast to a lot of the street punk bands around at the time, many of whom espoused a more nihilistic and chaotic outlook, exemplified by such groups as The Exploited. Although many fans put their feet firmly in one of the above camps, others simply accepted the wide variety of bands that were out there without being too discerning. A good example of this would be a man who I photographed for my Middle Aged Punks series a few weeks ago. His leather jacket had three bands’ names painted on the back – the anarcho-punk Conflict, the street punk pioneers Discharge and The Plasmatics (an American punk group that were never taken that seriously).

One important part of the punk ethos was about thinking for yourself and being an individual, although a tribal mentality and the following like sheep syndrome was always evident to some degree. Particular dress codes became the norm, especially the wearing of black (popularised by Crass) and sporting a certain kind of hairstyle. And like in all kinds of groups in society, petty jealousies and rivalries all played their part too. Many bands and fans felt they had to look or live a certain way to fit in or possibly feel ostracised or face a lack of credibility. These factors were all present in a greater or lesser extent.

I bring up these points as Dick Lucas, the singer and lyricist of The Subhumans proved that you could be honest to yourself and still have enormous credibility. Dick is a very gifted songwriter (not just in The Subhumans but also in his other bands Culture Shock and Citizen Fish) but he looks somewhat geeky and doesn’t have a particularly rough voice like so many punk vocalists. However, you only need to listen to his records or witness him on stage to be convinced that his authenticity always shines through. He is in many ways the living embodiment of the true punk ethic.

My recollections of seeing The Subhumans in their heyday in Bradistan back in 1983 are just fragments now but their gig last week in Wakefield brought these memories back into the front of my mind once again. Their one hour set was played at breakneck pace with all the passion that was clearly on display almost thirty years ago. Old classics were mixed in with some newer material, all tightly played and the band members exhibiting incredible energy. Fans old and new all lapped it up and went away satisfied.

Frontman Dick was happy to be a subject in my Middle Aged Punks series and it was an honour to photograph such an important figure from the UK punk scene.

Skindred Dan In Bradistan

2011-09-22T05:14:00.000+01:00

Skindred bassist Dan Pugsley came up to stay with me a couple of weeks back as the band were playing at Bingley Music Live so we had some time together away from our usual meetings in concert venues. I showed Dan round some of Bradistan and had the opportunity to take another portrait of him. This was shot at the famous cube which was designed by Aerosol Arabic.

Revolutionary Tunis (Part Five)

2011-09-21T05:50:00.001+01:00

Here is the final part of a series of blog entries documenting a large demonstration I attended in Tunis in April 2011.

After a number of angry speeches the gathering suddenly turned into a march and furiously made its' way down Avenue Bourguiba to the Ministry Of The Interior. I joined it, taking more images and then watching events unfold down there. Most of it seemed to consist of abuse being thrown at the soldiers outside but there was no attempt to disperse the crowd. If I was to photograph this building under normal circumstances I would have been arrested but this time I had the crowd to cover me. Therefore I was able to get some really good shots.

Revolutionary Tunis (Part Four)

2011-09-20T05:48:00.001+01:00

Here are more images taken at the demonstration I attended in Tunis back in April.

Revolutionary Tunis (Part Three)

2011-09-19T05:59:00.000+01:00

"While most demonstrations pass peacefully, and foreigners have not been targeted, we recommend that all British nationals in Tunisia avoid all forms of demonstration as there is a risk of incidental violence if you are caught up in a demonstration that does not pass peacefully" (Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice).

As I reported in an earlier blog entry, I returned back to Avenue Bourguiba in downtown Tunis a couple of hours after witnessing a small demonstration. I found a crowd of at least one thousand there now. The mood was angry and defiant but it never felt threatening. Although I was about the only westerner there I took out my camera and starting shooting pictures. I didn't get any problems so I slowly pushed my way into the heart of the demo where the speeches were taking place. It was really exhilarating to be in the middle of such momentous events and I took as many photos as I could.

I noticed a couple of mothers of martyrs there also and they were receiving a lot of love from those assembled. I felt really humbled by them as they calmly spoke to anyone who approached them, even though their grief must still be very fresh. More humorously, I was asked a couple of times which newspaper or press agency I was from!

Here are the first set of images and more will follow tomorrow.

UK Classics (Part Fifteen)

2011-09-17T05:24:00.001+01:00

Time for another UK classic selection I think. "Dreaming Of You" by The Coral was a significant hit back in 2002. In these days of bland, manufactured pop music, this song sounds really refreshing with its' real instruments played by decent musicians. I like the retro feel of the production, especially the cheesy keyboard lines which really suit the song. It is also good that the track doesn't outstay its' welcome, clocking in at just two minutes and twenty-one seconds.

Is it a completely original composition though? Watch the second video below after playing The Coral's song, which is The Supremes' massive 1965 hit "My World Is Empty Without You". To my ears, The Coral's song is about 90% copied from The Supremes, from the beginning bass riff through the verse and then the almost identical bridge. However, whether it was deliberate or not who knows, but "Dreaming Of You" is still a flawless pop record.

Skindred at Bingley Music Live 2011

2011-09-16T05:00:00.000+01:00

I have relentlessly championed the reggae-metal band Skindred on this blog and after a long gap, they were finally back playing in Bradistan again. The occasion was the Bingley Music Live music festival and it was rammed out with at least 15,000 people on the opening night. Luckily I had the best view in the house and took these live shots. The performance was sensational by the way, but it wouldn't be anything else as far as Skindred are concerned.

Adele Harley

2011-09-15T05:42:00.003+01:00

This is an on-stage shot of Adele Harley who put in a sparkling performance of top-notch Lovers Rock at the recent Bradistan Sunsplash reggae festival. Adele's album "Come Into My Life" is one of the best British Lovers Rock offerings of recent times.

Carnival Queen

2011-09-14T05:56:00.001+01:00

This was the best portrait I was able to bag at Leeds Carnival this year. It is never an easy place to photograph due to the large crowds and the lack of clear opportunities.

Iain

2011-09-13T05:30:00.001+01:00

Today's Bradistani portrait is of Iain Bloomfield, who is the director of the Theatre In The Mill. This venue can be found in the grounds of Bradistan University and always offers an exciting programme of performances and events, of which many are not your typical theatre experience. This season's programme looks very interesting once again and I will aim to get to see some of the shows when I can.

Iain exudes an amazing amount of passion for the work he is presenting. Many of the events have been developed by the theatre as opposed to just "buying-in" from elsewhere. This alone makes the theatre a really unique institution in Bradistan and it deserves to be recognised on a much wider level.

This shot was actually taken a few months ago just before I had settled on my more intimate, close-up style of portraiture which I have been doing throughout the summer. However, I wanted to clear some of my archive and publish some of these pictures that I hadn't done anything with up until now.

Bingley Music Live 2011

2011-09-12T05:59:00.000+01:00

Bingley is an affluent village in the district of Bradistan and is now becoming quite well-known due to the annual music festival Bingley Music Live. It is quite a small affair compared to many other festivals but is still pretty big, hosting 16,000 attendees each day. It is also good value of money. This year it was 35GBP for two days (Saturday and Sunday), with the Friday night traditionally being free to enter. The line-up is also quite varied, covering a number of different musical genres.

This year I went on the Friday night as my favourite band Skindred were playing but more about them on a later blog entry. As I was a guest of the band I ended up getting a pass for the whole weekend. I didn't go on the Saturday though due to prior commitments but I did see most of the line-up on the Sunday.

To be honest I didn't find it very interesting at all musically. I am not too impressed by a lot of mainstream music anyway, finding it too generic and derivative. The Coral were good though I must admit. They started off sounding quite bland but as their hour-long set progressed they became more and more interesting. Many of their songs, while not being exactly ground-breaking, are melodic, well-structured and full of great harmonies. I surprised myself by really enjoying them as their set reached its' closing stages.

I amused myself by taking a few pictures throughout the afternoon and ended up with this little haul for my efforts.

Arab Musical Revolution

2011-09-10T05:41:00.001+01:00

A few months ago I was asked by Bradistan University to curate their autumn music season. They did not have a Fellow in Music in place and were wondering how to put together the programme. I already had a couple of ideas of what could work and this soon developed into an exciting season of three concerts. It was a big honour to be asked to do this, and as I am a big fan of music from North Africa and the Middle East it seemed perfect to link this with the enormous social change that has been sweeping through that region in 2011.

After a lot of thought and planning, the programme has now been finalised and the brochure released. I believe that this series is a real coup for our city and demonstrates that culturally we have the potential to compete at a much higher level than the city has often managed. Naturally, I am proud of putting the programme together but its' success will ultimately only be judged on whether the attendances have been good enough. So my fellow Bradistanis, please spread the word and try and support this special season.

To kick things off we have a fabulous double bill consisting of Algerian Rai singer Cheb Nacim, and Jordanian (Palestinian) oud maestro Nizar Al Issa. This will be held in Student Central on Saturday 22nd October at 7.30 p.m. Tickets will be £8 full, £6.50 concessions and just £5 for students. Cheb Nacim will play an exciting show with his own band while Nizar Al Issa will deliver an intimate solo oud and voice recital.

On Saturday 26th November at 7.30 p.m. we will be entertained by the brilliant up and coming quintet Jadid Ensemble from Manchester. This will be a classical music concert held in the Theatre In The Mill. Expect to hear a mystical fusion of Arab and Turkish music. Tickets are £6.50 full and £5 concessions/students.

Then from 7.30 p.m. on Saturday 10th December we will be blessed with the iconic presence of the mighty Omar Souleyman who has become a massive cult star over the last couple of years. This year Omar has performed a storming set at Glastonbury Festival as well as delivering no less than three crucial remixes for Bjork. I have championed Omar's music consistently on this blog and to have him here in Bradistan will be a big achievement. This concert will be held in Student Central and costs £12 full, £10 concessions and £8 for students. Support will be provided by Nomos who are musicians who have risen out of the ashes of the now-defunct Maghribibeat.

For more information on the concerts please click here, email music@bradford.ac.uk or call 01274 233200. At each event I will be providing a DJ set with music from the region.

To accompany the programme, there will be a special North African film season featuring the Battle Of Algiers (Algeria); Halfaouine (Tunisia); Bab El Oued City (Algeria); and Ali Zaoua (Morocco). All of these movies will be free to watch and shown at 7 p.m. throughout October in the Student Central Lecture Theatre. Please visit here for more details and the individual dates.

Leeds Carnival

2011-09-09T05:58:00.000+01:00

After the usual debacle of the annual Leeds Reggae Concert, I made my way back over to our neighbouring town the next day for the West Indian Carnival. Fortunately, it was warmer than the previous day and the rain held off while I was there (apparently it poured down not long after I had quite the scene). The carnival is always a riot of colourful costumes, whistle blowing and ear-splitting soca music. I have always detested soca but the assembled hordes always lap it up.

Thousands of people descend on Chapeltown from miles around to participate in the carnival and it is one of the biggest in the UK. Children spend months working on their elaborate costumes, of which some are unfeasibly big and you wonder how they manage to actually wear them, let alone take part in the street procession. The atmosphere is always good-natured and it is an enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours on the August bank holiday.

Leroy Mafia

2011-09-08T05:43:00.000+01:00

Jamaica has the mighty Sly and Robbie and our homegrown drum and bass team are Mafia and Fluxy. Reggae snobs shouldn't turn their noses up at these British reggae heroes as Mafia and Fluxy are well-known in Jamaican recording studios for laying down killer rhythms. Don't believe me? Well check out numerous sides from hit labels such as Penthouse, Star Trail and Black Scorpio to name just three.

Leroy "Mafia" Heywood is the bassist and his twin brother Dave "Fluxy" Heywood sits behind the drum kit. It was good to see them here in Bradistan a couple of weeks back for our brilliant Sunsplash festival. And this is where I snapped this pic while they were on-stage.

Revolutionary Tunis (Part Two)

2011-09-07T05:38:00.000+01:00

On a warm April Sunday morning in Tunis at around 10am I noticed a small demonstration of young people on the steps of the Municipal Theatre. Placards were displayed calling for the revolution to be continued as people did not think that the aims had been met, despite Ben Ali fleeing the country. Graffiti was sprayed onto the pavement and there was not one policeman in sight. I took these pictures, chatted with a few of the demonstrators and went on my way. In the next part, I will publish my pictures of what happened when I returned a few hours later.

Obama Nation (Part Two)

2011-09-06T05:18:00.001+01:00

Can British rapper Lowkey do no wrong? Every tune he releases seems stronger than the last, and this incendiary update of the mighty "Obama Nation" continues the trend. This time he is joined by the brilliant M-1 from Dead Prez and Black The Ripper. Rarely has such musical anti-imperialism sounded so powerful.

Also, it's good to see that Lowkey's album "Soundtrack To The Struggle" is finally about to drop on the 16th October.

Healing For Bradistan

2011-09-05T05:56:00.000+01:00

Many Bradistanis complain about their city, in particular the slow and painful death of the centre. So it was not surprising that a small group of Christians appeared the other day, offering healing. It was pretty quiet in the few minutes I spent here but one chap took them up on their offer.

Prince Malachi

2011-09-03T05:06:00.000+01:00

Whilst backstage at Bradistan Sunsplash the other day I was surprised to bump into none other than Prince Malachi, one of the UK's finest roots reggae singers. Unfortunately though he didn't perform, being more content to mix the sound for the artists on the stage.

Prince Malachi's self-produced debut album "Jah Light" was a decent introduction to his talents but once he relocated to Jamaica in 1999, there began a steady stream of massive roots sides, all produced by Philip "Fatis" Burrell. Fatis was then at the peak of his powers, unleashing numerous classics (and the best-ever works) from people like Luciano and Sizzla on his Xterminator label. At least a couple of excellent albums from these sessions exist but numerous one-a-way 45s remain uncollated onto CD, including some essential combinations with the then-rising DJ Turbulence.

Moving back to London, Prince Malachi put out another solid album called "Runaway Slave" for the Stingray label, but since then his offerings have been less regular. He still remains a potent artist and in my opinion, sorely underrated. I was honoured to photograph him as he is a firm favourite of mine.

Lunch

2011-09-02T05:53:00.000+01:00

I took this image a few days ago in Bradistan city centre. Three people all eating their lunch at the same time.

Leeds Reggae Concert 2011

2011-09-01T05:33:00.000+01:00

If I am around, I always end up making the trip over to Leeds for their annual reggae concert. Why I keep going is anyone's guess as it is usually a disappointment. My last review was of the 2009 edition, although last year's was also poor. This year I saw that Capleton was due to headline alongside veteran DJ Josey Wales, so I thought that maybe this year would be worth the effort.

Josey Wales did a reasonably entertaining set although he is always much better live on a sound system. After him was the American soul singer Omarion. I had never heard of him before, just as well really as he sounded like any of those ten-a-penny r'n'b singers that the Americans keep pushing out. The young Leeds girls wet themselves over him though.

The trick the concert organisers pull every year is to announce the headliner and when you are waiting for him to do their show, someone else appears instead. And this year it was no different. Capleton was a no-show, and who took his place? None other than Tony Matterhorn. If I had known it would be him I would bunked off home an hour and a half earlier. As it was, I left after a couple of minutes and was back in good time for iftar. So once again another epic fail for the Leeds Reggae Concert. They should come to Bradistan and see how it is done really.

Here's a live shot of Josey Wales, the sole redeeming feature of the day.

Eid Mubarak

2011-08-31T05:32:00.003+01:00

Today, millions of Muslims across the world celebrate the end of the month of Ramadan with the festival of Eid Al-Fitr. This year was a twenty-nine day Ramadan (it is always 29 or 30 days) and each time it is a big challenge.

However, like last year, I found myself able to cope with the rigours of the fast reasonably easily. If you approach Ramadan with the right mental attitude then it is nowhere near as bad as you think it might be. A couple of days were pretty tough though and it is common for people to be flagging as the month approaches its' end.

As usual I kept a very healthy diet which was over 90% vegetarian with a lot of green vegetables and salads. You find that these foods rehydrate you along with the water consumed at breakfast and at sunset. I feel lighter and my skin feels healthy. One of my work colleagues describes Ramadan as an MOT for your body and it is a good description. The toxins get purged out, and not just the physical ones. A month-long fast increases not only your faith but also your mental, physical and spiritual strength.

This year's Ramadan has been very special as we have been joined at home by my mother-in-law who is enjoying her first ever trip outside of Morocco. Apart from the happy family atmosphere, it has also meant a constant stream of Moroccan specialities being prepared for the dinner table. If you have ever tasted home-made Moroccan food, then you know that this is a real treat.

Every night of Ramadan is a special occasion where everyone eats together after facing the same challenges throughout the day. However, we cannot forget the poor people across the world, especially in Somalia, who don't even get a meal to eat or a glass of clean water to drink. So our thoughts are always more with those people rather than our own difficulties of coping during Ramadan, which are hardly life-threatening are they?

A blessed Eid goes out to all my readers.

Continental Market

2011-08-30T05:11:00.000+01:00

A couple of times a year the local council puts on a "continental market" where many traders from abroad set up their stalls in Bradistan city centre. It is always nice to see a lot of people out in the streets at these times, although quite a bit of the produce is sold at premium prices. A pleasant hour can always be spent having a wander though and I took these shots when the market was here last week.

Skibu

2011-08-29T05:06:00.001+01:00

Another singer to appear at Bradistan Sunsplash was the Birmingham-based Skibu. He gained quite a lot of attention in the late 1990s due to some sparkling 45s appearing on the Humal Records label. Most notable to my ears were "Be Ready" and a cover of Hugh Mundell's "My Mind". Since then it all went quiet, but Skibu told me that he had been studying successfully for a degree and was now ready to come back to the music business.

Unfortunately, I missed his set at the festival but it was nice to catch him backstage and bag this portrait.

Halfaouine

2011-08-27T05:08:00.000+01:00

The small district of Halfaouine of Tunisia's capital Tunis probably doesn't mean anything to most people but it's claim to fame is that it was the setting of the charming film "Halfaouine" (or Asfour Stah in arabic). I have always liked this film since I saw it on Channel 4 not long after my first visit to Tunisia back in 1991.

Halfaouine is a thriving area with a gorgeous fruit and vegetable market bursting with the freshest produce imaginable. When you emerge at the other side you reach the famous hammam (or turkish bath) that was used extensively in the film. The friendly proprietors let me have a look around inside but I didn't take any photos as there were bathers inside (plus the humidity would have probably killed my camera). Another notable sight is the beautiful mosque of which its' design seems to be heavily influenced by Italian architecture.

Here are a few images from Halfaouine. The hammam entrance is shown in the second photo.

Peter Spence

2011-08-26T05:06:00.002+01:00

Birmingham-born singer Peter Spence is one of the most naturally talented reggae artists in the UK. He is usually recognised as singing Lovers Rock but occasionally he unleashes a killer roots side, and such tunes like "Redemption" and "Whom Have I Angered" are both long-term favourites of mine. His breakthrough came in the 1980s when Greensleeves offshoot UK Bubblers released his hit "Don't Leave Me Lonely". Since then he has worked with many producers with consistent success. Most notable of these have been with the labels Sip A Cup (Gussie P), Cousins and Stingray.

I caught up with Peter when he appeared at Bradistan Sunsplash a few days back. He did a short but high quality set, after which I took this portrait.

Revolutionary Tunis (Part One)

2011-08-25T05:58:00.000+01:00

Although the Tunisian revolution began in Sidi Bouzid, following the death of Mohammed Bouazizi, it was not surprisingly in the capital Tunis where it gained its’ greatest strength and success. In my visit in April the signs of the revolution were everywhere. Graffiti was on almost every street and some windows were still smashed. Razor wire surrounded a number of buildings, most notably the Ministry of the Interior which also had soldiers, tanks and a water cannon parked outside.

Here are some images that I took of revolutionary Tunis. More will follow shortly, including pictures from a big demonstration.

Bradistan Sunsplash

2011-08-24T05:04:00.002+01:00

Once upon a time Bradistan had a thriving and cohesive reggae scene. There were a number of local sound systems who were usually in competition with one another, as well as at least a couple of bands always in existence. A network of pubs and clubs where reggae was played every night of the week meant that lovers of the music could always get their fix. Sound systems, both from the UK and abroad, were regular visitors here, usually bringing big artists with them. A solitary record shop did a reasonable trade until its’ demise in the very late 1980s and pirate radio stations controlled the airwaves through the 1990s.

Like the city itself, Bradistan’s reggae scene has been in almost constant decline for over ten years although the rot began to set in with the destruction of the old frontline in the late 1980s. The national demise of sound systems and the advent of the ragga genre of the music were also big factors. All this has meant that it was left to just a few individuals to keep the flag flying here.

A few days ago, it seemed that the good old days had returned to the city with the highly successful holding of Bradistan Sunsplash. For a solid eight hours, black and white residents of the city mingled together in a lovely atmosphere of peace and harmony, helped in no small part by the blazing sunshine.

This event was put together in an amazing six weeks by a small team of organisers who worked their socks off to make it happen. The local council provided no money and there was scant sponsorship. Local singers and DJs all played for free and even the name brand artists performed for next to nothing. To call Bradistan Sunsplash a labour of love would be an understatement indeed.

The sound system tent boomed out a steady diet of roots reggae from Rootsman and Nyah Shanti before Mikey Gemini came in with sweet lovers rock and dancehall. The first few hours on the main stage were filled with numerous local acts, but as I was ensconced in the sound system tent for some time I missed pretty much all of these.

When I finally got to the main stage I had unfortunately missed Skibu’s performance and also that of local Rasta chanteuse turned Jamaican resident Jenifah Nyah (also known as Jenifah Gad). I did see Peter Spence though who was a very late addition to the bill and his set was perfect in the late afternoon sunshine. Then things stepped up a gear with the appearance of the UK’s answer to Sly and Robbie, namely Mafia and Fluxy who provided a solid backdrop for the next performers.

White lovers rock singer Adele Harley won the crowd over with her strong voice and equally good songs. Then Britain’s finest female reggae vocalist Sylvia Tella unleashed an awesome set that was one of the best I had ever witnessed in my three decades as a reggae fan. Not only did she sing some of her best superlative lovers songs, but her toughest roots tunes like "Brothers and Sisters", "No Love" and "Mother Nature" were also given an airing. She effortlessly communicated with the adoring crowd and mentioned how good it was that Bradistan did not engage in the recent riots. Blame was laid at the politicians' feet for the great deal of the problems faced in our society and this festival demonstrated that we could all live together with mutual respect. We were then encouraged to shake hands with our neighbours and become friends. Already by then, the positive ambience was intoxicating and it was one of those occasions when I have felt truly proud to be a Bradistani.

Sylvia Tella proved to be a fitting finale for this brilliant event, the best day out I have had in Bradistan for a long time. However, the real stars were the small team who managed to put it on, in difficult circumstances and with no funding. While the UK media are still engaged in discussions about how broken Britain has become because of the riots, Bradistan proved to be completely the opposite at this reggae festival. We actually demonstrated how united we can be. In fact, that should read, how united we are. Don’t expect to read about this in the national media though. They will still only be interested in writing about how bad our city is. But one thing that was clear from Bradistan Sunsplash is that it is only us who can help ourselves, no-one will do it for us.

Let’s hope that this will become a regular annual event and that this year's is just the beginning of a bright future. These photographs show local group Selah Sounds, some sound system tent shots and a few crowd pictures. Some portraits and live shots will follow later.

Viagra Football Club

2011-08-23T05:04:00.000+01:00

I don't know anyone who plays for this particular team but they must be a tough bunch as the legend clearly states that they "play hard". They can't be a macho side though as they clearly play in pink, not the colour worn by "real men". This image was snapped in Tunis.

Christian Bradistan (Part Five)

2011-08-22T05:54:00.000+01:00

This intriguing little grotto depicting the Virgin Mary can be found in the grounds of St. Peter's Catholic Church, a place of worship that I featured in the last entry in this series.

Rashid

2011-08-20T05:05:00.000+01:00

This week's Bradistani Portrait is Rashid, a local Pakistani man. After a long and varied career, Rashid is now managing one of Bradistan's community libraries. As well as being a very gentle, cultured chap, I have always admired his old school film star looks!

Afternoon In The Park

2011-08-19T05:58:00.000+01:00

I took this photograph the other day in Lister Park in Bradistan. It is a favourite place for so many local people to visit, and like these young girls, just hang out and relax.

Doors Of Tunis

2011-08-18T05:00:00.000+01:00

The medina (old city) of Tunis is a wonderfully atmospheric place to walk around and admire the old architecture. I was drawn to the amazing variety of doors that could be seen there. Here are just a small fraction of them.

Great Bradistanis (Part Seven)

2011-08-17T05:51:00.003+01:00

When the history books are written about Bradistan, it would be a crime if Nick Toczek's name was absent. Nick is one of the city's unsung heroes and even at the age of sixty, he has such a tireless energy that it is hard to imagine him drifting off anytime soon into a lazy retirement. He is not only a Great Bradistani but should be recognised as a national treasure. If you take a glance at Nick’s achievements on his Wikipedia page, you cannot fail to be impressed by what he has done in his life.

Born and bred in the city, Nick is best known as a poet but surprisingly he studied Industrial Metallurgy as a student in Birmingham. He began publishing his poetry while at university and continued in the same vein for a few years after graduating. Nick actually published Britain’s first anthology of black writing in 1977, a book he proudly showed me when I went to visit him. I noticed that the name Linton Kwesi Johnson was in there who would have been almost unknown then but was shortly to rise to national fame as a reggae dub poet.

Nick returned to Bradistan in 1977 and by then was captivated by the new punk movement that was exploding all over the UK. He formed his own group, Ulterior Motives, and released their debut single "Y’Gotta Shout" on their own label in 1979. In December of the same year Nick began to publish the legendary local music fanzine "Wool City Rocker". You can actually download most of the issues here and they offer a fascinating insight into the city’s musical life of the day – the bands, the venues, gig reviews and various personalities.

From 1982 Nick was a key figure in the local punk scene and was putting on numerous gigs, many featuring the most important bands of the day, particularly from the vibrant anarcho-punk genre. One of the first gigs I ever went to after I moved to Bradistan in the spring of 1983 was the Subhumans, an event that Nick promoted. In fact, Nick enjoyed a very close relationship with the band and their label, Bluurg, actually released much of Nick’s music. A very entertaining account of Nick’s involvement in anarcho-punk can be had by reading his chapter in Ian Glasper’s superb book "The Day The Country Died".

At that time Nick was associated with a new wave of bards called the "Ranting Poets". Many of the best known exponents of the craft were local artists like Seething Wells, Ginger John, Little Brother and Nick himself. In fact, one of my first productive things I did when I landed in Bradistan in 1983 was to help stage an anti-apartheid benefit concert and all of these poets were the performers. It was a great event indeed and I was surprised that Nick even remembered it!

After being a music promoter, Nick then set up an alternative cabaret called Stereo Graffiti with the late Wild Willi Beckett. This was another success and since then Nick has had a career notable for its’ incredible diversity. He has written numerous poetry anthologies, both for adults and children; published an expose of the British far-right and its’ links to the Conservative Party; been a resident storyteller at Eureka!; produced a musical, pantomime and an opera; been a college lecturer; journalist; presented his weekly radio show on BCB; and also being a professional magician. And this list isn’t even definitive!

My visit to Nick’s house was filled with conversations about most of these topics and more, and any other person present wouldn’t have been able to get a word in. He showed me his attic which doubles as his working area and numerous amazing artefacts. Then suddenly he would change tack and demonstrate a couple of magic tricks. Nick works every single day, particularly on his poetry, and it shows. He displays a remarkable memory and seemed to know minute details relating to all the stuff he has done in his life.

A little-known, but probably one of the most important vocations Nick has now, is being part of Authors Abroad, an organisation that sends artists into schools to engage with and inspire children. This has taken Nick across the globe and it is remarkable to know that the expertise of this local man is making such a big impact wherever he goes. But it should be made clear that everything Nick has done in his life has been with the grass roots of society, working with individuals and small groups. This is how real change happens, not with politicians who are increasingly disconnected from the people they claim to represent.

I have a feeling that if Nick was a Londoner, he would probably be a household name by now, such is his impressive career and his skill as a poet. But he continues to work without any noticeable sign of fatigue, still believing in the humanitarian principles that have always guided him and often without the recognition that one would expect.

Before I said goodbye, Nick kindly gave me a few CDs, including a career-long retrospective of his musical output, entitled "InToczekated". It is a wonderful little collection but only just a small snapshot of what this man has achieved. Nick, you are truly a Great Bradistani and long may you continue.

Here is one of Nick's greatest poems, "Things To Do".

Tunis

2011-08-16T05:15:00.001+01:00

No trip to Tunisia can ever be complete without a visit to the capital Tunis. The city is an easy place to visit as the modern town is quite compact and centres around Avenue Bourguiba, which has been the central point of the recent revolution. The medina is lovely but gets more interesting the more you move away from the more touristic areas. A couple of full days in Tunis are enough for a reasonable exploration.

Being the capital, it is more expensive here than anywhere else in the country but you can still live well on a small budget. I took a room in a charming old colonial hotel for only around 25GBP a night. I had a large, spotlessly clean room with a decent bathroom and the manager spoke perfect English too. The breakfast wasn’t anything to shout about but that’s no big deal as anywhere in the Arab world you can get cheap, tasty street food.

Talking of food, Tunis is perfect for a ridiculously cheap set-lunch at any number of little restaurants. My favourite is Le Capitole on Avenue Bourguiba, which was established in 1956, and where I first ate fifteen years ago. Amazingly, it hadn’t changed one bit in the intervening years. For less than 4GBP, I had a delightful four course meal served by friendly waiters. I took a bric à l'oeuf; a green salad; fresh grilled fish with home-made chips; and ended with a home-made crème caramel. Plus, it was excellent fare indeed. I could eat there every day!

There are similar deals to be had at other establishments. I ate at one, it wasn’t as good but it was still decent enough, especially the peppery, hot soup. Also, there are some superb cafes and patisseries all over Tunis. I prefer the old ones in the medina myself where you can puff away on a shisha and just watch the world go by for an hour or two.

I will write a bit more about Tunis in future blogs. In the meantime here is a selection of images that I took there.

Unique FM

2011-08-15T05:50:00.002+01:00

Back in the days Bradistan had a thriving pirate radio scene. The first station to be established was Paradise City Radio (PCR) which lasted a good many years after its' inception around 1988. Its' first competition came a couple of years later with the highly professional but relatively short-lived Emergency FM. Then WKLR came on the scene, playing much the same kind of output as PCR which was a large dose of reggae plus hip hop, soul and rave.

I played on all of these stations, covering a number of years, as well as on stations in our neighbouring town of Leeds too. They were fun days indeed, playing for free and full of the passion of promoting the music we loved. The standard of equipment ranged from functional to sometimes quite appalling. It was the same regarding the locations too. Sometimes we would be in a nice furnished flat, other times in a squalid, dank, building in a none too friendly area.

As we were always trying to be one step ahead of the authorities, the station would often change where it was based at very short notice. There was nothing worse than that empty feeling when a raid had taken place and the airwaves would be filled with silence and not knowing whether the station would ever survive or not.

It is good to see that a new station has now established itself in Bradistan called Unique FM. It broadcasts only from Friday to Sunday, which is far easier to manage than the often 24/7 operations from the old days. You can hear the signal on 91.8 FM.

I popped in there at their top secret location a few days ago to talk about one of my forthcoming photographic projects. This is to document some of Bradistan's reggae scene from the past and key people who were part of it. As I get bits and pieces together I will publish things on the blog. Here is a photo taken inside the studio with DJ Parker at the controls for his show.

Louage

2011-08-13T05:52:00.001+01:00

A louage is a Tunisian shared taxi, usually holding eight people. That means you have to wait until everyone turns up before it leaves, but in my experience that hasn't been that long. They run on set routes and cost marginally more than the bus but are a lot quicker. This is because the drivers don't care too much about road safety and will try and reach the destination at the highest speed possible.

Compared to the Morrocan grands taxis, the louages are way ahead. They run from organised stations with the price for a place clearly posted. Also, three people can comfortably sit on each row of seats unlike in Morocco where a dose of cramp is inevitable.

I took this image while enjoying my taxi ride from El Jem to Mahdia in Tunisia back in April. Unfortunately, it was pouring with rain at the time but at least the photo turned out well!