Reggae legends Mad Professor, Channel One Sound System & Sandra Cross to lead music & art spectacle
“I’m so happy to be bringing the best of Ariwa Sounds together under one roof. Revisiting Fairfield Halls for the first time since 2015, with my work being honoured as part of Croydon’s year as London’s Borough of Culture makes the show even more special. Let’s dub!” - Mad Professor
Mad Professor and Ariwa label mates Channel One Sound System, Sandra Cross and more join forces in live extravaganza
Saturday 24th February at Fairfield Halls, Croydon
Free mini art exhibition to run alongside spectacle
£10 early bird tickets on sale from 18th December, £15 general sale begins in early 2024.
Showcases Croydon as 2023’s London Borough of Culture
50 complimentary tickets for youth groups and industry
One of the leading producers in dub reggae’s second generation, Mad Professor, is to host a one-off celebratory music showcase and life-spanning art exhibition calling attention to his storied career.
A disciple of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and with production credits as wide-ranging as Massive Attack, Sade and the Orb as well as reggae legends Jah Shaka, Horace Andy, Macka B and U-Roy, the show will demonstrate Mad Professor’s unique live dub mixing prowess as well as invite resident artists of his label Ariwa Sounds to the stage.
Spotlighting the best in reggae, joining the jam will be inspirational award-winning singer, songwriter and actress Sandra Cross and her choir, along with emerging artists such as reggae-rooted, R&B singer-songwriter Abel Miller, reggae empress Askala Selassie and neo UK reggae artist I Jah. Supporting the impressive roster of artists will be live band, The Robotics, known for accompanying Mad Professor, U-Roy and many more. One of the UK’s best known and most loved sound systems, Channel One will also turn out to play their signature selection of conscious reggae, exclusive dubplates and uplifting steppas.
Commenting on the upcoming live show, Mad Professor said: “I am so honoured to be representing Croydon as London’s Borough of Culture with this show. Let’s dub! ”
Celebrating Croydon as London’s Borough of Culture, gig-goers will also have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a mini exhibition chronicling the rich career of the reggae maestro and Ariwa Sounds through original artwork and cover art illustrations over the decades. Displaying many of the artist’s iconic series’, from Dub Me Crazy to Black Liberation, the exhibition will be a journeyed illustration of Mad Professor’s ever-evolving approach to the dub, lovers rock and roots reggae genres.
Commenting on the upcoming spectacle, Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, said: “London’s grassroots music scene and artistic talent are the envy of the world and have produced great music that is enjoyed and celebrated by people across the world.
“This show and art exhibition will give reggae lovers the chance to experience performances by some of the true legends in the genre. I am delighted we are supporting this project through the Mayor’s London Borough of Culture as we build a better London for all.”
Early bird tickets are available from 18th December, general sale begins in early 2024.
The forthcoming show is promoted by leading music consultancy and podcast producer Drop Da Biscuit.
‘Mad Professor and Ariwa Sounds’
24th February 2024
Lineup:
Mad Professor
Channel One Soundsystem
Sandra Cross and choir
Abel Miller
Askala Selassie
I Jah
Support: The Robotics
Location: Fairfield Halls Recreation Ground
Park Lane
Croydon
CR0 1JD
Cost: £10 Early Bird, £15 General Sale
Tickets: https://www.fairfield.co.uk/events/mad-professor-2024
Transport options:
Arriving by train:
Nearest stations: East Croydon or West Croydon
Trains from London Bridge:
London Bridge → East Croydon, Uckfield or Caterham
Trains from Victoria:
Victoria → East Grinstead, Ore, Reigate, Bognor Regis or Littlehampton
Arriving by car:
From central London: Take the A23 or A212
From Sutton or Bromley: Take the A232
From outside London: Follow the A23 from junction 7 of the M25
Accessible Parking: There are 8 parking spaces for blue badge holders in front of Fairfield Halls.
General Parking: Please note that the public realm in front of Fairfield halls is subject to a Traffic Management Order, which prohibits public parking. Dropping off is permitted.
There are eight disabled parking spaces located at the front of the building.
A public car park is located to the rear of the venue. This car park is operated by RingGO on behalf of the London Borough of Croydon.
Payment for parking may only be made via the RingGO App using a smartphone. Details of charges can be found on their website here.
The car park is not managed by Fairfield Halls or BH Live. However, if you are visiting the venue and encounter any difficulty using the app or payment process, please come inside and speak to a member of the front of house staff.
Unfortunately it is not possible to enter the venue directly from the car park.
Arriving by bus:
The following buses stop close by: 50, 60, 64, 75, 109, 119, 154, 166, 194, 197, 198, 250, 264, 312, 403, 405, 407, 410, 412, 455, 466 and 468.
Arriving by tram:
Nearest tram stops: East Croydon, George Street or Wellesley Road
About Ariwa Sounds
Equally renowned for producing deep roots reggae, trance-inducing dub and bittersweet lover’s rock, the Mad Professor’s Ariwa Sound stable is a veritable institution of British Reggae.
Mad Professor was ridiculed when he first set up a studio in the front room of his south London home in the late 1970s, but plenty of hits soon followed thanks to his creative drive, perceptive production skills and technical expertise behind the mixing desk; in the best reggae tradition, Ariwa drew from diverse influences to create a unique sound, making use of unbridled artistic ambition to fill any gaps that may have appeared due to a lack of finance.
Since those humble beginnings, Mad Professor’s music has seen him circumnavigate the globe countless times. His skills as a dub remixer have drawn requests for collaboration from numerous stars working in differing popular genres all over the world, all of which is testament to the pervasive and broadly appealing nature of his creations. We are now celebrating over 40 years of Ariwa ingenuity and those who have had the pleasure of spending time in Professor’s company know that he is a man of high intelligence and easy wit, committed to progressive social change as well as evolutionary music.
About Channel One Soundsystem
Channel One Sound System is one of the UK’s best known and most loved reggae sound systems. Having taken over the running of their father’s sound in 1979, Mikey Dread and his brother Jah T took the sound to local blues parties and dances. Mikey took the name Channel One as homage to the legendary Channel One studio in Jamaica. In 1983, Channel One started playing at Notting Hill Carnival and they have played at Carnival every year since.
Channel One is made up of selector Mikey Dread and MC Ras Kayleb. Channel One play a unique selection of conscious reggae, exclusive dubplates and uplifting steppas. Channel One’s hand built sound system provides a rich heavyweight bass sound, which compliments their tight selection of old and new roots music.
The sound system’s mission is “to break down barriers via reggae music”, they have achieved this by travelling and playing to new audiences and venues all over the world. Highlights from the last decade have included winning the Redbull Culture Clash in 2010, (beating Metalheadz and Skream and Benga), playing in the next round of the Culture Clash at Wembley Arena against Major Lazer, Annie Mac and Boy Better Know in 2012 and embarking on 5 national tours with backing from the Arts Council, curating line ups including the Twinkle Brothers, Congo Natty, Mad Professor.
About London Borough of Culture
The Mayor’s London Borough of Culture award, launched in June 2017, brings Londoners together. It puts culture at the heart of local communities, where it belongs, illuminating the character and diversity of London’s boroughs and showing culture is for everyone, giving all Londoners a chance to be part of something extraordinary.
About This is Croydon
The programme for London Borough of Culture 2023, This Is Croydon, will be a celebration of everything Croydon has to offer – created, directed and presented
by the people of the borough. From major events with internationally renowned artists performing alongside home-grown talent, to dozens of cultural activities from Croydon’s diverse creative communities, the programme will showcase the very best of Croydon to London and the world.
This is Croydon... and you’re welcome. Culturecroydon.com @culturecroydon #ThisisCroydon #CultureCroydon
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033.
Over the next ten years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment.
We help protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are.
We are passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund www.heritagefund.org.uk
About Arts Council England
Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. We have set out our strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 we want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where everyone of us has access to a remarkable range
of high-quality cultural experiences. From 2023 to 2026 we will invest over £440 million of public money from Government and an estimated £93 million from The National Lottery each year to help support the sector and to deliver this vision. www.artscouncil.org.uk
Following the Covid-19 crisis, the Arts Council developed a £160 million Emergency Response Package, with nearly 90% coming from the National Lottery, for organisations and individuals needing support. We are also one of the bodies responsible for administering the Government’s unprecedented Culture Recovery Fund of which we delivered over £1 billion to the sector in grants and loans. Find out more
at www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19