Support comes from Holly Cook and the General Roots band, comprising drums, bass, keyboards and lead / rhythm guitar. They breeze through a set of mellow rootsy Reggae led by an ever smiling Holly Cook. They’re a tight band and Ms. Cook’s gentle lilting voice is perfectly suited to their mid tempo rhythms. A good way to kick off this open air Summer jam.
Celebrating 40 years as a Reggae DJ, David “Ram Jam” Rodigan is here tonight to showcase and celebrate the music that has come out of Jamaica for the past fifty plus years.
He’s backed by a full 25-piece orchestra made up of two vocalists, two drummers, a six piece brass section, a large string section, bass, guitar and keyboards. They’re led by composer and musical director Tommy Evans and the whole orchestra begin the evening by playing a short instrumental.
David Rodigan then strides onto the stage looking dapper in a white shirt, black trousers, black and white checked waistcoat with matching cap. He introduced the evening by remembering the days when people talked to each other without WhatsApp, Facebook or Google before telling us about the early days of Ska in Jamaica.
That’s the cue for Birmingham Reggae veteran Bitty McLean to sing The Wailers’ “Simmer Down“. He used to be a studio engineer for UB40 before emerging as one of the UK’s best Reggae vocalists of the early Nineties and his enthusiastic rendition of the classic song gets the sold out Somerset House crowd dancing and singing along.
Hollie Cook then comes back on to perform the classic Millie Small song “My Boy Lollipop“. Released in 1964 and produced by the King of Ska Guitar, the recently retired Ernie Ranglin, it’s an evergreen song that still sounds fresh today.
Bitty McLean then returns to sing one of his own hits “Walk Away From Love” before launching into Delroy Wilson’s “Dancing Mood“. The Rocksteady era was also perfectly represented by the female backing singer taking centre stage to perform a gutsy rendition of Phyllis Dillon’s “Perfidia“.
Rodigan then moves us swiftly into the era of Roots Reggae, introducing Irish singer Maverick Sabre who comes on to sing spirited and heartfelt renditions of Junior Murvin’s “Police And Thieves” then “Sun Is Shining” by Bob Marley. This section of the show then closed with Bitty McLean coming back on to sing the stone cold classic “Satta Massagana” by The Abyssinians.
Rodigan then says it’s time for Dancehall and introduces Island Records artist Kiko Bun, who starts with the instantly recognisable “I Can’t Wait” by Sanchez before moving into “Dangerous” by Conroy Smith. UK Reggae veteran Tippa Irie comes on to enthusiastically lead the crowd through rousing renditions of “Head High” by Mr Vegas and “Who Am I” by Beenie Man as well as showcasing some of his “fast chat style” from his days with the Saxon Sound System alongside the great Smiley Culture.
A fantastic night of Reggae classics came to an end with a sing-along version of Dawn Penn’s “No, No, No” with everyone back on stage and Hollie Cook taking the lead vocal. A great way to celebrate 40 years of broadcasting and supporting Reggae music for David Rodigan and the Neoclassical surroundings of Somerset House was the perfect venue to hear such great music.
Peace.
Get Out Gigging 
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