Earl Gateshead
The Huge Reggae Show
Monthly, Sunday 11am-12pm
Reggae, Roots, Ska, Vinyl Only, Jamaica, Dub
Earl Gateshead began DJing in 1979 when he played Reggae records between punk bands in Brixton… Today Earl tours the world, always playing original, first-press vinyl, which he maintains has the best sound. He spreads the original positive message of love, from Jamaica’s golden era of Reggae music. Earl has a unique voice on the microphone, and his ‘Yeah Yeah” catchphrase has spread right through Reggae music.
Earl’s career began in the late 70s, when he built his own Sound System, one of the first built by a European. He installed it at the world famous Dive Bar, in Soho, London. Earl had a 23 year weekly residency at The Dive Bar, sadly brought to an end in 2002 when the venue was closed, after the lease ran out. Throughout the later part of his Dive Bar years Earl became the Saturday night resident at clubs such as the internationally acclaimed Blue Note and later Fabric, where he became their resident Reggae specialist.
In 2000 Earl began to organise and perform at a series of events called “Reggae Nights” at seminal London club “Plastic People”. This legendary series of concerts received worldwide attention, with performances from international legends such as Alton Ellis, Dennis Alcapone, Sugar Minott, Cutty Ranks, Adrian Sherwood and Saxon Sound System. The success here gave Earl a huge boost in profile, leading him to be one of the most sought-after Reggae DJs in the world. He went on to tour Europe and Australasia with Big Youth, Dr Alimantado and Cutty Ranks amongst others.
Earl was the first Reggae DJ to play at Fabric, The Ministry Of Sound and Space in Ibiza, probably the world’s three greatest nightclubs.
In 2003 He was asked by Trojan Records, with Daddy Ad, to form the world renowned Trojan Sound System. For twelve years he toured the world as selector and front man for Trojan Sound. He left the sound recently.
Mysterious graffiti artist Banksy asked Earl to D.J the first three exhibitions of his work. Earl is still the only DJ that Banksy has ever worked with.
Earl has become a figurehead in UK Reggae. He was invited to lecture at the prestigious Red Bull Music Academy in Sao Paulo. Earl gave a comprehensive lecture on Reggae DJing and recorded a radio show for Red Bull… In April Red Bull invited Earl to play with Red Bull Culture Clash winners Rebel Sound on the London leg of their UK tour.
