We Speak Music
Earl Gateshead Shares Reggae Music Through Innovative Podmixing in ‘The Huge Reggae Show’
Reggae DJ Earl Gateshead has launched a new monthly podmix ‘The Huge Reggae Show’ on SoundCloud. The series are being released monthly with the twelfth instalment having launched on Monday, 12th of September 2022. The podcast, which Gateshead refers to as a ‘Podmix’, was created with the idea to spread knowledge of Reggae as a way of giving people access to the music and to explain the details of the music in an entertaining and non-judgemental way.Already a well-established name in the UK Reggae Music scene, Earl Gateshead’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 where he had a 23-year weekly residency. Alongside this, Earl was the co-founder and selector for Trojan Sound System, The Sound System of Trojan Records, the world’s leading and best loved Reggae label, and one he toured with for 14 years. Additionally, mysterious graffiti artist Banksy asked Earl to DJ the first three exhibitions of his work. To this day, Earl is the only DJ that Banksy has ever worked with.Following his residency at Dive Bar, Earl began to organise and perform at a series of events called “Reggae Nights” at seminal London club “Plastic People.” This series of concerts received worldwide attention with legendary performances from Alton Ellis, Dennis Alcapone, Sugar Minott to name a few. The success of his “Reggae Nights” series boosted Earl’s career, making him one of the must-see Reggae DJs in the world. Subsequently, he was invited to lecture on Reggae DJing at the prestigious Red Bull Music Academy.The ‘Podmix’ is created to bring out a listener’s own spirituality which Gateshead believes is lacking in more Western cultures and he aims to do this through Reggae music, as he believes it is rooted in human spirituality. Through ‘The Huge Reggae Show’ Gateshead states: “My intention is to share my own feelings about Reggae Music, in the hope that others may feel it too. The music here is entirely positive. It’s all about helping people who struggle in life. To provide comfort and support to those that find it difficult to live in our current society. That could be anybody of any colour, race or religion.”Earl Gateshead had a series of shows this Summer, with appearances at Boomtown Fair, Outlook and Lindisfarne. Follow his social media to keep up to date with the tour and podmix.
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/earlgateshead
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/EarlGateshead
- Twitter: twitter.com/EarlGateshead1
- SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/earlgateshead
No stranger to the music industry, Earl has spread his artistry in a variety of ways. A residency at the prestigious Dive Bar, co-founding Trojan Sound System, one of the biggest reggae labels in the world and various appearances at major music festivals in the world such as Boomtown Fair, Victorious Festival and Lindisfarne to name a few.
‘Wild for the Weekend’ is the 2nd single from Zkeletonz’ forthcoming debut album ‘OUT!’—self-produced and featuring mixing and mastering by Sam Wheat (Nile Rodgers) and Alex Gopher (Chromeo, Ed Banger).
This is independent electro-disco at full power, channelling the spirits of Breakbot, Phoenix, Daft Punk’s Homework, and classic Ed Banger French Touch, but from the UK scene. The band blend synth-pop, disco, and indie and create music designed for movement, with a distinctively stylish and ironic edge.
DIY-built, the band is bringing synth pop to a new generation and selling out 500-capacity London venues 100% independently. Gracing festival stages in their hometown of Coventry and across the UK for BBC Introducing in addition to touring internationally in Berlin, Amsterdam and Malta, as well as hitting radio airwaves like BBC 6Music’s Fresh Finds and John Kennedy’s X-Posure, the band has built a reputation for high-energy performances, sharp visuals, and an uncompromising artistic vision.
Debut Zkeletonz album ‘OUT!’ is a sonic love letter to London club culture and late-night events. But with a focus on the unique and unforgettable experience only live music can provide. As the band continue to crowdfund the Vinyl / CD production of the Album, the album’s full supporting campaign for the album will launch Fri 30th May with an explosive free Gig at The Finsbury, in advance of in-store appearances and a physical Vinyl drop in August, before finally a huge show at Camden Underworld (500 capacity) on Fri 12th Dec.
This incredible achievement from Zkeletonz with no label, management or agency will follow self-promoted headline gigs at Highbury Garage and Hackney OSLO, plus regular slots at huge UK festivals like Feastival with CHIC & Nile Rodgers; All Points East, London alongside Foals and Jamie XX; and in Camden with Shalamar and Soul II Soul.
On the new single, Zkeletonz said, “”Wild for the Weekend” means the world to us. It’s the final track on ‘OUT!’—an epic, emotional closer that captures the essence of our recent experiences exploring music together. We’re lucky to be 3 best friends who have persevered for years as a creative collective, since high school. But this is the first song we’ve ever made entirely through a studio-based process, layering up that classic Korg M1 synth while we were deep-diving into Detroit Techno, Chicago House, and the many legends from postmodern French electronica. Lyrically it’s about how partying—those wild, crazy weekends—can sometimes be something that fixes or stabilises a turbulent romance. It’s raw, it’s alive, and we absolutely cannot wait to share this one with a crowd.”
As always, production by the band’s own electronic drummer and multi-instrumentalist member Ed Trotsky (also Runrummer, Coin Operated Boy) forms the centrepiece of Zkeletonz as a creative project and endeavour, weaving sonically from 1980s and 2000s synth influences including classic pop by the Pet Shop Boys and Human League, and tasteful, contemporary blogwave, alternative and indie sounds similar to Confidence Man, Sofi Tukker and The Dare.
Upcoming 2025 Zkeletonz tour dates:
FRI MAY 30th @ THE FINSBURY, ISLINGTON for GoToBeat, free entry:
https://gotobeat.com/gig/zkeletonz-live-in-finsbury/
FRI JUN 13th @ PAPER DRESS VINTAGE, HACKNEY with Concrete Natives:
https://paperdressvintage.co.uk/
SAT JUN 21st @ DASH THE HENGE record shop, CAMBERWELL, 5pm
https://dashthehengestore.com/
SAT DEC 12th @ CAMDEN UNDERWORLD (self-promoted Headline).
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