Tickets are now available for Dub Pistols at The Garage!
DUB PISTOLS
The Dubs may have had an easier ride of it if they’d been a cartoon band like Gorillaz. There wouldn’t have been assorted band member casualties along the way, for starters, as life on the road took its toll. The multi-cultural collective has involved dozens of artists and musicians over the years — some remaining for years, a few for the duration, and others just popping in for a guest appearance. Their sound has accordingly morphed a variety of times since their inception: taking in dub, punk, jungle, ska, breakbeat, hip-hop and a whole lot more, it’s been a long road travelled.
Throughout an eight-album career and literally thousands of shows, the band has rolled with the punches — enduring setbacks and fuck-ups before piecing themselves back together and morphing into one of the most loved and enduring festival bands on the circuit. Hardest-working band in showbiz doesn’t even cover it.
The genesis of the Dub Pistols began when former club promoter and Deja Vu singer Barry Ashworth started DJing in the mid-90s. Unable to mix records properly at first, Barry got assorted pals to scratch and play horns over the top of his sets. Inspired by the anything-goes attitude of the late 90s genre that came to be called big beat in the UK — acts like the Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim and Propellerheads, labels such as Wall Of Sound and Skint — Barry was drawn to start making tracks for his DJ sets, alongside long-term cohort Jason O’Bryan. Polyrhythmic first offering ‘There’s Gonna Be A Riot’ was signed by Concrete Records, and a string of missives followed in its wake — ‘Best Get Better’, the explosive ‘Westway EP’, and then a chipper ‘Cyclone’, which dented the UK national charts.
THE BAREFOOT BANDIT
The Barefoot Bandit are a heavy-weight ensemble based in the South-West, UK. The band mixes various musical styles, incorporating elements of reggae, punk rock, dub and world music.
Building a strong and loyal fan base, TBB have spread their sounds far and wide. Packed out shows at prestigious venues such as the Electric Ballroom in Camden have seen The Barefoot Bandit become a must watch act on the UK touring and festival circuit.
The group released their much-anticipated debut album at the end of 2022 to much acclaim, with their cover of Groove Armarda’s “By the River” getting multiple plays on BBC6. The 16 date “Hello Welcome” tour supports this release in 2023, ahead of UK and international festival dates.
Past festival highlights include appearances at Glastonbury Festival, Boardmasters, Boomtown Fair, and more including headline slots and main stage displays at some of the UK’s favourite music festivals.
Having reached #4 in the iTunes reggae charts, TBB have self released 2 Eps previous to their album. Both records have received national airplay from the likes of legendary DJ David Rodigan on BBC Radio 1 Extra and numerous plays on BBC Introducing.
The Bandit has had the pleasure of supporting renowned artists such as Lee “Scratch” Perry, Katchafire, The Cat Empire, Easy Star All-Stars, Dubioza Kolectiv, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Horace Panter & Lynval Golding (The Specials) and have been regular openers for electronica dub favourites, Dreadzone.
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