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Stalawatt
Stalawatt is a collective of DJs playing and promoting reggae music in the Newcastle Gateshead area, in the north east of England.
The Newcastle Gateshead area has a well-established reggae scene that we've been part of for many years. Stalawatt selectors have previously held down long-term residencies at the Tanners, where back in 1998 we established what's since become Newcastle's longest running reggae night, at Stranger than Paradise (Whitley Bay), and at city centre venue Fusion, where we've recently handed over our weekly slot to our friends Lionsden. We've previously featured on the Bear Sounds system, and we were (we believe) the first to promote a reggae session in the infamous Bigg Market, when we held the first in our annual series of Christmas charity events there in December 2004.
The Stalawatt name was first heard at the Black Swan, Newcastle's Arts Centre, in July 2002. Since then, we've played at almost every major venue - and plenty of smaller places too - in the area, and some further afield. In 2004, we went truly outernational when selector Moko Koya moved to Heilbronn for a year, bringing the Stalawatt vibe to the reggae scene in Germany. We currently have a weekly residency at city centre venue Fusion, where we've been based since 2005.
Over the past few years, we've become the regular warm-up sound for the series of Boss Sounds events promoted by Newcastle's Jumpin' Hot Club. We've provided the early vibes for a host of big name artists including the Abyssinians, Dillinger, Marcia Griffiths, Lady G, Barrington Levy, Sly & Robbie, Mikey Dread, Owen Gray, Derrick Morgan, the Mighty Diamonds, Lucky Dube, Yellowman and the Easy Star All Stars, as well as featuring at all three Boss Sounds festivals. After the third festival in 2007, Reggae News called us "the real discovery of the weekend".
Stalawatt sessions can cover the history of Jamaican music, but we specialise in contemporary roots rocking reggae dancehall from JA - the hottest riddims rocking the dancefloors in Kingston, London and New York tonight. We can play out in a strictly conscious style or on a bashment tip, depending on the mood and the occasion, but whatever the vibe you're guaranteed to hear riddims that make you want to dance - and versions you'll hear no other sound system or DJ in the area play.
Check the Reggae in Tyneside page for our forthcoming events. We'll see you there.
One love!
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updated January 2008
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