Dreadzone
Dreadzone
šš„ššššš¢š”š plus special guests Saturday 22nd February 2025
Dreadzone is a British electronic music band formed in 1993, known for blending dub, reggae, and dance music. The group features a unique fusion of live instrumentation and digital sounds, creating an infectious and energetic vibe. Their debut album, 368: The A.D. Dub, gained critical acclaim, while subsequent releases like Second Light and Sound solidified their reputation, earning them a dedicated following. Dreadzone's music has been featured in films and television, and they are celebrated for their electrifying live performances. With a distinctive sound and cultural commentary, the band has made a lasting impact on the UK music scene.
Line Up
āOne of the few acts to have truly explored the possibilities of Dub & Reggaeā Rock Sound āDreadzoneās is a joyous noise; bouncing beats with samples bashing into live vocalsā Q
Dreadzone are still going strong after over 20 years with core members Greg Dread, Leo Williams, MC Spee and legendary reggae vocalist Earl 16 alongside Chris Compton on guitar and Bazil completing the current Dreadzone line up. They continue to tour extensively around the world and are currently in the studio writing and recording a new album for release in late 2016.
Dreadzone formed in 1993 when the former Big Audio Dynamite rhythm section; drummer Greg āDreadā Roberts and bassist Leo Williams teamed up with musician, producer and mixer Tim Bran. Throughout the 1990ās Dreadzone had continually remixed itself; chopping and changing members and record labels (including stints on both Virgin and Alan McGheeās Creation). Greg and Tim decided to approach the new millennium with a fresh idea in the form of the Dubwiser Club night at Notting Hill Arts Club. They channelled their energy into club nights that fused dub and reggae with contemporary beats to create the perfect soundtrack for people from different planets. This proved a fertile musical playground and it was in this climate (helped by their new āDread Centralā studio complex) that the band would create Sound, released on Ruff Life in 2001.
Electro-dub pioneers Dreadzone re-issued their classic 2001 album āSoundā on their own Dubwiser label in 2015. Written and evolved over a two-year period, Sound features contributions from Don Letts, Earl 16, Aswadās Brinsley Forde and MC Det. As this re-issue demonstrates, the album as a whole sounds as fresh and vibrant today as it did upon release. Indeed, tracks such as Digital Mastermind and Dreadāpon Sound have now reached āclassicā status, becoming entrenched favourites in the Dreadzone live show.
