Mykal Rose @ The Globe, Cardiff

“Guess who’s coming to dinner, Natty Dreadlock”

MYKAL ROSE created history with his former Black Uhuru band mates when, in 1984, they won reggae’s first Grammy award for the album Anthem.

The legacy is the singer is often referred to with ‘Grammy’ inserted as a middle name and his current UK tour is billed as Sounds of Black Uhuru 1977-1985.

The Skatalites @ The Globe, Cardiff

AS the original house band of the legendary Jamaican recording studio, record label and soundsystem, Studio One, The Skatalites have long since ensured their legacy.

The ‘grandfathers of reggae music’ – or perhaps as they are best known – the creators of ska, The Skatalites are a band that lives on through their music. Drum beats, bass licks and all powerful horns that signalled the birth of the mighty Jamaican recording industry and morphed into rocksteady and reggae.

Macka B @ The Globe, Cardiff

“It’s all about the 45/Something about the feel and the vibe“

“MACKA B is always about social commentary,” states the veteran British reggae DJ as he launches into ‘Sex Machine’ and gets the crowd to chant its chorus, “She’s more than a sex machine/The woman is a human being”.

It’s just one more song from a vault of danceheall favourites that typify the Wolverhampton native’s approach, honed over more than 30 years as a solo recording artist, of delivering positive messages to vibrant reggae rhythms.

Omar: An interview with The Man

It is nearly 25 years since Omar’s classic ‘There’s Nothing Like This’ hit the UK top 20 and arguably the song has become better known than the singer.

But if Omar had achieved celebrity status to match the esteem he is held in by other musicians perhaps he wouldn’t be playing a gig in a small Cardiff venue. This Friday, September 25 Omar, whose last album was 2013’s ‘The Man’, plays The Globe in Roath’s Albany Road where no more than 350 people will get to see one of contemporary soul’s greatest artists up close.

Pharoahe Monch @ The Globe, Cardiff

“If you holding up the wall, then you missing the point”

THE force of energy that is Pharoahe Monch steps across the Globe stage to loud cheers with his DJ and small band having already built the sense of anticipation for the enigmatic Queens MC.

On a sweaty, humid July 1 night in the Welsh capital Monch will soon discard his ceremonial, military style jacket as he get straight into his no compromising set.

Misty In Roots @ The Globe, Cardiff

REPUTATION can be a powerful thing as was evident as Misty In Roots took to the stage for a low-key Sunday evening gig at Cardiff’s intimate Globe.

Misty In Roots frontman Poko centre stage

The Southall reggae band have been together since the 1970s while the Roath venue, over the past four years, has played host to an impressive roster of classic reggae acts. On Sunday the reputation of both ensured a healthy crowd had assembled at the converted Albany Road cinema to greet one of British reggae’s most enduring acts.

Cardiff’s ‘Panini’ Wall of fame: honour for park footballers

IF every young footballer dreams of playing at the World Cup then their own place in a Panini sticker album is perhaps the most vivid form of recognition a football inspired child can imagine.

For a collection of recreational footballers who meet up three times a week at a Cardiff park those dreams of seeing their own smiling faces staring back at them are now a reality.

Hear this: my adventures in sound

“There are few treatments you can do, where somebody comes in with a problem and can walk out noticing an immediate improvement.”

Life sounds better with the ear plugs out

Few, if any, medical procedures (that a nurse at a GP practice can carry out at least) it appears can deliver as much instant satisfaction as syringing a patient’s ears – or so the parting words from the nurse yesterday would suggest.

Yellowman and Dillinger: Cardiff reggae stop

LIVE reggae shows have been few and far between in Cardiff lately but just like the buses you wait ages for one, and then two influential Jamaican artists come along at once.

Dillinger

Yellowman and Dillinger opened the second night of their UK tour at the Globe, in Albany Road, Roath on Thursday, February 27 and were greeted by what looked like a crowd not far short of its 350 capacity, even with tickets still available on the door.