Boss Sounds Reggae Festival 2008

Tuesday 18th to Wednesday 19th November 2008
various venues and Newcastle Academy, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England MAP
£17.50 a night and £30 weekend

Last updated: Tue 14th Oct 2008

Boss Sounds Festival is back for 2008, live and direct at the Newcastle Carling Academy from 4pm on the 18th and 19th October.

Saturday 18 October features The Pioneers, Sly and Robbie, joined by young singer (and actress) Cherine Anderson, and local boy made good Mark Rae with his band Yesking. Life&Soul and Pangaea run the sound system room with Alpha & Omega, featuring vocalists Jonah Dan, I Natural and Rootsman Rak, plus live sets from Diddley Squat and local roots dance band The Emperor's Dentist.

New this year is the Room 2 sound system which this year features Iration Steppas and Alpha and Omega. Alpha and Omega will be playing an exclusive live show at 5pm on Saturday featuring Rootsman Rak, I Natural, and Jonah Dan.

Alton Ellis's son Chris will be performing a tribute to his Father Alton on Saturday. Alton headlined at the first Boss Sounds Festival in 2005.

Sunday 19 October The main stage features Misty in Roots, Symarip, Easy Star All Stars, Ska Cubano and Natty. The sound system room features Iration Steppas plus early vibes from Stalawatt. This year's MC and DJ will be Jerry Dammers. For the line-up details as available please click here.

There is also an after party with Jerry Dammers and Alpha & Omega at World Headquarters, Carliol Square, Newcastle, 10pm-5am.

Tickets will be on sale in advance for the two main shows at Newcastle Carling Academy priced at £17.50 a night and £30 weekend tickets. Click here to buy tickets.

Stalawatt and friends will be at the Salsa Club during Saturday and Sunday daytime, providing a musical accompaniment to Afro-Caribbean cuisines from festival chef Agnes Offiong.

Over the weekend expect to see other activities around the festival and venues. These include Jamaican food nights at local cafes. Reggae stalls and Caribbean catering make the two day event a festival special and the after show party till 4am at World Headquarters on the 18th ensures that reggae music dominates Newcastle for the weekend.

More information will be here when available.