Tag Archives: the selecter

The Selecter & The Beat to embark on US co-headline tour

Posted on by

Following the massive success of a lengthy European tour, ska legends The Selecter and The Beat will be taking their show across to North America.

Both bands have recorded new material in recent years. The Selecter’s ‘Daylight’ was released in 2017 and with their essential ‘Subculture’ LP hitting the shelves just a couple of years previously, Pauline Black and company are as busy as they’ve ever been.   The Beat, meanwhile, are the version of the band featuring Ranking Roger and his son Ranking Jnr.  Their 2016 LP ‘Bounce’ is a fine return for the band and their current live show is absolutely incendiary.  If you’re a fan of second wave ska, seeing them is an absolute must.

Continue reading →

REAL GONE GOES OUT: The Selecter & The Beat (feat. Ranking Roger), Hall By The Sea, Dreamland, Margate, Kent 24/2/2018

Posted on by

If you grew up in the 1970s or 1980s in South East England, you’ll almost certainly have a fond memory of Margate. It probably involves a day trip to the beach, a bag of chips and a visit to the Dreamland Amusement Park. The town fell on hard times in the 90s, but with the opening of the Turner Contemporary art gallery and the arrival of small cafe’s and boutiques in the Old Town, things began to improve. The grand re-opening of Dreamland as a retro theme park was an essential part of the regeneration and has been great for the town. Its recently renovated facade in blue and yellow neon shines out over the sea and the seafront, once again, looks proud of itself. In addition to the theme park, the Dreamland complex includes a retro roller rink, a period restored ballroom and an upstairs area dubbed The Hall By The Sea for hosting live music. It’s almost certainly better than it ever was. Dreamland is brilliant and you shouldn’t let people try and convince you otherwise, especially those who haven’t actually been to Margate since 1996.

Continue reading →

DELUXE EDITION DREAMLAND – 2 Tone Dance Craze: The Definitive Edition (2CD/DVD)

Posted on by

The British ska revival of the late 70s was an exciting time. The short-lived 2-Tone label (founded by The Specials’ Jerry Dammers) was home to arguably some of the greatest music to come from the UK. Over the course of three years, with a mix of good-time party music and political messages, The Specials, The Selecter and The Beat became hugely popular, and although they moved away from their ska roots quicker than most, Madness became one of the most popular British pop bands of all time.

Continue reading →

Real Gone’s End of Year Round Up 2015

Posted on by

We’ve reached the end of 2015. It hasn’t been as thrilling a year for new music as 2014 had been, but there has been plenty to entertain. We’re still waiting on the proposed deluxe edition of Prince & The Revolution’s classic ‘Purple Rain’ (we could be waiting a long time) and those promised UB40 deluxe editions. Another year has passed without the arrival of Real Gone favourite Mick Terry’s second album. Lots of people in the UK have been (over)-excited by Steven Wilson’s ‘Hand.Cannot.Erase.’, but most of what’s impressed us the most at Real Gone – as is so often the case – is often just a little more underground.

Here are our year’s top picks…

Continue reading →

Watch the brand new video from The Selecter

Posted on by

Legendary UK ska performers The Selecter have just unleashed a new video for ‘Walk The Walk’, a track taken from their brilliant 2015 LP ‘Subculture’.  Filmed in London, the clip features Pauline Black, ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson and an important guest cast.  The new single comes ahead of the bands November/December tour (full details below, along with the new video and full press release).

Continue reading →