Welcome
REVIVAL IS SURVIVAL
Revival is Survival is an Arts Council supported project, showcasing mature women of a certain age from Windrush era parents who are playing music as DJs in their own right and also to show that life doesn’t stop at 40, 50 or even 60. We are out there doing our own individual thing in a male dominated industry.
It’s a journey of revival reggae from the 60s and 70s, with narratives featuring roots, ska, rocksteady and lovers, to experiment with other artistic disciplines, such as creative writing, photography and fuse them with a playlist of music from these genres, collaborating with writer Jacqueline Crooks who writes about dub-reggae subculture and auto-fiction narratives.
It will feature bios and photos from Renee Levine aka Rasta Queen, Sharon Walker aka Texas Ranger and myself aka Dubplate Pearl, charting our experiences from buying music to performing for the first time at a variety of events in London, Birmingham and Europe.
We will be performing the playlist featuring the four genres at digital events with Q&As at educational institutions to be live streamed via social media, e.g. Facebook and via Zoom and to have as an audio-visual work of art, to be recorded and documented as an authentic record for reference on film as part of local social history and also to be shown in schools, colleges, universities and festivals.
The playlist will be performed by the three of us on vinyl using a sound system with two decks, a mixer, a mike and speakers. The playlist will tell our stories and experiences, breaking down barriers, participating in sound system clash competitions and winning too.
We will also be performing the playlist at community groups and charities and to inspire diverse generations to get involved with music, listening, buying and/or downloading – taking the project to a wider and diverse audience via radio, press and social media.
Meet the DJs
REVIVAL IS SURVIVAL
Come and meet the DJs: Renee Levine aka Rasta Queen, Sharon Walker aka Texas Ranger and Pearl Boatswain aka Dubplate Pearl. Click on our profile images to learn more about our experiences – from buying music to performing.
DUBPLATE PEARL
RASTA QUEEN
TEXAS RANGER
The Reggae
REVIVAL IS SURVIVAL
Check out the four reggae genres that we will be playing: ska, rock steady, roots and lovers’ rock.
Just hover over an image and click for further information!
Performances
REVIVAL IS SURVIVAL
DATES, VENUES, VENUE ADDRESSES and BOOKING LINKS
Saturday 21 October 2023 – Live at the Library – 18.00 – 21.00 – South Lambeth Library – Music and Talk, 180 South Lambeth Road, London SW8 1QP
Wednesday 25 October 2023 – 7pm to 11pm – 33 1/3 Vinyl Wednesdays, Sweeties at The Standard – 10th Floor Cocktail Bar and Restaurant – 10 Argyle Street, London WC1H 8EG
Saturday 25 November 2023 – 7pm to 12am – Reggae Got Soul Sound System Sessions – Mr Vee Sound and Camberwell Connection (Dubplate Pearl/Mr Swing Easy) – The Peckham Liberal Club, 24 Elm Grove, London SE15 5DE (Behind McDonalds, Rye Lane Peckham)
“Dubplate Pearl a veteran of noted reggae nights Vinyl Meltdown at Albertines, Spin That Tune at the Honor Oak, Ska Lavin at the Troy Bar and the Reggae Shack at Islington Metal Works, Pearl is one of the most noteworthy female deejays currently gracing London’s record decks with vintage reggae vinyl.”
“Dubplate Pearl a veteran of noted reggae nights Vinyl Meltdown at Albertines, Spin That Tune at the Honor Oak, Ska Lavin at the Troy Bar and the Reggae Shack at Islington Metal Works, Pearl is one of the most noteworthy female deejays currently gracing London’s record decks with vintage reggae vinyl.”
With Special Thanks to:
Jacqueline Crooks, Authoress of Fire Rush, without her insistence the project would not have been completed.
Toby Broom (Mr Swing Easy) for his assistance with the narrative, research and his in depth knowledge of reggae music.
Dave Katz of Dub Me Always, for giving me one of my first DJ outings at The Ritzy, Brixton and for his wonderful reference to The Arts Council.
