Wilkswood Reggae 2018 is please to be presenting a unique takeover on the Jah Spirit Stage by eminent reggae writers and deejays, David Katz and Angus Taylor.
Born in San Francisco but long resident in London, David Katz has been running the original vinyl reggae night Dub Me Always in Brixton for over 15 years, hosting a range of luminaries from the sound system scene, including Sir Coxsone Outernational, Dennis Bovell, Gladdy Wax, DBC, Tighten Up Crew, Wassie One, Jah Observer, Ras Kush, Pirate’s Choice, Moa Anbessa, Joe Ariwa and Ras Digby, among many others. The author of People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Solid Foundation: An Oral History of Reggae, Katz’s writing and photographs have appeared in various books and periodicals such as Newsweek, Mojo, The Guardian, Riddim, Wax Poetics and Caribbean Beat, and he has annotated over 100 retrospectives of Jamaican music. Katz has also co-hosted radio programmes on Jamaican music and culture for the BBC and Public Radio International, such as Ring the Alarm: A History of Sound System Culture and State of Emergency: Reggae Reflections of Jamaica’s Partisan Politics, and contributed to documentaries and feature films, including Dub Echoes, Dub Stories, Les Racines Du Reggae: Jah Rastafari and Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry’s Vision of Paradise. As a DJ, Katz has supported Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Mad Professor, Horace Andy, Aswad, Rico, the Heptones and the Twinkle Brothers, among many others, gracing stages throughout the UK and Europe, as well as the USA, Brazil and Japan. In the festival arena, he has appeared at the London International Ska Festival, Moogfest, Overjam and the International Dub Gathering, and Reggae Geel. Hosting panel discussions with numerous noteworthy performers and practitioners at Rototom Sunsplash, Overjam, Reggae Geel and other venues during the last 15 years, Katz has also released original records in the UK, France, and Japan, the latest being a remix EP of material by Cornell Campbell and Soothsayers, reworked with Tokyo-based musicians for Kyoto’s Riddim Chango Records.
Angus Taylor is a prolific writer and deejay specializing in Jamaican music. He is chief editor of the United Reggae online webzine, the UK correspondent for Reggaeville and a regular contributor to Riddim magazine. Taylor is also a contributor of interviews and articles to a variety of other online and print media. He has written reggae album reviews for the BBC and reggae film reviews for Sight and Sound magazine. Angus’ deejaying engagements have included the Park Stage at Glastonbury, the Brixton Jamm (on behalf of Rototom Sunsplash), the Jazz Cafe (for the London International Ska Festival) Rivington Place (with Rootikal and Jah Observer), and the Tasty Bakery in Peckham (for a residency with Reggae Roots & Bass).
During the weekend, David will also be conducting a number of live interviews on the DJ Derek Stage with some of the weekend’s performers.