Nowhere does sound systems like Birmingham

How the heartbeat of Jamaican culture found a second home in the second city

Dear Patchers — Welcome to your midweek briefing.

Jamaican sound system culture — with its stacked speakers, rumbling bass and lyrically nimble MCs — has made a big impression in Birmingham. To this day, the second city is known as the culture’s UK heartland. Birmingham-born Ian Burrell has traced its legacy, from community shebeens in post-war Balsall Heath, to its “trouser-flapping” zenith at World Bash — the globe’s only sound system concert — next Monday, where 11 sound systems from around the world will battle it out at the Birmingham O2.

Also below, we have an update on the Solihull immigration centre arrests, we share a recent poll on the WMCA mayoral election, the latest on whether a Labour MP plans to defect and the latest on stop-start construction on a Stirchley affordable housing scheme. We also have more on the cultural legacy of 2 Tone music and where you can get your skates on.

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Brum in brief

🚨Rwanda plans confirmed: The Dispatch understands that five people held at Sandford House immigration centre yesterday have been transported out of Birmingham, to a detention centre as part of the government’s policy to deport migrants to Rwanda. We can reveal that five more were detained yesterday. The Home Office told us it is in the final phase of the plans which will “inevitably include detaining people in preparation for the first flight” — set to take off in 10-12 weeks time. Yesterday, we broke the news that 13 people had been arrested during protests in support of the five. We can reveal they were held on suspicion of breaching the peace and have now all been released on bail. The story has since been picked up by BirminghamLive and Sky News, but we will have more details for you in our article out on Thursday.

🏗️Affordable Stirchley saved: Stirchley Co-operative Development’s (SCD) — in the heart of Sunday Times-anointed Best Place to Live — plans to build 39 affordable flats with no landlords have been revived. Building ground to a halt earlier this year when local builders fell into difficulties. But SCD said partners Green Square Accord have since stepped up to save the development with their own construction team. “We remain resilient and determined to deliver affordable homes for our community,” said SCD Chair Matthew Cox.

🟥Tahir not for turning: Hall Green MP Tahir Ali has denied reports he will defect to George Galloway’s Workers Party before the General Election. LBC had earlier reported Ali was holding discussions with Galloway over jumping ship but Ali rejected the claims, saying in a statement: “ I am proud to serve my constituency as a Labour MP [and] I will continue to work for a Labour victory at the next General Election.”

🗳️Mayoral dead heat: A poll has the WMCA mayoral race at an effective dead heat. Fieldwork from consultancy More in Common shows incumbent Conservative mayor Andy Street getting 41% of the vote with Richard Parker winning 39%. Focus groups said Street wasn’t overly partisan and liked that he delivered both the Commonwealth Games and tram extensions. However, as BirminghamLive’s political editor Jane Haynes pointed out, the polling body’s findings rely on voters from Solihull, a Conservative heartland.

🎵This Town: BBC WM celebrates 2 Tone music this Thursday at O2 Institute 3. The evening will explore the impact of the global music phenomenon through a series of on-stage interviews with key figures from the worlds of music and television, including a headline set from The Beat and an interview with The Special’s Horace Panter. While tickets for the show have already been allocated interested listeners can hear the celebration via their radio on May 6th. More here.

🕺Roller disco: For those who fancy trying their chances at roller skating in a disco setting, you can head down to Roller Jam in Digbeth this Thursday for a free entry event. If you’re a regular its a chance to show off but staff are on hand to help. What’s more, cocktails are 2-4-1 and there’s the promise of sound-system bangers and immaculate vibes. All the details with safety information, too.

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Nowhere does sound systems like Birmingham

By Ian Burrell

This Monday, from the small hours of the morning through to the break of dawn, the body-shaking rumble of reggae basslines will reverberate in the heart of Birmingham. “World Bash”, a face-off of 11 of the “biggest and baddest” sound systems from Jamaica, North America, Africa and the UK, is being held at the Birmingham O2 Academy, and will undoubtedly invoke memories from the city’s 60-year tradition of sound system culture. It’s set to be the biggest sound system event in the world this year — and the New York-based promoters, Irish & Chin, have chosen to host it in Birmingham for good reason. 

Because nowhere does sound systems quite like Birmingham. “Any sound that comes to Birmingham to compete has always got to make sure their thing is proper,” says Winston Mexican, owner of Handsworth-based Luv Injection sound, which along with Empire sound will represent the second city at World Bash. “Birmingham’s sound system culture is steeped in history,” says David Rodigan, the BBC radio reggae presenter. “All London sound system owners will tell you that the one city where they knew they had to put on their best performances was Birmingham.”

The roots of this culture are in private basements, unfurnished school halls, youth clubs and community centres, from Handsworth to Balsall Heath. It is a legacy enriched by remarkable personalities, from the electronics wizard “Legs Giant” to microphone-wielding MCs, such as the late “Corporal Billy” of Luv Injection.

Birmingham’s legendary Quaker City sound system competing at the Gold Cup at Digbeth Civic Hall (1979), featuring Carl Irving (selecting) and Bongo Star on the mic. Picture by Vanley Burke, courtesy of the Birmingham Sound System exhibition at The Drum (2015).