This was a show organised by the ‘Love Music, Hate Racism’ campaign to raise awareness of the Fascist British National Party’s attempt to gain seats in the forthcoming local and European elections, and a nicely mixed crowd turned up to hear the message and have a good time!

The skillful Dom was at the controls of the Blood & Fire sound system and ensured that there were plenty of dancers in front of the stage when energetic and personable MC Country Culture presented his vocal and DJ skills (he can sound like everyone from U-Roy to Sizzla – and almost Sam Cooke!), warming up the appreciative massive inna fine style. He then called on us to welcome ‘the teacher’ and the tall U-Brown immediately took control, wasting no time in launching into his whimsical but memorable late seventies hit ‘Weather Balloon’. For the next hour or so his deejaying and singing skills had us eating out of his hand, whether he was reminding us that ‘Conscious Reggae Music what the people dem a want’, warning that ‘The Wicked Can’t Run’ and ‘Lightnin’ Clap and the Weak Heart Drop’, helping a ghostly Gregory Isaacs across ‘The Border’, skanking like crazy the whole time, making use of the whole stage area, charming the ladies and reminding the men to respect the feminine gender. His eighties biggie ‘Tu-Sheng-Peng’ drew a huge roar of appreciation and the effervescent Mr. Brown ended proceedings with a meditative ‘Thank You Lord’. Mr. U-Brown, come back soon!

- Norman Darwen