Est 2015

Don't use Soundcloud really, go to my Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/6f4K6vBWAVSMfpPfUSwGuE

Uprise Audio / Duploc / Sentry

Duploc Selects Best Of Limited Edition Vinyl - OUT NOW 
Bandcamp → http://bit.ly/DUPLOCLP-BEST-OF
Redeye → http://bit.ly/DUPLOCLP-BEST-OF-re
Unearthed → http://bit.ly/DUPLOCLP-BEST-OF-ue
Spotify → http://bit.ly/DUPLOCspotify

Bandcamp - https://agrademusic.bandcamp.com/
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/6f4K6vBWAVSMfpPfUSwGuE

Flavours Part 2 (12" Vinyl) - https://upriseaudio.bandcamp.com/album/flavours-part-2

"A:Grade has set himself up for a huge year ahead as one of dubstep’s rising stars. Like Flavours Part 1, these tunes will be rattling sound systems for a long time to come"

https://www.beatport.com/release/flavours-pt-2/2534732

https://open.spotify.com/album/2XSK9bOEboK4jgsz4lm1K3

Flavours Part 1 - https://www.junodownload.com/products/a-grade-flavours-part-1/3726855-02/

Send your beats to agradeuk@gmail.com

 The story of UB40, and how this group of young friends from Birmingham transcended their working-class origins to become the world’s most successful reggae band is not the stuff of fairytales as might be imagined. The group’s led a charmed life in many respects it’s true, but it’s been a long haul since the days they’d meet up in the bars and clubs around Moseley, and some of them had to scrape by on less than £8 a week unemployment benefit. The choice was simple if you’d left school early. You could either work in one of the local factories, like Robin Campbell did, or scuffle along aimlessly whilst waiting for something else to happen.

By the summer of 1978, something else did happen, and the nucleus of UB40 began rehearsing in a local basement. Robin’s younger brother Ali, Earl Falconer, Brian Travers and James Brown all knew each other from Moseley School of Art, whilst Norman Hassan had been a friend of Ali’s since school. Initially, they thought of themselves as a "jazz-dub-reggae" band, but by the time Robin was persuaded to join and they’d recruited Michael Virtue and Astro – who’d learnt his craft with Birmingham sound-system Duke Alloy – the group had already aligned themselves to left-wing political ideals and forged their own identity, separate from the many punk and Two Tone outfits around at that time. The group had nailed their colours to the mast by naming themselves after an unemployment benefit form. Their political convictions hadn’t been gleaned second hand either, but cemented in place whilst attending marches protesting against the National Front, or rallies organised by Rock Against Racism.

By the time Chrissie Hynde invited them to tour with the Pretenders during the summer of 1980 and their debut single "King b/w Food For Thought" had sailed into the UK Top 5, all the essential elements of UB40 were already in place. Their line-up will remain unchanged for almost thirty years, and they will continue playing a mix of original material and inspired choice of reggae covers in a style that’s instantly accessible with its bright melodies and sweeping horn arrangements – one that’s allied to a formidable rhythm section, capable of holding its own with anything from Jamaica.

UB40’s first album was released the following September, on Graduate Records. Their deal allowed them more creative freedom than if they had signed with a major label. The cover artwork memorably duplicated an unemployment benefit card, with the title "Signing Off" rubber-stamped in red, but it was the music that quickly worked its way into the affections of a young, mainly student crowd with its knowing lyrics, solid reggae rhythms and dubby, instrumental passages, offset by warm horn solos and Jamaican style scatting. There was nothing else like it at the time. As a multi-cultural band from Birmingham, UB40 weren’t drawn into trying to sound "authentic," and there was considerably more depth to their music than that of many punk and 2Tone bands. "I’m a British subject, not proud of it, whilst I carry the burden of shame," they sang on one of the tracks. Accepting the truth of their own situation amidst a sea of other reggae songs proclaiming black heritage gave us a valuable insight into where UB40 were coming from. They were unafraid to stand up and be counted, and British audiences instinctively loved them for it. "Signing Off" duly went to No. 2 in the UK and stayed on the nation’s album charts for 72 weeks.

On September 2nd, 2013, UB40 released their latest album ‘Getting Over The Storm’ on Universal/Virgin Records.

The Armory, the latest podcast from San Francisco's DJ Zach Moore (aka W.Haze), is now available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Mixcloud and Google Play.  

For more information visit www.armorypodcast.com. 

Original artwork by http://jempanufnik.com

Forward thinking record label with reggae at its heart, but encapsulating hip hop, dub, dancehall, drum & bass, jungle, dubstep and beyond.

Taking in the rich history of soundsystem culture and spitting it back out for modern dance floors.

Get in touch : bookings@niceup.co.uk

Aries Bio :

Reggae and Jungle are genres of music with strong roots in the UK and Aries has immersed himself in both cultures which has heavily influenced his whole ethos to production and DJing. It is this integrity and dedication to the scene which has earned him respect amongst his peers meaning he now flies the flag internationally for modern day sound-system culture.

Aries’ sound combines vintage Jungle sensibilities with traditional Reggae music polished off with modern day production techniques. The finished product is his own Dubwise strain of the UK’s one true homegrown genre, Jungle.

He broke through to the A-list of the Jungle world after releasing music on legendary record labels: Congo Natty, Dread and V Recordings, plus Aries has recorded with a whole world of vocal talent that does by no means stop at Top Cat, David Boomah, Solo Banton, Nanci &amp; Phoebe, Demolition Man, Jah Mason and Johnny Osbourne. His DJing is in demand across the globe having played high profile DJ sets in most major countries.

Back in 1990, Aries launched himself onto Pirate Radio in his hometown of Birmingham where Reggae and underground Dance music were dominating the airwaves. This is where he learned his craft as a DJ. He then promoted himself to throwing parties and finally graduated to the recording studio where he has been creating music ever since.

Aries’ projects vary from his solo exports to collaborations with other producers from Gold Dubs and Kelvin 373 to the Chopstick Dubplate crew, which is the world’s first international Reggae Jungle sound crew which is fronted by himself, Jacky Murda and Tuffist. Recently, he has also been touching on other projects from Hip Hop to Dubstep which all tell an ode of his roots.

Within the reputedly closed doors of the Jungle Drum &amp; Bass world, true support is carried by your peers and it is they who validate your career. Aries has been met with open arms by figureheads of the scene. In the mainstream, Aries receives radio play from BBC’s Toddla T, Zane Lowe, Rob Da Bank and DJ Hype plus his Youtube views reach the millions. This is all from one of the most humble people you are likely to meet in the music business.

It is undoubtedly true that Aries will continue his ongoing plight to serve the world true grassroots Dubwise Jungle dubplates. Whether it be releasing his own music, collaborating on projects or running record labels, Aries will be pushing the sound that he loves.

Aries Bookings:
danny@earth-agency.com
Born On Road Bookings:
louis.cawthorne@teamwass.com

Tim Earlaked is following