The dub/dance/reggae sound of Dreadzone is making a welcome return to Bedford. Evolving from Big Audio Dynamite, Dreadzone have a sizeable back catalogue and are in their 21st year of crowd pleasing at gigs & festivals…
We spoke to founding member & drummer Greg Roberts prior to the show.
C: Do you remember the last gig in Bedford ?
G: Yes, Were you there?
C: No, I couldn’t make that one (sheepishly)
G: We had a lot of technical problems, so there were sound issues but it should be okay this time!
C: Favourite place in Britain ?
G: London, I live there, I like the Lake District, the Highlands of Scotland, gotta say Lancaster too, as my girlfriend’s from there!
C: Describe you average audience at a gig ?
G: It’s quite varied, all ages, quite a feminine audience…good people who are up for a dance. No drunken a-holes, not many hipsters…
C: Probably a good thing…?
G: Yeah and not many beardys either…
C: Do you prefer recording or playing live ?
G: That’s hard to say…live’s great for immediate reaction, recording can be laborious process, though writing is a nice thing…it’s all good really.
C: Any new music you’re into ?
G: When I DJ, House, 140 breaks – New Dreadzone is good! Out now!!
C: What are the band up to this summer ?
G: Touring and getting out there with Festivals…
C: Dreadzones’ fave film ?
G: ‘The Harder They Come‘, sums us up, a Jamaican film, good soundtrack, gritty…
C: Favourite meal to cook ?
G: Well there’s a nice Italian resturaunt opposite us but a Roast, a chicken Roast with a nice glass of wine, well maybe some wine before too…!
C: What’s on the rider ?
G: Alcohol, water, sarnies, usual stuff I suppose, nothing fancy…
C: Has there ever been any confusion over your single ‘Little Britain’ & the comedy show with Matt Lucas and David Walliams ?
G: No. One’s a program and one’s a song !
C: So, nothing lost in translation anywhere ?
G: No, We usually have that one in the live set, bit of a crowd pleaser….
C: Favourite country you’ve played ?
G: Difficult to say, we’ve played a lot of countries, I guess America…remember the B.A.D tour being a good one…
C: Any Big Audio Dynamite re-unions on the horizon ?
G: Mick Jones has been in the studio with us for the new album ‘Escapades’ featuring on the track ‘Too Late‘ but that’s the nearest to it. We’re doing the Dreadzone thing at the moment. It’s up to Mick if that was to happen…
C: Any famous backing singers in the past ?
G: Ah, that’s Wikipedia, eh? Alison Goldfrapp did do some vocals with us, Denise Van Outen was just in the room at the time!
Dreadzone play Bedford Esquires Saturday 8th March. Tickets from Luscious Juice Bar and WeGotTickets
