BCMG marks Bob Marley anniversary with Reggae Origins concert

Florence Lockheart
Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group will celebrate the Jamaican artist’s 80th birthday with a concert in collaboration with Reggae musician Basil Gabbidon

Basil Gabbidon: 'This is an interesting and dynamic collaboration between reggae and classical music’ (Image courtesy of BCMG)
Basil Gabbidon: 'This is an interesting and dynamic collaboration between reggae and classical music’ (Image courtesy of BCMG)

Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) is set to mark the 80th birthday of reggae legend Bob Marley with a concert celebrating the origins of reggae. Reggae Origins: Bob Marley and Handsworth Reggae will see string players from BCMG join forces with Steel Pulse founder, guitarist and vocalist Basil Gabbidon.

The concert, which will take place at Birmingham Town Hall on 6 February, aims to take audiences on a journey through the history of reggae. Gabbidon, his band and BCMG string musicians will perform brand new arrangements of familiar reggae hits including Gabbidon’s Rising Sun and Oh Jah Jah for band and string quartet, as well as new works created for this concert by composer Benjamin Graves.

BCMG director Stephan Meier said: ‘Basil approached me back in 2022 and drew my attention to the fact that some of reggae’s roots lie in French court music - if you listen closely, you can identify the French Bourree dance rhythm in many songs. Our composer Ben Graves has looked deeply into the origins of reggae and its links to European court music, notably in the works of the 18th century composer, abolitionist and former-slave, Ignatius Sancho. So many stories are revealed. It’s fabulous to prepare this very special event joining forces with Basil Gabbidon that celebrates the rich musical tradition of reggae.’

Steel Pulse put Birmingham’s reggae scene on the map with its 1978 debut album Handsworth Revolution, named after the inner-city area of Handsworth. The group went on to support Bob Marley and the Wailers, gaining them international success and a GRAMMY Award for its 1986 album Babylon the Bandit.

Gabbidon said: ‘I call Birmingham the centre of reggae music – we should big it up the best we can, it’s part of our history. In this concert we tell the story of the origins and history of reggae as well as celebrating Bob Marley. We’re performing some of my own original songs, a few Steel Pulse songs and a few songs that made reggae internationally loved. This is an interesting and dynamic collaboration between reggae and classical music.’

Watch