Started in 1994 by Kingston, Jamaica-based Jamaica Arts Holdings, IRD is the annual 24-hour global celebration of Jamaican music and culture on July One. The 2018 theme is ‘Jamaica To UK: The Reggae Revolution’. The final list of events will soon be published on the IRD JA and UK websites, which are currently being developed. The hub events organised by BBM/BMC and its IRD UK partners, which include Reggae Fraternity UK, Reggae Village Trinity, Ready For The World, Goldsmiths, University Of London, HiCrEC Music, UKUNSIGNED and Brent Black Music Co-op, consists of:

• ‘Reggae Tree’ planting in Harlesden to underscore Harlesden and Brent’s claim to being the Reggae capital of British Reggae. It is hoped the ‘Reggae Tree’ would have become one of the north-west London borough’s cultural assets by the time Brent celebrates its Borough of Culture status in 2020.
• A day’s conference of talks, films, music and awards covering Reggae history, copyright, highlighting Reggae sector issues and some the veterans in front and behind the microphone.
• A Reggae @ 50 photographic exhibition commemorating ‘Women In Reggae’.
• HiCrEC Music in association with BBM/BMC, UKUNSIGNED and BBMC (Brent Black Music Co-op) will celebrate IRD, British Black Music Month and Brent Black Music History Live with a live concert highlighting production and performing group Ruff Cutt’s 35 years plus career and performances by British and Jamaican reggae acts who have had a career association with Brent. Since the earliest 1960s, Brent has been the cornerstone of Reggae music in the UK. The borough’s influence stretches from behind the scenes in management, recording and distribution, through to local and international singers and musicians.
• Satellite events by IRD UK Collective members include a Catch A Fire club night, and a veteran UK sound system will be organising a special all-night session.

IRD events celebrate the best of Jamaican music and culture promoting 1Love and all performances and audio visual content must be devoid of racist, sexist, misogynistic and foul language or imagery.

For more information and details about acquiring an event licence, please email: editor@BritishBlackMusic.com.