Stortford Dub Club brings Notting Hill Carnival sounds to Rose and …

As the capital prepared for the Notting Hill Carnival this weekend, the Caribbean came to town with an evening of reggae courtesy of Stortford Dub Club.

The homage to Jamaican music is the brainchild of Mackenzie Telford, who DJs as Jah Macka.

The former student of Mountfitchet High School in Stansted became a fan when his dad took him to the two-day iconic carnival. Founded in 1966, it has become a fixture of the August Bank holiday weekend, attracting around two and a half million people annually.

Stortford Dub Club founder Mackenzie Telford. Picture by Gerred Gilronan

There were obviously fewer people at the Rose and Crown pub in Station Road as the Dub Club shifted venues from the Horn and the Half Moon in North Street.

Nevertheless, Indie reviewer Gerred Gilronan (www.instagram.com/gee_gee_photography^[1]) found lots to appreciate in the fledgling venture for reggae fans on Friday (August 25).

He said: “Mackenzie Telford and his cohort of dubplate aficionados spent five hours laying down some classic reggae tunes to an appreciative audience.

Stortford Dub Club at the Rose and Crown. Picture by Gerred Gilronan

“The evening started slowly due to the national rail strike and the ongoing threat of rain. But that didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of those who did attend.

“They got down and skanked to tunes from Barrington Levy, Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff and Gregory Issacs, to name but a few.

“I’ll admit I missed Mackenzie’s set, as the rail strike curtailed my listening pleasure. This event builds on his previous well-attended evening at The Horn at The Half Moon back in April. Hopefully, we’ll see more reggae nights around Bishop’s Stortford.”

References

1. ^{^} www.instagram.com/gee_gee_photography (www.bishopsstortfordindependent.co.uk)