Huddersfield was once a recognised pivotal figure in the UK’s reggae music scene – and it’s making a comeback, writes Zoe Williamson.

In the 1970s and 80s, London and Birmingham were obvious figureheads for music trends but what Huddersfield had in its favour was the element of surprise.

Rather than a simple Yorkshire town, it became the last reggae outpost before the Scottish border. Venn Street provided a hub for the scene with acts flying from Jamaica to play the club which was known variously as Silver Sands, Cleopatra’s and the West Indian Social Club. And the village of Meltham saw the production of Matamp, hand built speaker systems popular with sound systems

Matamp owner Jeff Lewis said: “It was just built like a tank, extremely reliable. That’s our claim to fame. We build a solid product that is reliable.” The company is still servicing speakers built in 1964.

Sound systems themselves, rather than a simple DJ and turntable set up, are a mobile street party. A DJ is more of a necessity than main attraction, the music blasting from the wall of speakers being what brings communities together, something key to reggae’s history. While not as popular as they were, and a little more technical, sound system setups can still be found today. Communities are brought together, a staple theme in the genre. Huddersfield was able to capitalise on this and its association with HiFi manufacturers, Wharfedale acting as a jewel in crown.

Paul Huxtable, sound system builder and author of Sound System Culture, said: “There was a lot of imagination, a lot of tenacity and a lot of working with each other among small numbers of people who were very enthusiastic.

A prototype of the new Super Nova 2, a relaunch of the popular music mixer by Meltham company Matamp

“Huddersfield is a very tight community, especially when you look at the West Indian side of it. It wasn’t fragmented the same way the larger cities are.”

Reggae’s popularity fell victim to time. Tastes changed and groups splintered. Racial groups will avoid sound system events they perceive to be for other people, disregarding intended diversity. These aspects were helped along by the ever-constant internet.

Paul added: “Today, with the internet, you can home into one splinter group and you can form a group worldwide with that genre. Its gone very secular.”

Of course, this holds true for any genre and most countries. Sub-genres result in smaller fanbases and the members of each interact within those groups. For reggae, not the largest music scene, it is a significant blow.

Currently a significant part of Huddersfield’s links to reggae is the reforming of JabJab, founded by Charles and Joe Augustine from the Caribbean West Indian island of Carriacou.

Bassist and vocalist Joe said: “The reggae and ska scene seems to be coming back again in the Huddersfield area and it would appear that more people are enjoying it than before. I currently play bass in a Huddersfield-based reggae band called Superfly, performing about once a week in Huddersfield and the surrounding area.”

Huddersfield reggae band Superfly

JabJab will be playing their reunion show at the Picturedrome on July 18 as part of the Holmfirth Summer Ska Splash.

Joe believes the internet has helped reggae’s popularity by making it more accessible. He also thanks clubs and bars for playing reggae and ska music to the crowds.

Bar 1:22 in Huddersfield town centre is keen to welcome reggae with open arms and open doors, hosting a monthly reggae night put together by Paul Huxtable. There are not many efforts to keep the town’s legacy and this one regularly proves popular. It has been active for over five years.

The bar’s approach attempts to replicate the traditional community feel of sound system events, providing an edge over a standard music gig.

Paul said: “A music gig is like a quick fix – get in, spend your money, get out, whereas the origin of sound system comes from house parties and community gatherings.”

Reggae’s legacy in Huddersfield seems intact, but is not as obvious as it could be. Society moving onto the ‘quick-fix’ so happily means a lot of communication from sound system is lost. As we become more secular, we are less likely to tell people of events to socialise.

Gareth Savage, a Huddersfield University student who has recently set up a reggae band, The Cocoa Drifters, said: “It’s only something I’ve recently discovered but I am aware of it and it was a lot bigger scene than it is now and obviously sound systems were a big part of the West Indian culture.”

Huddersfield was a prince in the UK reggae scene but never saw itself become king. Now, the crown is a little dusty. How we consume music has changed but legacy and determination persevere.

* Zoe Williamson was trained and mentored to become a community reporter by communications charity Media Trust who empower charities, communities and young people to have a voice and be heard.

Zoe Williamson. Zoe was trained and mentored to become a community reporter by communications charity Media Trust who empower charities, communities and young people to have a voice and be heard.