DURING the 1970’s Huddersfield was a hot spot for reggae.
King Street Recording studios could be found in the town centre alongside leading reggae clubs Venn Street and Montego. Eventually the scene began to wane in Huddersfield, but recently there has been a resurgence in dub and reggae nights throughout the town centre.
One of these nights is Chicken Scratch held in Coffee Evolution on the first Saturday of every month. DJs Rob Walker and Dave Hunt – known collectivelyŠ as Home Taping – play a selection of lovers rock and roots reggae alongside 70’s punk, new wave and electro.
The homemade posters, stickers and flyers promoting the night have obviously been a success as the small café bar was packed when I went – so much so that the windows steamed up and people were spilling out into the street.
For the first two hours, Home Taping play a set consisting entirely of reggae. The mellifluous vocals of veteran Studio One recording artist Jennifer Lara and her song, I Am In Love, went down well with the crowd, who began to move their feet awkwardly. By the time reggae fans heard The Blood Sisters cover of Anita Ward’s Ring My Bell, Frankie Paul’s Pass The Tu Sheng Peng and Althia and Donna’s Up Town Top Rankin’, self conscious foot tapping has been replaced with full on dancing.
As the night drew to a close, reggae eventually morphed into punk as the likes of ESG, Tom Tom Club, The B52’s and Devo resounded from the huge speakers set up in the corner of the bar.
It was the first time Home Taping organised a night together and, prior to this, Rob Walker had never played a DJ set before. However, this was not apparent throughout the evening and the night proved a success. With free entry and cracking music from 8pm to 11pm, it is an excellent way to start your night and a refreshing change from the indie nights which dominate Huddersfield’s music scene.
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