A Beginner's Guide to Misty in Roots
Today, 13 February, saw London's legendary perform at the 6 Music Festival. Along with the likes of , , and , they were, and remain, a key British reggae act.
Misty in Roots formed in the mid-70s, just as the youth in London - and across the UK - were getting increasingly frustrated and politicised. Their message of freedom, peace, education and consciousness found an audience not just with black British reggae and dub fans, but also with punk kids and old hippies, and they also had a major champion in John Peel, who included a Misty in Roots track in his selection for Desert Island Discs.
Here's the group performing at the festival today, and a selection of gems featuring the group from the 大象传媒 archive:
Misty in Roots
Highlights of Misty in Roots' set at 6 Music Festival 2016
Arena: Today Carshalton Beeches, Tomorrow Croydon, 1981
Arena: Today Carshalton Beeches, Tomorrow Croydon
John Peel filmed in his home and studio
It's actually very spiritual music, and you can dance to itJohn Peel
This wonderful clip of John Peel at home listening to Man Kind by Misty in Roots is taken from the 1981 film Today Carshalton Beeches, Tomorrow Croydon. The setting of the English countryside soundtracked by heavy roots music might seem incongruous at first, but it makes perfect sense. More than anything, Misty in Roots' music is about inclusion and, as Peel says here about their classic 1979 debut, Live at the Counter Eurovision 79: "It's actually very spiritual music, and you can dance to it."
6 Music: Three Minute Epiphany
Misty In Roots: What Is Roots Reggae?
Poko, legendary Misty In Roots frontman, tells us exactly what makes proper roots reggae.
It's protest music... humanitarian musicPoko
So, what is roots reggae? Here, Misty frontman Poko breaks things down for 's on 6 Music. "Reggae is a music from the African descendants in Jamaica," Poko begins, before explaining that the essential ingredient of all of the many forms of roots music is its spiritual side. "Some people say it's political, but in our case it's a protest... humanitarian music," he adds.
6 Music: The Story of Misty in Roots
Time to go in-depth now with a fascinating -presented, one-hour 6 Music documentary on the group, beginning with Poko talking about arriving in London from Saint Kitts in the 60s, aged nine, and feeling the cold for the first time, his early musical influences and the group's formation. Poko also talks about soundsystem culture, the unity between punk and reggae groups in London in the late-70s, who both celebrated DIY culture and were staunchly opposed to the rise of the National Front, and Misty in Roots' enduring legacy.
was broadcast on Sunday 7 February 2016 and available on 大象传媒 iPlayer Radio for the following 30 days.
Desert Island Discs: John Peel, 19 January 1990
John Peel and Misty In Roots was a mutual appreciation society. On their quarter-century anniversary, the band said: "Twenty-five years of memories and support. Throughout the Misty in Roots story, John Peel was our champion. To him and his family, we give thanks, praises, and ONE BIG LOVE." Here, in his excellent , Peel says of Misty's Man Kind: "It sums up the ethic behind my programme for Radio 1." High praise indeed.
