John Masouri

I've really enjoyed writing for France's No. 1 reggae magazine over the years. Damian Marley's Stony Hill album was long awaited and he talks music, identity, world affairs and ganja in this latest cover feature.

The Komedia on Gardner Street is in the centre of Brighton, just a few minutes from the seafront, train station and main shopping areas, including the Lanes and North Laines. It’s the perfect location for a music venue although the Komedia also houses a cinema and sidewalk café, as well as several performance rooms. Downstairs is a four hundred capacity L-shaped space with low ceilings, diffused lighting and newly installed sound system. That’s where Brighton audiences have b

The De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill has been described as “one of the UK’s most celebrated architectural landmarks.” An Art Deco exhibition and concert hall situated right on the seafront, it looks as if it belongs in Florida rather than East Sussex. It was warm July night when Toots and the Maytals played there. Crowds milled around the entrance and the scent of ganja hung in the air, despite the presence of so many security guards. There’s nothing new in that - it was a regg

This classic album from 1978 was first released in the UK on the Burning Sounds label. Produced by Linval Thompson, it has former blues dance favourites My Sweet Baby, I Need Somebody and Just Enough, plus covers of Sam Cooke's You Send Me and the Royalettes' Gonna Take A Miracle. Thanks to Secret Records' Lars Gredal for commissioning me to write the liner notes for this 2017 reissue.

In this latest issue Damian Marley talks to me about his long awaited album Stony Hill and new career as a ganja farmer. I've also interviewed UK record producer and dub-master Mad Professor; highlighted some classic reggae albums from 1997; reviewed the latest singles from Chronixx, Tarrus Riley & Estelle, Cham etc, plus albums by VP Records - Reggae Gold 2017 - Sean Paul, Sizzla and Brother Culture. It's been another busy month!