Black Slate

Black Slate play Cambridge Junction on Sunday 25 October, their first Cambridge date since the band returned to the stage. They're a London reggae outfit that first came together in 1972 around Anthony 'Pure Silk' Brightly, Chris 'Music House' Hanson and Desmond Mahoney, and they're recognised as pioneers of the British Roots Rock Reggae sound.

Their first charting hit was 'Sticksman' in 1976, followed by 'Mind Your Motion' in 1979 and 'Amigo' in 1980, which broke the Top Ten and remains a rallying call for the Rastafarian way of life. They toured Europe in 1978 and backed reggae stars Delroy Wilson and Ken Boothe before signing with Ensign Records. From there came Sirens In The City, then Rasta Festival (1981), Ogima (1981), Six Plus One (1982) and Get Up And Dance (1995).

Touring stopped in the mid-1980s, and it stayed that way until a 2011 reunion. The revived line-up, with Colin McNeish on bass and Jesse Brade on vocals, debuted at the Miami Reggae Festival in November 2013. Live they draw on their '50+ Collection' archive, so the set reaches back across the band's recording history.

Cambridge Junction is an 850-capacity venue that opened in 1990 on the site of the city's old Cattle Market, and it's a hub for live music, theatre, comedy and dance. Black Slate start at 7:00 PM; tickets are £28 in advance and £30 on the door.