ElecSoul 243 A Conversation with Ronnie McGrath
Final episode before NGOMA launches — Thurs 18 July

In this deeply personal closing chapter of the Ngoma preview series, I sit down with Ronnie McGrath. Poet, percussionist, educator, and long-time force in the UK’s Black creative arts landscape.

Ronnie takes us on a vivid journey through his early years as a young, impressionable Black man in London, immersed in the capital’s thriving underground music scene encountering emerging icons like Gilles Peterson, Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson, and witnessing the rare groove movement firsthand at seminal clubs like Crackers, The Wag, and more.

We also dive into:

His days studying at Pyramid Arts Development alongside fellow future legends
Being mentored by Clifford Jarvis (Sun Ra Arkestra)
Playing with members of Cuban jazz legends Irakere
Touring Europe with the Afro-Brazilian collective Afro Block
And his near-miss of joining none other than the Brand New Heavies

Ronnie’s lived it, felt it, moved with it. This episode is full of deep insights and spiritual groove.

MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE:

Dingwalls – Audio Bullys
Rock Creek Park – The Blackbyrds
Eh U What You Say – Roy Ayers
Southern Freeze – Freeze
Juana 1600 - Irakere
Cathedrals - D.C. LaRue
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Don’t miss Ronnie McGrath LIVE ++ improvising with Dr. Keys & DJ Robbie Duncan at the launch of NGOMA →
Thurs 18 July · Stroud Brewery · £6 adv
https://www.skiddle.com/e/40878734

Further reading & viewing:

British Hustle documentary: 
https://youtu.be/bOhLMyjXbko?si=Bwey27KjRN2m6hY3

Chris Hill hooked up with Stan Barratt circa 72/73 at the Goldmine on Canvey Island, Essex and effectively launched the identifiable Southern Soul scene - from which eventually came the Caister Weekender and everything else that followed. The Goldmine undeniably was where it all started. Those with longish memories will recall the brief swing revival of the mid 1970s, when Hilly briefly ceded the venue's dancefloor to the orchestras of Count Basie, Jimmie Lunceford, Chick Webb and Benny Goodman. Goldminers adopted swing fever for a few months until it attracted the attentions of Britain's national press (The Sun) then immediately dumped the fad and returned to a solid offering of Soul, Funk, and Jazz. Hilly departed for pastures new for a stint at the Lacey lady in Ilford before returning "home" once more a few years later. (In the mid-80's I promoted a "Goldmine Revival" with Hilly headlining which ran for about six weeks, after which Gary Dennis did likewise with a return to the "Lacey Lady" - follow all that)?
"British Hustle", directed by Curtis Clark, admirably illustrates what the underground soul scene was truly like back in the late 70’s. A film of two distinct parts, the first twenty minutes of BH was filmed at Clouds in Brixton with Greg Edwards (Froggy was also spinning that night but isn't featured in the film for some inexplicable reason). Our buck-eyed buddy and refugee from across the sea is pure US slickness, playing to a predominantly Black floor whilst Hilly, at the Goldmine, for the film's second half rabble-rouses a mainly white crowd and is the ultimate showman. Had he directed the thronged floor to eat each other they'd have done so without question!
Check out the (admittedly primarily alcohol-primed, with maybe a few ludes thrown in) euphoria of the Goldmine floor and it's not hard to see how this was replicated a decade later when the rave scene roared in, underscored by the arrival of E in comparison. Whatever, this is as accurate reflection of the southern Soul scene of the late 70's as there could possibly be, the roots, a magical time. Those that were there can take a trip down Memory Lane, all others can get just a little taste of what they missed....

ElecSoul243 #RonnieMcGrath #NgomaStroud #StroudMusicScene #DJRobbieDuncan #RareGroove #CulturalConversations #PoeticPercussionist #AfroBlock #Irakere #BlackBritishCreativeHistory