Eight-piece reggae band Pama International have been channelling the authentic sounds of reggae since their inception in 2001.
Originally including former and current member of The Specials and Fun Boy 3 founding member Lynval Golding, as well as former Pop Will Eat Itself drummer Fuzz Townshend, Pama International have gone through a seismic line-up change seeing original member, keyboardist and songwriter Sean Flowerdew with a new setup that’s still loyal to the genre.
The addition of two lead singers in Jewels Vass (who has previously worked with Mad Professor) and Anna Uhuru (from East Park Reggae Collective) gives the act a new edge, alongside further new members Bullit (former drummer for Wailing Souls, Lee Perry and Andy Horace), Gary Alsbrook of Kasabian on trumpet and co-producer Lenny Bignell on guitar.
Pama International have worked with the likes of Madness, the Style Council, Kasabian and Billy Bragg, and were recently the first band to sign to Trojan Records in 30 years, selling out gigs as their resident house band last year.
Their new release ‘Love and Austerity’ released earlier this year includes a reggae revamp of the Martha Reeves & The Vandellas 60s classic ‘Heatwave‘, alongside new material straddling the genres of dub, soul, rocksteady and reggae.
Having finished a supporting tour with The Dead 60s, Pama International will be back on the road with a further UK club tour, and six upcoming dates until next February.