Gentleman's Dub Club

Name?
Jonathan Scratchley

Describe your style in three words?
Energy, Vibes and Passion.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
At Glastonbury one year, in the mele we all converged on a George Clinton, Parliament show on the West Holts stage. It was an incredible set, Funkadelica at its most lavish!

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
We have been lucky enough to share the stage with some of our idols. Playing alongside the big rock and roll bids of the '60s and seventies would have been incredible, Pink Floyd, Hendrix, The Beatles - can you imagine the crowd!! From reggae, we have always looked to Isreal Vibrations, Alpha Blondy, Groundation, Culture, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and vocalists Berres Hammond, Dennis Brown, Hugh Mundell, Johnny Clark, Johnny Osbourne, Bim Sherman as inspirations and Hip-Hop is just too big a conversation to have.

To choose two and highlight tracks though... How about:
Pink Floyd, for the psychedelic freedom - 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' 
Culture, for the groove - 'Humble African'.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
Writing as a group, our music has taken on the passions of all members in the band with a focus on Dub Reggae, Jazz, Metal, Drum and Bass / Jungle and Hip-Hop, but it’s the reggae movement we have engaged with most as a unit. We all lived together in Leeds for 3/4 years and were lucky enough to connect with the scene and its players and have been active parts in the UK scene for over a decade now. It was an incredibly positive environment especially for new music, with musicians, fans and infrastructure to support emerging scenes.

We also had a fascination for the UK’s ska and Rock Roll scenes of the '70s, '80s; there was a connection through the music we were making as well as a rebellion through celebration; almost a cathartic aggression that felt natural in our shows.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Probably Buddha. That would be an hour well spent.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
I love playing in the small clubs; I will never forget a particularly mental night at The Croft in Bath. The audience are at eye level; it’s an incredible experience to connect to a crowd in the way. Other than a small venue, it is all about the audiences rather than the venues in my opinion and some of the festivals we play to massive crowds that know our music and move with us - Boomtown, Outlook, Rottotom and Summerjam - all stand out for moments I will never forget.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
I always feel that Twinkle Brothers should have more status amongst the greatest reggae bands of all time. They released over 60 albums and still perform with incredible energy today.

Gentleman’s Dub Club have joined forces with The Nextmen to produce a 12 track album, 'Pound For Pound'. The Pledge funded album also features Joe Dukie (Fat Freddy’s Drop), Chali 2na (Jurassic 5), Eva Lazarus, Kiko Bun, Hollie Cook, P Diggs (Shapeshifter), Gardna, J Man and Parly B.

Pound For Pound is scheduled for release on 22nd June.

Find out more and get involved at www.pledgemusic.com