Sydney reggae favourites King Tide have a brand new record out. It's titled Roots Pop Reggae and available from Vitamin Records. They'll be taking the new album on tour of the eastern states starting next Friday in Sydney.

You can buy the new record online from Vitamin Records.

While their sound is predominantly roots, they have great admiration for reggae's foundation years, as seen in the video below, Skatalite Feelin.

Long time readers of Dizzybeat.com will know I have occasionally mentioned a print zine we have published called Everything Crash. Earlier this year it was relaunched with a very small run of, confusingly, issue one. It coincided with a visit to Australia by Pauline Black of The Selecter and great singer songwriter Ed Rome. I was lucky enough to get to meet both of them and took the chance to get photos of them reading Everything Crash (inspired by Hoi Polloi zine).

Over the next couple of weeks I'll be putting content from issue one of Everything Crash on to Dizzybeat.com, but for now check out the photos!

I've lately had the time to sit down and watch the new comedy pilot written by Englishman Dean Cavanagh. It's a humourous look at someone trying to make it in the UK music business. Check it out before it gets to the major networks.

Watch the four short parts by clicking read more.

One of the best ska bands Australia has ever produced will call it a day with one last show on May 15th @ Williamtown RSL. Great friends of Dizzybeat, they were well loved on their 3 trips to Sydney and will be greatly missed. If you are able, make sure you get along to the Melbourne show!

They will be joined on the night by former members and other Melbourne ska performers. They've played a lot of their gigs out at Williamtown RSL so it is fitting their last gig be out there.

With all that has been going on with organising Mods Mayday, not to mention house hunting and moving house, Dizzybeat has been neglected a little. We've been back in Sydney over 3 months, but really only just now are we starting to become settled and getting back in the swing of things.

Anyway, some really cool things have been going on in town of late. Saturday just gone was Mods Mayday, an annual event we've done in Sydney since 2004, and this year celebrating 30 years since the event was first held in the UK. I'm not shy in saying I was pissed off that last year's event was hijacked while I was in the UK and not done in the spirit of previous year's events. We tried to put that right this year though and judging from people's comments, not only did everyone have a good time, but it had the feeling of a once a year event, rather than a standard weekly gig. We were a bit short of ska and reggae, but the bands we did have were a great mix of garage and sixties r&b. DTS and The Booby Traps joined us again and played sterling sets as they have always done at Mayday. The newest band turning heads are Royal Headache and they brought a fantastic energy to the night and showed that mod isn't all about looking back. Many of the 80s mods were either there to see or in the Mayday Dreamers (there were 8 of them) and they completed the night very well. A great full sound and tight as any band you'll see. You always know you've had a good night when one, you don't lose money on the gig and two, you don't go to bed until the next night. Thanks to all who were involved - the bands, DJs and punters - we'll see you all next year.

A couple of weeks before Mayday we went along to see The Special Beat, this time with Pauline Black. Few people have blown me away as much as her performance did, and meeting her after the gig only made the night more special. If there's a more immaculately dressed and captivating ska personality than her I am yet to meet them.

Expect more updates to the site over the coming week.

Today starts off what is a pretty big week for Sydney ska and reggae. You probably won't see a busier week.

Tonight it is Take It or Leave It @ Kelly's with chance to win tickets to the Special Beat + The Business.

On Thursday night it is the Easy Star All-Stars @ Manning Bar, which would be pretty cool, but clashes with The Special Beat @ the Forum over at Moore Park where I'm DJing. Having not seen Pauline Black perform before, and with Ed Rome in support it should be an excellent night.

Finally, don't forget to buy your tickets on Thursday for The Specials @ the Enmore Theatre for their show in July. They will go quick!

Thanks to Evan, organiser of Snap! on Friday night, we've a few photos from the event. Sydney band Backy Skank went out there and played with a host of other acts, while DJs kept the crowds moving. Stay tuned for info on the next night.