Karen Gabay x Creative Manchester x British Pop Archive
This event is a rare opportunity to hear from three musicians from the North West of England, sharing their personal testimonies of developing their international careers from the foundation of reggae and dub culture.
The impact and deep influence of lovers rock, roots reggae, and dub is both underrated and underestimated. Our panellists will reflect on this from a northern viewpoint.
Since the beginning of January 2025, Karen Gabay has been carrying out a Simon Industrial Fellowship at The University of Manchester, with the Creative Manchester research platform, the Music Department at the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures and the British Pop Archive. The Fellowship “This is our Story – Reclaiming Black British music’s his- and herstories” builds on Karen’s experience working in network and local radio and television including the BBC and ITV, and as an independent producer continuously creating her own connections in the music industry bringing to light stories that are culturally significant but are overlooked.
We ask guests to arrive at the Kanaris Theatre in time for a 6pm start of the event. Doors will be open from 5.50pm.
About the speakers
Host – Karen Gabay
Karen Gabay is a TV producer specialising in pop culture, music history and music shows, Her credits include Sing Gospel (BBC1), First Ladies of Hip-Hop, Reggae Britannia, (UNESCO award),When Bob Marley Came to Britain and Garms: Black Culture’s Influence on British fashion.
Karen is a leading radio presenter, producer and podcast host. She has interviewed many of the leading lights in reggae including Lee ‘Scratch’Perry, Cham, Luciano, Pauline Black, Dawn Penn, and Janet Kay.
This conversation will shine a light on the transformational energy of reggae music in the city of Manchester, the UK and how this genre that was borne in 1968 has had both an educational and joyful impact on our communities.
Levi Tafari
At the age of 16, Levi Tafari’s life changed following a school trip from his hometown of Liverpool to see Bob Marley & The Wailers live at Belle Vue in Manchester. Levi is now a poet, author and playwright who performs his dub poetry around the world.
Sylvia Tella
Manchester born singer and songwriter Sylvia Tella is one of the UK’s most successful Lovers Rock artist with a career that has roots firmly in the genres of roots reggae, pop and soul.
Her debut album Spell, released in 1981 was produced by the renowned Jamaican artist Lloyd Charmers and is regarded as a reggae classic.
Sylvia has provided backing vocals on albums for the giants of reggae music, the guitarist Ernest Ranglin and also the Godfather of Rocksteady, Alton Ellis.
J.Chambers
Dub poet and Hip-Hop artist from Manchester. A quickfire lyricist with musical roots in both Jamaica and Manchester, J. recorded his latest musical project in the iconic Tuff Gong Studios in Jamaica.
His poetry and songs talk of freedom, liberation, understanding and overstanding. J. is also an educatior as well as a musician, so delivering music with a message, is central to his craft. J. has performed internationally, most recently in Greece and is set to release a debut novel later this year.
