given rise to an avalanche of techno but has also seen the birth of a new generation of electronic music.

Alongside the mighty Jah Shaka, Sound Iration, Mad professor and

The Twinkle Brothers are less visible producers such as Dub judah,

BlakaMix, Keety Roots and the Bedford-based duo, Dread and Fred.

Ten years with live bands gave Dread and Fred a wealth of experience

and musical knowledge. The years of hard work bore fruit with their

debut single "Warrior Stance" out on the Shaka label in 1988,

a killer tune and a favourite with roots sounds systems up and down

the country. Soon to follow was the debut album, again on Shaka label,

"Ironworks" which consolidated their position as a major

roots artists and featured much fine and innovative music.

The second album from the duo was "On high" again on shaka label.

This is an extremely accomplished dub album with Dread and Fred's

production capabilities increasingly noticeable.

Their latest album on the Shaka label is called "African Chant"

and there is much inventiveness on each track, showing

the areas that it is possible to enter with electronic music,

reaching peaks that the artists might otherwise have trouble in

reaching in a conventional manner. "We have grown in confidence

with the use of electronic equipment,

but still the live aspect of our music is important to us;

we have to be able to please a crowd.

"We perform regularly up and down the country and realise that

there is a large potential market out there. The response that

we get prove that roots music is still alive; not dead like

some people think. Even in Europe roots is a major musical

force that seems to be driving everybody wild."

At the moment Dread and Fred is working on their debut single

on their own "Dread and Fred label" This is an exciting

departure for them which they hope will open up new areas

in the roots field. They are keen to work with other roots artists to

develop the music further, because they feel strongly that while

other types of regaee music may come and go, roots music has

carved a permanent niche for itself in the history of

black musical development. They feel that it can only get better,

especially with the new electronic equipment coming

onto the music market. The possibilities seem suddenly endless,

with only the artists imagination to hold them back.

Dread and Fred perform live on stage with a sequencer,

drum machine, live bass, percussion and singers providing

a dynamic and entertaining stage show,Their C.V. is impressive to say the least,

having backed up the likes of Dub Judah,

Bobby Melody and Earl Sixteen.also Empress Rasheda

They have also shared the same bill as the Mighty Shaka himself,

as well as Sister Aisha, Macka B,Lidj Inc,Mad Proff,Lynton Kwesi Johnson and others.

As well as performing live, Dread and Fred are constantly

producing work in their Ironworks studio, working with artists such as

Mikey B, Dennis Nolan, Fingers Forde, Gus Mckenzie, Moulton (MALO) Mckenzie,

Ras Iyah from leeds alongside other top class singers like Supa Yout and

Disciple T. Natty Gad-Jacob Naphty, I-Natural & Kwasi Asante,

They hope to consolidate their efforts in the future by forging links

with other performers who share similar interests in the roots field,

because they recognise the fact that unity is strength,

especially where regaee music is concerned. Together with the BlakaMix Studio in Bedford,

Dread and Fred hopes to highlight the influence of the smaller counties on the music scene world wide.

The duo have the utmost respect for Artist/Producers like Dennis (Mixman) from the BlakaMix Studio

for Dub Judah from the Dub Jockey label; for Jah Shaka and his fasimba band,

as well as for people like the Disciples, Manesseh,

They feel priviledged to share in the same experience with these rootical brothers, and they

give nuff thanks to Almighty Jah for his guidance and inspiration.