Variety is given a reggae makeover

An evening of comedy and Lovers Rock style reggae is in store at Birmingham's Glee Club on Sunday.

The Starbeat Variety Show will headline the venue and fans can look forward to seeing poets, dancers, spoken word performers, comedians and singers.

A Glee Club spokesperson said: "This is about the connection between the audience and the performers and increasing the concept of variety, which is well needed for people to go out and get that extra feel-good factor."

This show features performers at the top of their game. Stand-up comedians Tony Hendriks and Glenda Jaxon will line-up with compere John Simmit.

Tippa Irie, who was dominant in the UK Charts in the 90s, will also appear alongside MOBO award-winning Lovers Rock singer Peter Hunningale and Birmingham's own Lovers Rock artist and Grammy nominee Peter Spence. The DJ for the night will be Mr Romantic.

Tippa Irie emerged from England's Saxon Sound International – the star-studded travelling sound system that has been at the forefront of the UK reggae dancehall scene for the past 25 years. It also helped to launch the careers of artists such as Maxi Priest, Papa Levi and Smiley Culture.

Irie was part of the new generation of British MC's who developed the 'Fast Talking' style chat which today can be heard in rappers like Busta Rhymes.

Tippa toured extensively with his friend and long-time sparring partner, Pato Banton, throughout the Eighties including an appearance at Jamaica's Reggae Sunsplash and their US debut tours together.

The UK DJ duo of Tippa Irie and Pato Banton had become one of the genre's favourite combinations. As the Nineties began, the dynamic duo pursued their solo careers.

Tony Hendriks' comedy has a Caribbean flavour, an international perspective and is universally funny. He has been described as being Jamaica's greatest expert and The Gleaner said: 'Tony Hendriks is world class'.

Chortle added: "Hendriks, nicknamed Paleface, has the charisma and presence to be able to delve into genuinely fascinating topics, and still hold the attention and the laughs".

Birmingham's own Grammy-nominated Lovers Rock star Peter Spence enjoyed a breakthrough hit on Greensleeves called 'Don't Leave Me Lonely', for which he received a Best Newcomer award. His next stop was another London based reggae independent label called Fashion, where he recorded a handful of tunes in the Lovers Rock vein, including 'Yesterday's Magic', 'I Believe In Love' and 'Crazy Feelings'. His debut album for G.T. Haynes, I'll Be There, was released in 1989 to rave reviews and won Best Reggae Album for that year at the Black Music awards, whilst Peter himself was voted Best Male Reggae Singer. He and Tippa Irie then co-starred on 'Girl Of My Best Friend' for Island Records. The tours that followed took them to the US, Japan and Africa.