Tippa to top bill at Stevenage club night full of Caribbean style

A music lover and DJ is bringing a celebration of West Indian culture to Stevenage in honour of his late father.

Simon Palma has arranged for famed West Indian singer Tippa Irie to come to Stevenage on Friday to headline a brand new evening called ‘It’s good to have the feeling you’re the best’, which will be a celebration of West Indian music and Caribbean food.

Tippa became widely known in the 1980s with the Saxon Sound System label which was at the forefront of the UK Reggae and Dancehall scene and helped launch the careers of artists including Maxi Priest, Papa Levi and Similey Culture.

Tippa went on to release a string of hit singles including ‘Good to have the feeling you’re the best’, ‘Complain Neighbour’ and ‘Hello Darling’ which hit number one in the British reggae charts. Tippa’s first album ‘Is it really happening to me’ was released in 1986 and he has gone on to release 15 studio albums with a string of Number One hits.

Other celebrated artists on the bill include Unity Sound and Errol Bellot.

Simon says the aim is to revive the kind of nights once staged by his father Kenneth James Palma – known by many locally as Jim Breeze – in Hitchin, Letchworh and Stevenage some 20 years ago.

He said: “We want to put on a great night of music so people can have a great night out without having to go to Brimingham or Manchester. The night will feature professional chefs cooking up a treat of West Indian food.”

It takes pace on Friday (July 29) from 8pm to 1am at Stevenage CIU Club at 31 High Street.

Tickets are £12.50 and can be booked by calling 01438 221333. You can also email k.nixon51@gmail.com and tickets will also be available on the door.