February News
Heres an update of what we’ve been doing February
Specialized – A Modern Take on Specials Classics 10th Anniversary edition.
https://specializedproject.com/…/specialized-10th…/
2-Disc CD. The album contains selected tracks from the album original released in 2011 and 18 new songs that cover releases by various line ups of The Specials after 1980.
Included with this 2-disc CD is a voucher for a free download the original full 2011 album
Two great new T-Shirts are available in our webshop.
The Official ‘Our Way’ shirt for 2022’s themed album and the new Official Specialized Project T-Shirt.
More great things are available in the webshop including the tenth album in our tribute series. ‘VIVA! The Freedom Songs’ with 70 tracks recorded by bands across the globe spanning over 100 years of music history.
The Rough Kutz have kindly donated Man in the Mirror to The Specialized Project. The song was influenced by Hazza’s personal experience of dealing with cancer. The lyrics exemplify the power of positive thinking and determination to continue an active life.
The Rough Kutz where formed by Hazza (Hammond organ), Brigga (vocals) and Rat (guitar) in 1993.
The first studio album, A Bit O’ Rough was released in 1998 on Antwerp-based ska label Skanky ‘Lil Records. After this release the band began touring Europe. They released a second album Welcome to our World in 2002 and, in 2006, followed with Another Week Another War. On this album, Roddy Radiation from The Specials played guest lead guitar.
In 2010 they released their fourth album gangsters playground on RK Records. This year the band will release a new album Strictly Anti – Cabaret.
credits
Recently we were contacted by Spud of Too Hot who wanted to offer us and you this rare mini-album.
Too Hot released 3 full albums – Nice & Easy (2000), Wise Up (2002) and Time Flies (2006) and 2 EPs – Kicking Off (1993) and Big Time (1999) but they recorded four albums. Too Hot have allowed The Specialized Project to bring you the lost album from the late 2000’s
Too Hot formed in 1992 and dominated the South West Ska scene. Members have gone on to form The Simmertones and The Reggaskas. There local success soon saw them expand into a nationally known Ska legend. Sharing stages along side The Selector, The Beat, Bad Manners, The Skatalites, and Desmond Dekker and Specials Guitarist Mr Roddy himself (also making an appearance on the “Wise Up” album) and appearances on the BBC
Blockbuster a Tribute to Glam Rock is now available for download on Bandcamp.
When we announced the theme of Blockbuster a Tribute to Glam Rock in 2020, we knew it would present a challenge. Little did we know of the bigger challenge ahead. We announced Blockbuster before anyone new of the imposition that would be imposed on the world by the Covid 19 pandemic. One by one bands pulled out of the project because they were unable to record. We normally plan for 70 tracks but over the course of the year over a hundred bands came and went.
When we considered if we should abandon the project we looked towards the Teenage Cancer Trust for inspiration. Cancer doesn’t stop for pandemics and if anything cancer care was seriously impacted as hospitals struggled to cope with the pandemic.
We adopted their mantra of Can’t Stop- Won’t Stop and continued to seek musicians that were able to record. We trained musicians how to home record, we put together a pool of session musicians to fill gaps in band line ups and by the end of the year we more than the 50 song threshold.
This is Blockbuster, the tribute to Glam Rock that couldn’t and wouldn’t stop
Blockbuster a tribute to Glam Rock by The Specialized Project
Sgt. Scagnetti, Eli Ray and the team at Koast FM Lockdown Allstars (featuring Chris Forman of Madness), The Sunny Coast Rude Boys have made a videos for the songs they recorded for VIVA! Songs of Freedom for The Specialized Project, enjoy and pick up the compilation 4 CDs worth of great music in aid of The Teenage Cancer Trust
The 2 Pauls have begun the new season of The Specialized Radio Show and Paul Ayriss struggles to say Swindon Swiss Chalet, The show is live each Wednesday from 8pm on Wolfman Radio and includes a new guest each week.
You can catch up on previous shows with:
Jon Reed of Project Blackbird/The Specials
LISTEN HERE
and Hazza of The Rough Kutz
LISTEN HERE
The Gleevey brothers of Zen Baseballbat
LISTEN HERE
Gigs have been announced
Operation 77 at The Swiss Chalet
Time: 9.00
Date: 1st April 2022
Location: The Swiss ChaletChapel St, Gorse Hill, Swindon SN2 8DA
Hung Like Hanratty, The Rotten Aces, The Xtraverts at the Level 3 Club
Time: 7:30
Date: 2nd April 2022
Location: Level 3 Club, 73 Commercial Rd, Swindon SN1 5NX
Specialized Reading 2022
King Hammond and The Rude Boy Mafia, Erin Bardwell Trio, The Skavengers, The HighWasters, The Corsairs, Instincts Take Over
Time: 2pm
Date: 30th April 2022
Location: The Facebar, Ambrose Pl, Reading RG1 7JE
King Hammond and The Rude Boy Mafia in Exeter
With Gold Steppers, The Barefoot Bandit
Time: 7:30
Date: 13th May 2022
Location: Exeter Phoenix, Gandy St, Exeter EX4 3LS
Swindon Weekend
Two days celebrating local music in Wiltshire
Date: 20th May to 22nd May 2022
Location: The Swiss ChaletChapel St, Gorse Hill, Swindon SN2 8DA
Specialized Exmouth
With The Reggaskas, The Real Me
Time: 2pm until 9pm
Date: 2nd July 2022
Location: The Park 114 Exeter Rd, Exmouth EX8 1QH
Into the Valley 22
With Skacasm, Future Sailors, The Abnormal
Time: 7:30
Date: 30th July 2022
Location: The District club Pencerrig St, Pontypridd CF37 2HS
Specialized Skalington
With The Skapones, Zen Bassballbat
Time: 7:30
Date: 2nd September 2022
Location: The Forum, Borough Rd, Darlington DL1 1SG
Specialized Scotland
With Big Fat Panda, Chango Munks, One in Ten
Time: 7pm
Date: 3rd September 2022
Location: The Windsor Hotel, 38 Victoria Rd, Kirkcaldy KY1 1DR
Specialized Leicester
With The Pressure Tenants, Kingsize Ska Band
Time: 7pm
Date: 11th September 2022
Location: The Donkey, 203 Welford Rd, Leicester LE2 6BH
Specialized will be back at Sandford Holiday Park on 4th 5th 6th November with International bands, Special guests and all sorts of fun for THE BIG ONE 11!!
11 YEARS.
Here’s some comments from this year
“Probably the best weekender we’ve ever played”
“That was amazing”
“my favourite weekend of the year”
“That place is one big hug fest”
You can book both accommodation and tickets on 01202 622513 Or HQ booking line in 0330 123 4986
(Day tickets without accommodation will be released next year). All in aid of The Teenage Cancer Trust and other worthwhile causes
The event takes place at Sandford holiday Park.
Willow Cres, Holton Heath, Poole BH16 6JZ
We’ll have live music in both the main hall and lounge area and we’ll confirm the bands as soon as we can
If you’d like to book or enquire about accommodation you can contact the Sandford Holiday Park Direct.
Accommodation and Tickets are paid for separately.
When you book accommodation, tell them how many tickets you’d like and then the tickets price will be added on top of the accommodation cost
You can see who has been booked so far here
Sandford 0333 207 6862
HQ no. 0330 123 4986
Email – groupenquiries@parkdean-resorts.com
Come and join us for the 11th Big One Festival
