Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land (2024)

Together with Caribbean Creativity we present the exclusive Dutch première of this new five-part documentary series that follows the journeys of five Jamaican reggae artists, including Johnny Osbourne and Leroy Sibbles, from Jamaica to Canada, where they helped shape Toronto’s reggae scene. This five-part anthology dives into the transformation of Toronto into a reggae hub, featuring rare archival footage and the stories of artists who left Jamaica to establish their careers in Canada. Directed by Chris Flanagan and Graeme Mathieson, it highlights the cultural impact of reggae across borders.

At the height of the golden age of reggae, some of Jamaica’s brightest stars left their homeland behind to shine their light in an unlikely hub of Caribbean creativity: Toronto. Sounds & Pressure follows the journeys of these icons: Johnny Osbourne, Nana McLean, Jerry Brown, Leroy Sibbles and Roy & Yvonne. Through rare archives and infectious beats, this captivating five-part anthology series takes you from Kingston to Kensington Market and shows how reggae music made roots in Canada against all odds. 

1. Johnny Osbourne (2024, 18')
Before gaining international recognition as the 'Dancehall Godfather,' legendary singer Johnny Osbourne was at the forefront of a revolution that transformed Toronto into one of the most influential reggae communities in the world. 

2. Nana McLean (2024, 15')
Against the changing face of Toronto’s Little Jamaica, where she established some of the city’s landmark reggae record stores, singer Nana McLean challenges outdated stereotypes and establishes her reputation as the queen of Reggae in Canada. 

3. Jerry Brown's Summer Records (2024, 15')
Jerry Brown’s Summer Records was one of the first recording studios to give Canadian reggae artists a voice. Four decades later, never-before-seen footage lets us meet the man behind the mixer for the very first time. 

4. Leroy Sibbles (2024, 18')
In Trench Town, the birthplace of reggae, Leroy Sibbles rose to stardom as the lead singer of The Heptones and the undisputed king of the reggae bassline. Then, at the height of his career, he left it all behind to create a new legacy for himself in Toronto. 

5. Roy & Yvonne (2024, 15')
Roy Panton and Yvonne Harrison made history as one of the first Jamaican ska duos. Decades after going their separate ways, the pair rekindle their magic—this time, 3,000 kilometres north, in Scarborough, Ontario.

Melkweg often hosts different types of programmes at the same time, such as concerts, club nights and films. Please note that there may occasionally be some noise pollution from other programmes during the screening.