SDS was founded by Cosmos Ray in 2011 as a monthly event at the Double Door. Many reggae nights in Chicago are focused on a single style of reggae, and are attended by only one group of fans. SDS set out to create a night that covers as much territory as possible of the steeped fifty year history of reggae music. We include every genre and warmly welcome people from all backgrounds. We feature res
ident and guest selectors that honor the 45 rpm record and vinyl at large, as our monthly events are strictly vinyl. We also spotlight two sets of live performance from the best of Chicago’s musicians. We create a space for toasters (a.k.a. deejays) to get on the microphone over riddims spun by our selectors. Finally we also include a visual element to the evening, with Odd Obsession Movies screening Westerns and martial arts films, a strangely perfect counterpart to reggae music. The combination of these elements has infused SDS events with a unique sense of organized yet organic chaos. You never know what will happen next, from the style of music selected, to the films screened, to what vocalists will appear. In this way we pay homage to the dynamism of soundsystem culture, and we keep our audience on its feet! Based upon the success of Simmer Down Sound events featuring Jamaican legends such as Carlton Livingston and Charley Organaire, we have created an additional series called Simmer Down Select which will debut October 9th with reggae titan, Johnny Osbourne. This Select series will headline the brightest luminaries of Jamaica’s musical canon, giving Chicago reggae musicians and fans a unique chance to connect to some of the greatest pioneers of the field. What started as a mellow Sunday night monthly has over the past three years transformed and grown into a thriving and diverse scene in Chicago's reggae-dancehall landscape. We are honored and grateful for our ever growing support, and for all the great talents who have been a part of our events. The Collective:
The amazing vinyl collections of SDS resident DJs, the Graduate, Rad Brian and MarcusIyah are a testimony to their deep love for Jamaican music. From original ska, rocksteady, roots, dub, lovers rock, rub-a-dub, and digi dancehall to today’s newest anthems, these three aficionados have the choicest and rarest selections, which means that a visit to Simmer Down Sound guarantees you will hear a tune you have never heard before. Providing the resident live element to SDS events is Chicago’s best loved vibrant reggae outfit Akasha, fronted by SDS founder Cosmos Ray. Akasha embraces and embroiders upon the rich tapestry of the Jamaican canon, and leads the way in paying tribute to reggae history while forging its own unique sound. http://www.simmerdownsound.com/ http://soundcloud.com/simmerdownsound http://twitter.com/simmerdownsound http://instagram.com/simmerdownsound https://www.mixcloud.com/simmerdownsound/
