BRINSLEY FORDE - Lead Singer and Founder of British Reggae Band ASWAD - TO JOIN JASON WILSON AND TABARRUK FOR SEVERAL SUMMER DATES IN 2005

Brinsley Forde has been at the centre of the international reggae scene for more than 30 years as the former front-man and founder of British reggae band Aswad. Taking their name from the Arabic word for black, Aswad were formed in West-London in 1975. This band was able to successfully appropriate Jamaican music with social issues more pertinent to their London climate. Live and Direct (recorded at London's Notting Hill Carnival in 1982) is considered by many to be the best live reggae album ever made. The album Distant Thunder gave Aswad a UK Number 1 Hit with >Don't Turn Around= in 1988. >Shine= climbed to UK number 5 in 1994, while the attendant Rise And Shine reached the Billboard Reggae Top 10. Aswad remain one of the most successful reggae groups ever to come out of Europe.

Forde, also star of the film Babylon, left Aswad in the late 90s and currently hosts Lively Up Yourself, a BBC radio show featuring the world=s best reggae music. In 1989, Jason Wilson chose an Arabic name for his band after his love of Aswad – it follows that Tabarruk are thrilled that Brinsley will join the band for part of the 2005 summer tour – including the Montreal International Reggae Festival on 17 July. Check the site for updates.