Originally coined as a DJ collective name by Heavy Stylus, Lack of Afro and Pinks (aka Reptile) back in 2004, the Root Down is all about deep funk 45's, hip hop beats, heavy soul breaks, Latino horns and reggae riddims.
Following two years of putting on successful parties and supporting the likes of the Quantic Soul Orchestra, Breakestra and DJ Format, the Root Down are back in 2008 with a bigger crew and an all new radio show on Exeter's Phonic FM (106.8). This website has been redesigned to support our radio shows (with 24 hour streaming and an archive of our previous broadcasts), promote our gigs and provide our visitors with an up to date list of what the funk is going on in Exeter's music scene (via our blog-style news section).
Heavy Stylus
Founder of the Root Down and a DJ that is no stranger to filling dance-floors and making people sweat, James has been playing other peoples records professionally for over seven years. Currently holding down residencies at Timepiece in Exeter, Ride in Plymouth and regularly venturing further afield, over the years he has supported the likes of Andy Smith, Boca 45, DJ Format, the Quantic Soul Orchestra, John Stapleton, Breakestra, Jelly Jazz and Gilles Peterson (to name a few).
Playing a tightly mixed mash up of heavyweight funk, hiphop, soul, beats and breaks, Latin and reggae, Heavy Stylus has a reputation for playing an insane number of records in his sets and consistently dropping rock-steady mixes and blends. His current weapons of choice are his trusty Pioneer CDJ1000's, which he proudly boasts “are the best purchase I've ever made”, mainly due to the fact he no longer has to regularly replace worn out vinyl (which is not a cheap option in the funk 45 scene!) but also because he now has doubles of everything to juggle with.
Lack Of Afro
A talented multi-instrumentalist and hot producer/remixer du jour, 2008 is set to be a massive year for local-boy-done-good Adam Gibbons. With over a dozen published remixes, several singles and an acclaimed LP released in the last year alone, the Lack of Afro sound combines both sampled and live elements of jazz, funk, Latin and hip hop; the end result proving to be popular with DJ's, headz and (especially) dance-floors across the globe.
Although primarily a musician, Adam has recently branched out into DJing and has already started to build up a reputation for putting together tight-as-you-like mix tapes and rocking crowds.
Pinks (aka Reptile)
Pinks (Reptile, Flapjack, Bones, etc.) has been amassing a solid little record collection over the years and sometimes plays them out to the masses or puts together sample heavy mixes with his trusty SL1200s (and minidisk player). He particularly favours percussion heavy funk and filthy dub reggae, but has been known to play an entire set of cross legged psyche folk (to a fast vanishing 'dancefloor'). Also a student of the drum kit and cow bell, he loves kicking out live jams with anyone who shares his love of tea, vintage Space Lego and fat grooves.
Choice Blend
Biog to follow soon...
Frootful
Biog to follow soon...
On The One
Biog to follow soon...
Matt Anderson
Biog to follow soon...
