14th August 2021
It was always the plan to have a launch party and live show but lockdowns and restrictions delayed that happening until 8 months later. On Saturday 14th August 2021, nine bands who had also appeared on the SS2020 release, came together for one incredible afternoon and evening at Portsmouth's Wedgewood Rooms. For many of the bands it was their first chance to play live for something like 18 months, as a result the performances seemed to convey an extra level of edgy excitement and release of energy. The line up, all of whom performed for free, included many top local bands that could easily headline their own gigs to have them appear on stage one after the other was a unique experience.
There were some firsts among the performances the first time Den Barry had taken front of stage as lead vocalist for the Glorias, the first time the line up of Race Car Hearts had gigged and it marked the debut public live performance by Patrikk, three young guys all just in their mid-teens.
This live CD showcases two songs as chosen by each band. The running order is not that of the event but sequenced, we think, to work better with the final song choices.
Brain Boosters would like to thank not only the bands but also Geoff and his brilliant team at the Wedge whose experience and stage management made the whole thing work. Also thanks to Ben, the sound engineer, who recorded the whole event for us and made this audio memory of that day possible.
1st May 2021
Brain Booster Music has booked a stall at Southsea Market, Palmerston Road, on Saturday 15th May; selling SOUTH SPECIFIC 2020 CDs plus badges and postcards. Merch from Bands on the album will also be available.
10th Feb 2021
Brain Booster Music hand over a donation of £1,500 to Jade Hughes, the Punk Choir Leader at Tonic on a Zoom call. An edited video of the call released online.
13th Feb 2020
Express FM Local Music Chart: The Muvvas No.2
6th Feb 2020
Express FM Local Music Chart: The Muvvas No.1, Acid Attack No.3 and Stayawakes No.4
30th Jan 2020
Express FM Local Music Chart: The Stayawakes No.1 and The Muvvas No. 3
27th Jan 2021
Brain Booster collective review the sales from the initial release and estimate profits so far is £1,500, contact Tonic: Music for Mental Health to arrange transfer of donation and a formal zoom call.
16th Dec 2020
The Steve Vinyl Show on The Flash, has intereviews with three members of the Brain Booster Collective: Brian Poole, Clair Wheeler and Peter Coote talking about and playing tracks from the newly released SOUTH SPECIFIC 2020 triple album
8th Dec 2020
The Paul Groovy Radio Show on The Flash plays tracks from the album by The Media, The Gary 7 and The Muvvas.
7th Dec 2020
The Steve Vinyl Show on The Flash, reprises the intereview with Peter Coote from The Muvvas, Attic and part of the Brain Booster Collective,
talking about and playing tracks from the 1980 Portsmouth compilation album SOUTH SPECIFIC.
5th Dec 2020
South Specific 2020 review in the vernacular from Jim Cruttenden, putting his view on every track and every artist.
4th Dec 2020
South Specific 2020 released, available online via Bandcamp and Discogs
Local orders delivered by Brain Booster personnel
Limited edition of South Specific 2020 Deluxe Package goes on sale in the UK, containing the Triple Album, a T-shirt, Cover Art, Snakes & Ladders game, four Postcards, fIVE Badges and a mystery gift
3rd Dec 2020
CD's delivered
Preparations to set up online ordering on Bandcamp and Discogs
Promotional work on Facebook, Twitter and website
28th Nov 2020
Thanks to Chris Broome's three pages article in The News, Portsmouht's local newspaper headlining "It's cool music, it's about legacy, and it's for charity!
14th Nov 2020
Masters and artwork complete and sent to CD manufacturer to be produced.
Delivery expected early December 2020
Promotional plans developed
2020 bands contacted to help promote South Specific 2020
28th Oct 2020
Mastering of all 61 tracks completed by J.D. Callender - thanks Jon
Booklet finalsied - many thanks to Russ Bestley for bringing it all together
CD track listing now complete (see separate tab along top)
14th Oct 2020
Release date is set for early December 2020, here's a list of the artists featuring on the triple CD album:
The original 1980 album CD1: Attic, Anna Blume, The Chimes, Dance Attack, The Frames, The Nice Boys, Renaldo & the Loaf, Toxicomane. Plus extra 'circa 1980' rarities: A.D.B., The Cartoons, The Media, Rank Charm School, Clair Wheeler, Zebra Zone
The two 2020 CD's will feature: Acid Attack, Poppy-Joy Cherry-Daniels aka Anna Blume 2020, Curl, The Glorias, Hooch, Jason Webster, JJ Summer, Kid Scaramouche, Kormorant, Louie Snacks, The Media, Muvvas, Paul Groovy & The Pop Art Experience, Patrikk, The Gary 7, Pan Atoms, The Positrons, Race Car Hearts, Renaldo & The Loaf, The Stayawakes, Tonic Ska Choir, Torpedoes, Watch You Drown
2nd Oct 2020
BBM team met in Old House at Home, Locksway Road (see pictures on other tab)
We listened to all the tracks and put them in some semblance of running order
The artwork for the booklet is coming in and finalised
The cover art work is moving forward
Hoping to set up some form of online ordering and pre-ordering
18 Sept 2020
We’ve now got the final list of participating artists
We've enough tracks for two 2020 CDs
We've also obtained an extra 20 minutes of rare and unreleased material recorded 40 odd years ago for the 1980 CD
We've got most of the funding in and CD booklet inserts.
The cover is being designed as we speak (See current idea below).
Artists are being contacted to finish off any remaining requirements
Plan is for mastering in October and CD production in November ready for release before Christmas 2020
23rd July 2020
WHERE HAVE WE BEEN? To put it mildly, Corona has caused a few problems, with several other unexpected hiccups, that took us by surprise along the way, for us to reach this juncture BUT we are pleased to say we have resolved them.
1) We have 52 tracks in the pipeline -
2) Which is approximately 200 minutes of music. 3 hours & 20 minutes.
3) We have opened a South Specific 2020 Community Bank Account with Metro Bank.
4) We are heading towards the mastering stage.
5) We are actively approaching companies who will carry out the CD pressing.
6) We are still looking to release for 2020.
7) We thank you for your forbearance and fortitude.
Over the next 2/3 weeks you will receive further communication on the next steps, with regards to: Important dates, Access to Zoom, your artwork for CD insert, Access to WhatsApp, Meetings-Launch event/party etc. This will be sent to the e-mail address we hold for you, so please check your e-mails!
25th May 2020
Brain Booster Music, is pleased to announce that it will be donating all profits from the first pressing of the South Specific 2020 project to TONIC - Music for Mental Health. Tonic's mission is to raise mental health awareness, challenge stigma and promote mental wellbeing through music and the arts in the Portsmouth area. The bands that contribute to the propopsed triple CD will be helping mental health locally: a fitting connection to the charity"
11th May 2020
We’re going to do our best to keep up the momentum and make sure the project will still be released in 2020 to mark the 40th anniversary of the original South Specific. Due to Covid-19 timescales for the forthcoming album have been reassessed. It is hoped that the album will still be released in 2020. We have already contacted a number of local bands for possible inclusion, if you would like to be considered please send a few tracks (via link or mp3) to brainboostermusic@gmail.com
1st May 2020
We just want to hear your music... Brain Booster Music are asking the current generation of Portsmouth bands to send a sound file of their music to brainboostermusic@gmail.com to register your interest in the project. BBM are keen to reflect the current sound of Portsmouth, with a new generation of bands and a cross section of musical styles, reminiscent of the original album and concept. Planned release August/September. Thank you.
PRESS RELEASE December 2019
In 1980, a Portsmouth collective of likeminded post punk bands under the Brain Booster Music banner, had bigdreams for the Portsmouth music scene; looking elsewhere in the country for inspiration, could Portsmouth be the next Manchester, Liverpool or Edinburgh? The first big initiative for the collective was to coordinate the production and release of a self-financed 8 band / 17 track vinyl only, compilation album, entitled 'South Specific'; with all aspects of the record independently and mutually managed by the bands themselves.
On release, South Specific 1980 was heralded by John Peel and despite international circulation and national BBC radio airplay, the album has remained a little-known artefact of the 80’s Portsmouth music scene. The featured bands were Attic, Renaldo & The Loaf, Toxicomane, The Nice Boys, Dance Attack, The Chimes, Anna Blum and The Frames. BBC radio sessions were recorded by Attic and The Frames following the release, prompted by the interest generated from frequent plays of tracks from the album on the BBC Radio 1 John Peel show.
Dreams fade, but don’t go away … The project still holds a place in the heart of those who were part of it and in 2019 conversations started up around the upcoming 40th anniversary. Another chapter in the story was evolving, another dream for another century and beyond. In 2020 Brain Booster Music are planning not a simple nostalgic re-release, but a remastered special edition double CD. Bigger and bolder, the new album will include unreleased music from back in 1980 and a second CD featuring bands making music in Portsmouth in 2020. It is anticipated that some of the bands from the original 1980 release, who are still making music today will be featured on the second CD, acting as a unique link between then and now. The target release date is currently set for 15thAugust 2020.
Brain Booster Music are keen to reflect the current sound of Portsmouth in the new release, with a new generation of bands and a cross section of musical styles, reminiscent of the original album and concept. BBM are hoping to be able to complete the second CD with some 10 participating bands, each being asked to provide around 7 minutes worth of previously unreleased recorded material, which will need to be submitted by the end of March 2020. BBM is therefore asking the current generation of Portsmouth bands to get involved and get in contact at brainboostermusic@gmail.com to register their interest in the project. It is expected that the participating bands from the current music scene contribute to the management of the project and reflect the ethos of the original.
To keep this Portsmouth musical legacy and the Brain Boosters ethos alive for future generations, the new bands will be asked to agree to replicate the process and ethic in 40 years time to produce another likeminded South Specific album in 2060 and that the event continues in perpetuity … Some dreams don’t die!