British Underground, an organization responsible bringing UK’s top talent to South by Southwest for the past 10 years, presents this year’s SXSW ‘Bass Culture’ panel and showcase, which explores the resurgence of reggae in the British music scene. Reggae’s journey has played a vital role in the development of jungle, drum & bass, dub-step, grime, UK reggae and UK hip-hop, evolving into an all encompassing title known as Bass Culture. This diverse palette of sub-genres will be well represented by Bass Culture’s most prominent artists – including Gappy Ranks, Little Roy, Natty, Lady Leshurr, Rasites and Kenny Ken.

The SXSW showcase will feature live performances by the previously mentioned artists at The Driskill Hotel’s Victorian Room on Friday, March 16. On the following day (March 17) a panel of industry experts discuss their influential roles in Bass Culture. These key figures include producer/writer Mykaell Riley from the Grammy-winning group Steel Pulse, Channel One Sound System DJ Mikey Dread, BBC’s radio personality Robbo Ranx and recording artist Lady Leshurr.

An official website for the project ukbassculture.net will launch February 1 and unveils an archive of key tracks, podcasts, rare documentaries, editorial, directory and schedule of events. There will also be a one-off Bass Culture fanzine – edited by Paul Bradshaw and designed by Swifty from respected underground British magazine ‘Straight No Chaser’ -that will be distributed exclusively at SXSW.