The Selecter

The Selecter are led by their iconic frontwoman Pauline Black OBE. One of very few women in the 2-Tone scene, she is often referred to as the Queen of Ska. Known the world over for hits including Three Minute Hero, Missing Words, Too Much Pressure and On My Radio. The Selecter continue to tour and release new music proving that 2-Tone is still as relevant and important as it was 40 years ago. The Selecter released their much-acclaimedstudio album Human Algebra in 2023.

A feature documentary Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Storydirected by Jane Mingay was release last year. The film had its premiere at the BFI’s London Film Festival in October followed by regional screenings with the Doc N Roll Film Festival. Based on her memoir Black by Design, Pauline tells her extraordinary life story in the same frank manner that helped shape her as an iconic, era-defining female musician. It’s a highly cinematic documentary that uses interviews and archive material plus a variety of contributors sourced from a wide swathe of the British music and artistic scene.

The Selecter supported Blur at London’s Wembley Stadium in 2023 and also performed liveat the Commonwealth Games Closing Ceremony in Birmingham which was broadcast to a global audience.

Original drummer Charley ‘Aitch’ Bembridge plays in the current live Selecter line-up. Sadly original member Arthur ‘Gaps’ Hendrickson, who had been performing with the band until recently, passed away in June las year after a short illness.

The anarchic passion that fuelled Selecter gigs during the original 2-Tone era is still there as they continue to perform at festivals and venues around the world. 2024 has seen the Selecter visit the USA twice and play a number of shows and festivals around the UK and Europe.

theselecter.net