Four Aces Club Night

On Wednesday 16th of April 2014, you are invited to celebrate the Four Aces movement at the Ace Hotel!

To celebrate his new monthly night, Dalston's club pioneer Mr Newton 'Ace' Dunbar in collaboration with the Ace Hotel London Shoreditch present a screening of Winstan Whitter's incredible film Legacy In The Dust: The Four Aces Story followed by a discussion and Dj session as a fundraising venture to help get this film released.

Please RSVP to secure your place!

7pm : Four Aces exhibition

8pm: Film starts

9.45pm: Q&A with the Original Ace Mr Newton Dunbar and film maker Winstan Whitter

10pm till late! : Dj session - Reggae Soul Jazz

Brief history:

In the 1960's Mr. Newton Dunbar arrived in the UK from Jamaica and founded one of the first Reggae-oriented music venue’s called ‘The Four Aces Club’, which for some 33 years was home to the most influential black music and musicians to date.

It showcased new music genre’s like; Blue Beat, Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae, Jazz and Soul performed at the time by artists like Alton Ellis, Desmond Decker, Jimmy Cliff, Count Shelly, Ann Peebles, Percy Sledge, Ben E King Billy Ocean, Cimarons, Aswad, Black Slate, Matumbi and many others. This gave the club authenticity to attract artists like The Clash, Chrissie Hynde, The Slits, Bob Marley, Sex Pistols, Marc Bolan and Bob Dylan who were heavily influenced by the infectious pulsating rhythms!

The clubs success led to regular raids from the local Police, which gave it a bad reputation, the press targeted the venue as ‘A Yardie Drug Club’. Despite the negativity that clouded the club it went on to pioneer the early indoor Rave scene’s called ‘Labyrinth’ in the late 80s during the days of Acid House, Happy Hardcore, Drum & Bass and Jungle music. It hosted artists like; The Prodigy, Ratpack, Ragga Twins, DJ Slipmat, Billy Bunter, Vinyl Matt and Kenny Ken. Eventually the venue was forced to close its doors in the late 90’s due to a compulsory re- possession ordered by the local Authorities.

"Legacy In The Dust: The Four Aces Story" will take you on a historical journey of East London's legendary Four Aces Club founded in the 1960s, which for over 30 years was home to most influential black music and musicians to date.

The film is currently unreleased and this pre-book only event will serve to help raise the funds needed to clear rights to the music, archive film and photography that make this film so extraordinary.