Formed in 1997 as the flagship band of Portland’s world-renown future-dub label BSI Records, Systemwide blasted through preconceptions about dub music by laying claim to the tradition of the great punk/reggae acts of the ‘70s and early ‘80s (The Pop Group, The Slits, Creation Rebel, The Clash, etc.) while forging a post-electronic vision of what a dub-based band could be. Systemwide forwarded a politics of resistance, dubwise rhythms and soundscapes, as well as Near Eastern melodic sensibilities at a time when Portland was known for indie rock and not much else.

Until the band’s abrupt dissolution in 2003 due to then-drummer Josh Skins’ near-fatal hit-and-run bike accident, Systemwide travelled the
Western states extensively, including numerous short tours and shows with Dub Syndicate, Lee Scratch Perry, Mad Professor, Adrian Sherwood, Scientist, Mikey Dread, Dubblestandart, DJ Krush and many more. Systemwide also developed a close working relationship with Brooklyn’s Dr. Israel and Oakland/Seattle’s Mista Chatman AKA DJ Collage.

Systemwide were also remix favorites, eagerly chopped and diced by an enormous range of talent including Muslimgauze, Swayzak, dj/Rupture, Deadbeat, Pan American, Jah Warrior, Twilight Circus, and Alpha & Omega. Many labels, including Echo Beach and Select Cuts (Germany), Third Eye Music (UK), ROIR and Crosstalk (US) and Noise Museum (France) released Systemwide tracks.

Systemwide received unprecedented critical praise for a US-based dub/post-punk outfit, including many glowing reviews, interviews and
in-depth features in The Wire, Tower Pulse, XLR8R, and weeklies from Portland and Seattle to San Francisco, New York, and Montreal.

Newly reformed after an 8 year hiatus, Systemwide’s current lineup is as strong as ever. Original members Tim Ennis (Tuxedomoon, The Units) on drums, Steve Wegner (AKA DJ S-Dub) on samples, turntables and effects, Tim Andrews on keyboards, and Ezra Ereckson (AKA DJ E3) on vocals, melodica and percussion are rejoined by the band’s second bass player, Mondell Wells (Hungry Mob, Sufi Mind Game, Reparations).

Expect an immersive, all-live agit-dub experience informed equally by traditional dub and punk as by UK soundsystem vibes and post-dubstep experimentalism.