Main Stage

Omar Lyefook MBE is without doubt, one of the greatest soul music talents the United Kingdom has produced in the last 40 years. If anyone has doubts about that, then they might want to consider the list of legendary artists who happily line up to collaborate with him musically, or simply sing his praises – from Stevie Wonder, the late Leon Ware, Erykah Badu, Common, through to Carleen Anderson, D’Angelo, and Soul II Soul’s Caron Wheeler, Angie Stone and U.K. artists Courtney Pine, Rodney P, Kele LeRoc, Natasha Watts and Estelle, all appreciate his truly original and unique voice, musicianship and songwriting talent.

LoKkhi TeRra are a London-based world music collective. Their music combines Bangladeshi folk tunes with Afrobeat and Cuban rumba. Established by pianist Kishon Khan, the band played its first gig at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in 2006.

Dele Sosimi stands out as one of the most active musicians currently on the Afrobeat scene worldwide. Dele’s career began when he joined Fela’s Anikulapo-Kuti’s Egypt 80, where he played keyboards for 7 years (1979-1986). Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was the founder of the style of music known as Afrobeat. The music is a blend of complex but highly danceable funk grooves, Nigerian traditional music (including hi-life), African percussion, underpinning the jazz horns and solos from other instruments, as well as rhythmical singing. Dele was the rhythm keyboard player for Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s Egypt 80 and worked and toured extensively with Fela around the world…

Dutty Moonshine Big Band are a massive 13 piece band with big brass and even bigger bass! With a take no prisoners attitude and infectious energy this is a band that’ll have you dancing and screaming for more.

The band formed in 2015 and they’ve been destroying dancefloors since their inception with their unique take on bass music. In 2020 they secured themselves a Top 40 album, also an official number one dance album, with ‘City of Sin’. They’re a guaranteed favourite performance for anyone watching them at any event, be prepared to dance and dance hard.

Natalie Stewart aka the Floacist, is the founding member and creator of one of the UK’s most successful and unique ‘outports’; Grammy nominated, multi platinum selling Neo Soul sensation, Floetry. Her journey has effected and strengthened the spoken word culture and community across the globe. The Floacist is now breaking ground, working solo and also as part of the new I N I Project.

6-piece London jazz band Tanhai Collective draw inspiration from Jazz, Broken Beat, House and Dub to create their signature high-energy sound. They played Cross the Tracks in 2021 after winning the Lambeth emerging Artist competition judged by Norman Jay MBE.

They then went on to play their debut UK-wide tour which culminated with an interview with Afrodeutsche on BBC Radio 6, they are looking forward to bringing their signature Tanhai sound to a stage near you. Tanhai Collective are true to their roots of the melting pot of South-East London. They pull from a wide variety of influences ranging from Broken Beat, Jazz, House, Dub and Hip Hop.

Anthony B brings a high energy, engaging performance style to fans that relate to his lyrics and songwriting, both revolutionary and entertaining.

Embodying all that is topical and compelling about Reggae music, this artist has been steadfast in his mission to represent the poor and oppressed, using timely lyrics to confront political injustices and bring the issues of the people to the forefront. In the process, he has raised the performance standards and lyrical content for the industry, performing quality lyrics and producing a multifaceted stage show that attracts diverse audiences from around the globe.

The Twinkle Brothers were formed in 1962 by brothers Norman (vocals, drums) and Ralston Grant (vocals, rhythm guitar) from Falmouth, Jamaica. After winning local talent competitions, they recorded their first single, “Somebody Please Help Me,” in 1966 for producer Leslie Kong. This was followed by sessions for other top Jamaican producers such as Duke Reid, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Sid Bucknor, Phil Pratt, and Bunny Lee.

The band worked in the late 1960s and early 1970s on the island’s hotel circuit, playing a mixture of calypso, soul, pop, and soft reggae, and in the early 1970s, they began producing their own recordings. Their debut album, Rasta Pon Top, was released in 1975, featuring strongly Rastafarian oriented songs such as “Give Rasta Praise” and “Beat Them Jah Jah”. Since the early 1990s, Twinkle Brothers have been regularly collaborating with the Polish band Trebunie-Tutki in which they fuse reggae and traditional music from the Tatra Mountains.

Currently lead by founding member Norman Grant – as well as legendary bass player Dub Judah, Black Steel & Jerry Lions on guitar, Aron Shamash on the keyboards, Barry Prince on drums, and their engineer Derek “Demondo” Fevrier – the Twinkle Brothers are widely considered to be one of the best live foundation reggae bands in circulation, and they continue to play regularly all over the world to a loyal fanbase.

The Dub Asante Band and Matic Horns will be bringing a wealth of homegrown roots reggae talent together with a “We Salute Jah Shaka” medley set as a tribute to the mighty Jah Shaka – King of the UK Sound System and Father of Dub. Expect a message in the music and entertainment like no other. Guest vocalists include Tippa Irie, Earl Sixteen, Bucky Jo, Charlie P and Zakeyah Zebujah.

Macka.B has always been interested in music. At a very young age he was impressed by the heavyweight sound system Lord Barley, playing in the blues party next door. The vibrant reggae beat found a place in his heart that remains there to this very day. He was getting inspiration from Reggae music, listening to such greats as Burning Spear, Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Count Ossie, to name a few.

As a practicing Rastaman, Macka B’s music is based around the political and spiritual message of the religion, with an often light and humorous touch. Working with the Mad Professor, he combined dancehall and dub styles of reggae,

Tippa Irie, otherwise known as Anthony Henry, is a British Jamaican singer, songwriter, MC and DJ. Hailing from Brixton, South London, he first came to prominence in the early 1980s as an MC in the original Saxon Sound International.

Tippa first achieved international exposure in the mid-1980s with the hit singles “It’s Good to Have the Feeling You’re the Best” and “Complain Neighbour” before hitting the UK Top 40 with “Hello Darling”.

Earl Sixteen is a major name in reggae, having recorded for producers such as Lee Perry (“Freedom”), Joe Gibbs (“MalcolmX”), Derrick Harriott (another version of “MalcolmX”), Coxsone Dodd (“Love Is A Feeling”), Augustus Pablo (“Changing World”), Mikey Dread Campbell (“African Tribesmen”, “Reggae Sound”), Linval Thompson (“Black Man Time”), Earl Morgan (“The World Has Just Begun”), Roy Cousins (“Julia”, “No Matter What the Crisis”) Mother To Be produced by Dandy Livingstone and countless others.

Now resident in London, the 1990’s have seen him work with UK producers such as Leftfield ,Dreadzone, Mad Professor and Manasseh, for whom his tunes “Natural Roots” and “Zion City” were well received.  Gussie P’s Quality Time on Sip A Cup label and also Indica Dub Let Jah are some of the more current songs being played all over the dances in Europe and South America. Earl is currently still recording and touring spreading the roots rock reggae culture of his born-land Jamaica

Bucky Jo is a progressive, established, and determined Artist, Producer and CEO. He started in the music industry at the tender age of ten singing at church, adapting skills as a player of instruments and also playing Dad’s large collection of records from as far back to toddler stage.

Loving sound systems, Bucky Jo formed his own sound system “BlackHawk Int” at age fifteen, playing throughout London and the UK with many top sounds from all over the world. A year after he was introduced to local music recording studios, where he voiced dub plates and from there went on to be trained by top engineers working in the UK. Bucky Jo quickly progressed in this field and went on to build his own recording studio Buzwakk Records.

Charlie P hails from Southend, Essex and has been singing since the young age of 5 – starting as a Motown/Blues singer before quickly learning of a love for Reggae music. Holding a connection to Reggae before he was even born (his Uncle run the locally popular Simba Sound) Charlie’s first vocals saw him join ska-collective Goldmaster All-Stars, and at the age of 11 his passion for Jamaican music soon turned into a well-known talent.

Nick Dubateers, a man who owned a local sound system, soon noticed Charlie’s skills and took him to Conscious Sounds studio to record first album ‘Hustle’, which he and the Dubateers toured extensively around Europe, as well as Mexico. His first six vinyl followed, as well as debut video ‘Backstabbers’ – All of which helped further develop his natural talent and distinctive tenor tone that has made him such a hit on the Reggae Sound system circuit and beyond.

An artist of Spoken Word and a DJ born in England London and daughter of Jamaican parents. She studied Media and Music Technology and currently works as a Youth Worker/Mentor with young people and children combining these elements to support to their development.

From a Jamaican musical influence, she began her career writing conscious lyrics and spiritual issues. Her debut album ‘Dem Get Me Mad’ is produced by Mad Professor and is globally recognised worldwide. Zakeyah has travelled with her music and community works in Europe, the United States, Ghana, The Gambia, Ethiopia, Russia, Japan, and Mexico.

Zakeyah has shared the stage with world-class artists such as Jah Shaka, The Mad Professor, Lee Scratch Perry, Mikey Dread at the Controls, Israel Vibration, Sister Audrey, Resheda, Earl 16, African Simba, Dixie Peach, Keety Roots, Teshay Mekeda, and many more.

Zakeyah has her own label ‘Doors Of Return’ with releases ‘Justice for Mama Earth, Pass Forgotten and Rejoice. She produced a various Album  – a tribute for The Great Ras Seymour McLean  – a prominent member of the Wandsworth community  – where she worked with various artists such as Macka B, Joy Mack, Ras Kuntus, Jonah Dan, Rykey Steppar and Young Warrior (son of Jah Shaka). This has led to her promoting and organizing live shows in Brixton to bring the community together. 

The legendary Greensleeves record label bring a fiery roots and culture selection with special vocal guests.