Top 5 Reggae, Dub & Roots Nights in London
Reggae has a long and storied history in London since the genre’s explosion in the 1970s. As the genre has grown and evolved, it has spread throughout the capital, and thankfully for fans, there’s never been a shortage of places to go to hear the latest in reggae, dub and roots music with new nights popping up all the time.
But which reggae nights stand out above the rest? In today’s post, we’ve picked out a few of our favourite events and regular nights where you can enjoy the best that London’s reggae scene has to offer.
LIVE REGGAE SINGERS NIGHT @ TROY BAR
Shoreditch mainstay Troy Bar offers up a reggae night that’s all about, to put it in their words, “the vibe, the vibe, the vibe!” Best of all, it’s 100% live with a selection of superb vocalists backed by some of the best musicians on the scene, all while staying true to Troy Bar’s mission to keep things local. The night runs every Thursday from 9.30PM — 1 AM.
JAMAICA JAZZZZ @ THE EFFRA HALL TAVERN
Brixton’s Effra Hall Tavern offers up a bit of a twist on the reggae night formula with their regular Thursday night event, Jamaica Jazzzz, bringing together jazz, ska and reggae fusion with a fantastic live band and occasional vocals. This weekly event has proved popular with locals and reggae fans alike, so be sure to arrive early to get a good spot.
JAM ON RYE FESTIVAL, PECKHAM RYE
Fresh from the success of the first year of the festival in 2018, KERB are returning to Peckham Rye with Jam on Rye on May 27, serving up a great musical lineup and a massive selection of KERB street food stands, all in a family-friendly atmosphere. This year’s lineup includes names such as Kelis, Jazzie B, Omar, Barney Artist, Balami & Friends, Steam Down and more.
CHANNEL ONE SOUND SYSTEM @ VILLAGE UNDERGROUND
Village Underground’s legendary Channel One Sound System delivers a monthly dose of roots reggae, classic dubplates and positive vibes on a custom made speaker stacks that create an unmistakable heavyweight bass sound. Masterminded by brothers Mikey Dread and Jah T, Channel One can also be found every year at Notting Hill Carnival, where they’ve been a fixture since 1983. Keep an eye out for upcoming dates here.
ABA-SHANTI-I @ UNIVERSITY OF DUB, SCALA
Aba-Shanti-I has been bringing crowds together through music since the inception of the University of Dub in the 90s and remains the resident sound system at the wildly popular monthly sessions. Aba and his sound system play an expertly selected mix of dub and conscious roots music which is best described in his own words: “What you hear is what I’m feeling inside. It’s just the father giving I and I inspiration, directing us to send out vibrations to the people, bringing the races, all the different nations together under Jah love is what we play for. One Love, Jah Rastafari.” See event dates here.
For more news and info on the latest live music events in London, be sure to follow HUM on Facebook and Instagram. Did we miss any of your personal favourites? Or do you have an event you’d like to share with our followers? Let us know in the comments if you have any suggestions.
