The likes of Chronixx, Koffee, Max Romeo, Shenseea, Skillibeng, Ayra Starr, Gyakie, Stylo G, Jah9, Kyla and more have all been revealed for City Splash Festival – the UK’s biggest celebration of Reggae, Dancehall, Afrobeats, Jungle, food and culture at South London’s Brockwell Park in May of this year.
The influence of Reggae and all things Caribbean and African on the UK’s sound system culture is undeniable. It has helped enrich the music scene for over 50 years and all of that is reflected at City Splash Festival, which has carefully-curated a fantastic lineup of Reggae, Dancehall, Afrobeats, eclectic street food, and culture too. This edition takes over one of South London’s most popular spots, Brockwell Park – a rolling green space with ornamental ponds, formal flower beds, a wall garden, lakes and plenty of sloping grounds to explore and relax in.
For this one day special it becomes a haven of authentic Caribbean and African culture with 60+ black-owned food traders delivered in partnership with Blk Eats LDN, plenty of authentic rum, and a creatives market as well as a wealth of engaging talks, panels and workshops by a whole roster of different charity partners. There’s also a London Brewers Market featuring breweries from all over the capital with a focus predominantly on South London and Brixton.
Find out more about City Splash here.
Leading the way with his first UK performance in five years is Jamaican reggae star Chronixx whose lyrical content revolves around themes of anti-war, romantic declarations and resiliency and since his Chronology album topped the charts in 2017, he has been at the top of his game.
Then comes Reggae singer Koffee who has been nominated for a 2023 Grammy for Best Reggae Album, plus Interscope’s recently Mobo-nominated Shenseea, a Jamaican Dancehall queen who has appeared on songs by the likes of Vybz Kartel, Sean Paul and Christina Aguilera, and Jamaica’s Skillibeng, also fresh off a MOBO nomination and feature with Busta Rhymes and Wizkid.
More huge names at City Splash Festival include Nigerian Afrobeats, R&B and Soul sensation Ayra Starr, Ghanaian R&B and Afro-fusion singer Gyakie, British-Jamaican dancehall pioneer Stylo G and the multi-disciplinary producer, poet, yogi and cultural curator Jah9. Added to this you’ve got Rampage – one of the UK’s most renowned Sound Systems – who play with the likes of Izzy Bossy, Saxon Sound, and 1Extra Reggae and Dancehall show host Seani B, plus Ras Kwame who hosts the Reggae Recipe show on Capital XTR.
Latest additions:
One of the latest additions is Max Romeo, who stops by on his last-ever UK Tour. A legendary Jamaican Reggae and Roots Reggae recording artist who first saw fame with his band Emotions, he’s achieved chart success both in the UK and back in the Caribbean too.
Other fantastic additions to this year’s final lineup include frequent Giggs and Dizzee Rascal collaborator Donae’o, international Reggae mogul Lutan Fyah, and pioneering Afrobeats producer Juls who is taking the genre into the future and headlining an upcoming VICE party at legendary nightclub Fabric. This one is gonna be one hell of a party…