Reggae Stories

ARTISTS:

OMAR LYE FOOK MBE

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.

Omar’s career is a testament to his enduring talent and influence. First gaining international attention via that signature hit, There’s Nothing Like This, which launched his series of standout solo albums, collaborations with both legendary artists like Stevie Wonder, Lamont Dozier, the late Angie Stone, Leon Ware, Robert Glasper and Erykah Badu through to the current crop of cutting-edge music makers such as Giggs, and a catalogue of side projects spanning decades, Omar has consistently evolved his sound while staying true to his roots.

That approach continues in 2025, as he celebrates his 40th anniversary as a recording artist with the release of his 9th studio album, Brighter The Days, which has been lauded to be his most self-assured, well rounded, eclectic, and continues to highlight his trademark vocals and songwriting. His unique, instantly identifiable touches always result in nothing but memorable music and further augments his multi-generational, worldwide appeal as new generations of fans continue to discover Omar’s timeless sound. Often tagged ‘neo soul’ or even ‘acid jazz’ – the truth is Omar is his own one-man genre, as this latest album attests.

LORNA GEE

aka Sutara Gayle is an artist who remains synonymous with the British Reggae sub-genre of Lovers Rock. She is an award winning Singer and Actor. Born and raised in Brixton, South London.

The multi-talented performer began her foray into music during the late 1970s. She was a pioneering female presence on male-dominated sound systems such as Saxon, Small axe, Coxsone and Nasty Rockers. releasing a number of hit singles since the 1980’s including ‘Three weeks gone – Mi Giro’ ‘Stop Chat’ ‘Singalong’ and Don’t go crazy’ However, it was the 1985 heartfelt ‘Gotta Find a Way’ that placed her at the top of the Reggae charts for six weeks, for which she received recognition with two BBC Radio London Reggae Awards for Best Female artist in 1985 and 1986 and has continued the momentum, more recently, picking up the Global Rhodium Actor Screen and Stage award 2022 and Chaaawaaa Radio award for female Legend of the year 2023

Well-respected by her musical peers, Lorna performed alongside Paul Weller, Madness and Junior Giscombe on the Red Wedge tour, a prominent 1986 Labour party voting drive. Lorna’s passion for global justice through politics again became apparent at the 1988 AAA (Artistes Against Apartheid) concert in which she appeared with Sade, Boy George, Gil Scott-Heron, Sting and Maxi Priest.

In the millennium, Lorna returned to her first love, acting. She spent three years at one of the country’s top drama schools, Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating at the ripe age of 40. Her acting career has been extremely successful to date. Since graduating, Lorna has appeared alongside Christian Bale and Heath Ledger in the Batman Movie ‘Dark Knight’ and has also been seen in popular TV series including; Silent Witness, Strike, Ghosts, Death in Paradise, Eastenders, Small Axe, Holby City, Black Cake and many More.

Theatre credits include Tina Turner Musical (Aldwych Theatre) Guys and Dolls (Savoy Theatre) Blest Be the Tie (Royal Court) Sugar Mummies (Royal court) The Crucible (RSC) Nation & Paradise (National Theatre). Lorna Sutara has just finished performing the first run of her self-penned, one woman show ‘The Legends of Them’ which has received the 2024 Offies Award for Best performance piece.

Instagram: @sutaragayle  |   FB: sutara ma  |   Website: sutara.org.uk

LAVILLE

For a long time music was Laville’s biggest secret.“I had to live my life first before I could write my music,” he insists. “I couldn’t write it at the same time because I was too in the moment”. He studied, travelled, and worked – everywhere from top London venues to Michelin-starred restaurants. He began to fill this space with music. Channelling everyone from Donny Hathaway to Stevie Wonder, Jamiroquai to Musiq Soulchild, it’s bold, daring, and completely natural, moving from soul to funk to drum and bass and disco like those house parties that first fired his imagination.

A chance encounter with Acid Jazz founder Eddie Piller at Soho Radio’s Central London studio allowed him to find his path. His Debut album ‘The Wanderer’ was steered by the expert hands of producers Tristan Longworth and Charlie Perry. Laville’s lyrics have this narrative thrust that dig a little deeper than most. A bold voice that adds something distinctly new to the tapestry of soul, Laville’s talent is too strong to remain a secret.

Between opening up for Grammy winning soul icon John Legend. Laville’s been selling out headline shows and featuring on tracks with The Stone Foundation, Hybrid Minds, Foreign Beggars, Big Narstie, Smoakland, Enzo Sirigusa and The Brand New Heavies. He also fronts The Ash Walker Experience and Phono 48.

Laville’s latest success is ‘Noirganica’, his multi ethnic platform and 1k cap venue at Secret Garden Party. 2 Years running he has brought the best black and ethnic talent from Jazz to house to burlesque to a mainstream festival. After hosting a 2 day carnival party in conjunction with ‘Dead Mans Fingers’ on a 50 ft barge this year Laville’s brand Noirganica is set to make major moves. With a new album Produced by Jazz supremo Ash Walker on the way, the year is set to be a triumphant year for Laville. Expect TV appearances and headline shows from this rising entity.

REGGAE CHOIR

Reggae Choir is an exciting amateur, non-audition, non-religious, contemporary ensemble, open to all who enjoy singing reggae music, regardless of skill or experience.

Formed in 2012 Reggae Choir have performed at many indoor and outdoor events and festivals including the U.K’s largest Reggae and Dub festival ‘One Love’ Festival, Citadel Festival, The London International Ska Festival, Royal Festival Hall, Fairfield Concert Hall, The British Museum. Sell out shows at world Famous Jazz Café in Camden Town, Hackney Empire, Greenwich Theatre, Barking Broadway Theatre, Stratford Circus, Hayling Island Reggae and Soul Weekender and The Royal Academy of Arts to name but a few.

Reggae Choir have also performed alongside the likes of Sandra Cross, Dennis Bovell, Brinsley Ford, Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson, Tippa Irie, Winston Reedy, Black Slate, Tomorrows Warriors and shared line ups with Johnny Clarke, Horace Andy, Ken Boothe General Levy, and many other well-known and much loved Reggae artists.

The choir sings many sub-genres of Reggae music such as Ska, Two-Tone, Rocksteady, Lovers Rock, Roots, Classic Reggae and Pop Reggae. We even give a Reggae twist to popular songs, just imagine Motown to a thumping baseline! www.reggaechoir.com

ASH WALKER

Notting Hill has long been a hub for the multicultural diaspora that has transformed the sound of London. Going right back to the days of Colin MacInnes, documented in City Of Spades, right through to the birth of the Notting Hill Carnival, The Clash and Ladbroke Grove stalwarts like Norman Jay. In recent years, that has been somewhat eroded by the arrival of new upscale residents like Tory MP Michael Gove or actress Keira Knightley. Butlately, a chink in the relentless armour of gentrification has appeared in the shape of AshWalker, producer, DJ, dedicated Afro-futurist and man-about-town.

He is now on his fourth album, Astronaut–the second for Night Time Stories–the accomplished follow-up to Aquamarine. The album is the sum total of his influences–and then some. Travelling from Dilla to D’Angelo, João Gilberto to Johnny Clarke, Inflo to K15, deep house to Soul Vibrations, hyper modern to crackly classics, but all with unmistakable swing and groove that is a key component in the Walker yard.

The gestation of Astronaut took somewhat longer than initially planned, no thanks to the looming presence of the pandemic, which banjaxed the entire industry. Walker, however, used that time wisely and the album you have before you is a product of those elongated times, both in terms of experience but also the finished product.

Date: Friday 20 June 2025

Doors open and DJ set from Ash Walker and GIN: 7pm

Start Time – Opening Act: 8pm

Finsh Time: 10.50pm

Bar:  Open from 7pm. We serve a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, as well as snacks.

Tickets:

General Admission Tickets: £22 + bf

Concession tickets: £12 + bf

(Concession tickets are for NUS students, and those on low or no Income)

Tickets on the door: £30

Venue: Grand Junction is a new multi-arts venue and community hub based at St Mary Magdalene Church. Our mission is to create and present an eclectic, collaborative programme of music, arts and performance for young people, families and adults. We also have a café serving delicious food overlooking the canal.