Misty in Roots

Easter 2024 see’s The London Int’l Ska Festival return to Camden Town for it’s 36th anniversary to celebrate all things ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, 2 Tone and beyond! Day 2 of the event (Sat 30th March 2024) hits Camden’s historic Electric Ballroom with a world exclusive double bill of roots reggae giants. The legends that are Misty In Roots and Horace Andy!

Misty In Roots are one of the finest and most vital reggae acts the world has seen. A fact amply born out in BBC 6 music’s 2018 music documentary by Don Letts and by their debut album, which is regarded as one of the best live albums of all time. Commonly known as John Peel’s favourite reggae band (who they recorded a staggering nine BBC Radio One sessions for), not only did they produce some truly uplifting and righteous music with vitally important, socially conscious messages, they were a major force in the Rock Against Racism movement, and helped spawn other acts like The Ruts by funding their debut release.

The sensational Horace Andy is without doubt a true great in the world of reggae and beyond. Having started his recording career in 1967, his major break throughs came with releases on Studio One Records and most successfully in the mid-70s with Bunny Lee, who produced classics such as 'Skylarking' and 'You Are My Angel'. 1978’s album Pure Ranking anticipated the rise of dancehall reggae, for which he was a key figure in the early development of the genre, confirmed by 1982's Dance Hall Style album. His collaboration’s with Massive Attack, for whom he’s recorded on every one of their albums, has taken him to an even bigger global audience.

Support for the evening comes from Pama International, who since their formation in 2001 they have released 18 albums, recorded 5 BBC sessions (3 at Radio One's Maida Vale, 1 for Radio 2 - for Janice Long, and 1 for BBC6’s Craig Charles), and in 2006 they became the first new band to sign to Trojan Records in 30 years. They return with their first reggae show in six years, along with chart sensation Louchie Lou & Michie One (who not only hit the Top 10 with their version of ‘Shout’, but also twice with Suggs of Madness, as well as their phenomenal debut - ‘If I Was A Rich Girl’, which Gwen Stefani went onto have a global hit with around the world).

The evening is further bolstered by producer extraordinaire - Wrongtom’s Dub Show. Having released a series of critically acclaimed dub albums with Roots Manuva, Ragga Twins, Hard Fi, Deemas J and Pama International, Wrongtom is one of the leading dub producers of today (only one string to his impressive musical credentials) and Real Roots radio DJ - Sistren Shirley.