SXSW London curates a sonic Caribbean cruise in the heart of the East End
London’s first SXSW Festival has had East London abuzz this week with fresh, global talent and an eclectic fusion of sounds. Amid the maze of musical events, anticipation peaked on Thursday night, not just for Tems on Billboard’s Stage at the Troxy, but inside Shoreditch’s Strongroom Bar, as Island Wave, Reggae Recipe Live, and Seani B’s Bruk Out brought authentic Caribbean vibes to the East End. The night offered a rich showcase of the Caribbean’s far-reaching musical influence—reggae, dancehall, drill, R&B, French Caribbean sounds, and many shades of soca, stirring the spirits of everyone present. For Caribbean music lovers, it was a feast for the senses.
Outside in Strongroom’s courtyard, Seani B’s Bruk Out transformed drizzle into dance. Undeterred by passing showers, revellers raised their voices to the skies, belting out soca anthems from Trinidad to St. Lucia—lifted by high-energy sets from Triniboi Jooice, the Sundivas, Mighty, and more—each artist kept the carnival spirit alive under cloudy London skies. Mr Mention closed the outdoor segment with infectious energy, as rhythms pumped from the sound system into bodies brukkin’, stomping, shaking, and chanting down the yard.
Inside, Island Wave kept the atmosphere electric. Patrons stood shoulder to shoulder, phones held high to capture every moment of musical brilliance. Jamaica’s darling, Sevana, commanded the room with her radiant presence and velvet vocals, starting her set with reggae sounds including “Haul & Pull” and paying homage to the legend Beres Hammond. She took the crowd on a journey through her discography—from the sassy, dancehall-influenced “Nobody Man”, to the tender honesty of “Bit Too Shy, ” to the sun-soaked summer smash “Mango, ” and her latest genre-blending vocal delight, “Need Me. ” Fans sang every word, proof that Jamaica’s influence is vast—island likkle, but di people dem tallawah. Really and truly. Truly and really. Following this standout performance, Sevana kicks off her ‘Need Me’ UK tour, with stops in London, Manchester, and Birmingham, later this month.
The night also featured a magnetic set from fellow Jamaican artist Mortimer, who delivered smooth melodies that had the crowd grooving and skanking in unison. Hosted by Ras Kwame, the event offered a vibrant mix of Caribbean talent from Dominica, Barbados, Haiti, and the African-Caribbean diaspora in the UK, USA & Canada. The night’s musical acts also included Kalibwoy, Izzy Bossy, Kris Irie, Xav, Ortisé Williams, Kalpee, Kanis, and Blvk H3ro—all adding unique flavours to the night. This eclectic lineup proved, once again, that the Caribbean is no monolith, but a thriving mosaic of cultures and contemporary sounds.
