Africa Oyé are set to welcome back a host of familiar faces as well as some brand new talent to DJ at the festival this June.
Kenyan star DJ Edu (BBC 1Xtra) and UK-based Emily Dust return to the Oyé main stage for our 30th Anniversary. A host of the region’s finest Afro-centric DJs will showcase their sounds across the wider festival site, with the popular ‘Freetown’ stage back for its’ fourth year, alongside the longstanding ‘Trenchtown’ Stage.
Trenchtown
Established in 2012, Trenchtown was the festival’s inaugural dedicated DJ stage. At the far end of the park, Trenchtown is soundtracked by some of the country’s top Afro-centric DJs as well as home-grown selectors playing music from across the African diaspora; dub, reggae, ska, Afrobeat, house and much more. Trenchtown also features the original Oyé Inn, our merchandise stall, donation station, and a comfortable seating area ideal for chilling out. For those feeling more active, there will also be plenty of space for dancing the weekend away!
This year at Trenchtown, along with some returning Oye favorites, we welcome a host of new faces, including Lucy Grey, Simma, King Surman Sound, and Audio Farm resident, Silent Selector. An eclectic day of African sounds is planned for Saturday, with a reggae-leaning lineup on Sunday.
Freetown
Now in its third year at Oye, Freetown is back for 2019, soundtracking our second bar. Freetown will be hosting a wealth of DJs playing Afrobeat, reggae, dub, funk, soul, hiphop and jazz. With a seating area ideal for chilling out and a dancefloor for those feeling more like moving, be sure to pay a visit.
We’re also very hapy to be welcoming new acts to Freetown for 2022, with Oye debuts for Papu Raf, Anti Social Jazz Club and SoulfulTiz, along with a host of familiar faces, including No Fakin’, Subcora, Chris McBride, Melodic Distraction and many more.
TRENCHTOWN: SATURDAY 18th JUNE
12.30pm – 2pm
BEATEN TRACKS
Liverpool collective championing the rare, the dusty and the forgotten.
2pm – 3pm
ANDREW JAMES
Andy James is a long time local record collector and DJ who has held residencies across the city. Andy can also be heard on Melodic Distraction Radio, where he hosts the popular Grooveyard show along with local musical hero Danny Fitzgerald.
3pm – 4pm
GEORGE LUKE
Just what the doctor ordered: a joyful mix of salsa, samba, soukous, zouk, bongo flava and much, much more.
4pm – 5pm
LUCY GREY
Inspired by the cultural sounds of Portugal and Mexico, Lucy Grey is influenced by labels such as Principé and NAAFI. For this special set, on her birthday weekend, Lucy will be spinning some energetic Kuduro and lively dancehall.
5pm -6pm
SILENT SELECTOR
A cocktail of 1970s African Soul, Disco and Funk vinyl beats from the Audio Farm resident.
6pm -7pm
JACQUES MALCHANCE
Jacques’ vinyl-only Dj sets have gained him a reputation for their unique and truly eclectic feel – covering many different genres and styles, stuffed with rarities and oddities from around the world.
7pm – 8pm
RICH FURNESS
Long time devotee of the festival Rich Furness returns again with his ‘Polyrhythm Power’ alias, showcasing the best in UK Funky, Kwaito, Gqom, Amapiano and rowdy Afro House.
8pm – 9pm
ZUZU B2B MORGAN
‘World’ house music, deep Latin grooves and mystical tribal rhythms.
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FREETOWN: SATURDAY 18th JUNE
1pm – 2pm
MELODIC DISTRACTION (Alien Izz b2b Snoodman Deejay)
Residents from Melodic Distraction Radio open and close proceedings at Freetown this year. Alien Izz is a DJ spinning all things eclectic, leftfield and bassy from the club to the Sound System. Snoodman Deejay is a reggae selector & radio broadcaster based in Liverpool, specialising in the dubbier side of reggae…
2pm – 3pm
SOULFULTIZ
Soulfultiz is a host and DJ at Melodic Distraction and KCC Live. On a mission to share his love and passion for music with as many people as possible, expect some expert Soul, Neo Soul, and Afro Soul selections.
3pm – 4pm
PADDY NORRIS & DAVE STRONG
Lark Lane record fair curator and life long record hoarder, Paddy, will be rewarding your eardrums with a fine blend of off the beaten track Hi Life and Afrobeat jewels. 81 Renshaw’s “Second-hand Dave” will be dipping into his collection for some African funk and disco.
4pm – 5pm
CHRIS MCBRIDE
Chris has worked in the music industry for many years and DJed at choice club nights including the Hifi club, B Music, Friends and Family, Tuff Love soul and touring with bands playing jazz, soul ,funk, reggae from all 4 corners of the world.
5pm – 6pm
ANTI SOCIAL JAZZ CLUB
The Anti Social Jazz Club (ASJC) is a like-minded collective championing jazz and its connected genres from around the world through creative improvisation. With African music providing the cornerstone of their residencies across the North-West, expect to hear all manner of gems and rarities both old and new.
6pm – 7pm
HOLMESY & BOLTS
African sounds from right across the spectrum, rootsy spirituals to Malian ring tones.
7pm – 8pm
PAPU RAF
Renowned DJ, producer, event manager and Co-Founder of House Of Zuzu. Bringing energy through music, Raf plays Afrohouse, Afrobeats, Disco, House Music, R’n’B, Hip Hop, Amapiano and more.
8pm – 9pm
SUBCORA
Spanning the house music spectrum. sounds of different cultures and times. Subcora is a Liverpool based DJ with an eclectic style and mixes genres of house, alongside disco, soul and world music.
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TRENCHTOWN: SUNDAY 19th JUNE
12.30pm – 2pm
DJ RED KITE
Back for his 9th (or maybe 10th) time spinning vinyl at Oye. Red Kite’s playlist will include more vintage Jamaican, from ska to dancehall plus some gems from across Africa.
2pm – 3pm
ELLIOT HUTCHINSON
Crate n’ counter guru at Liverpool’s Dig Vinyl Records, Elliot has brought weird, wonderful & worldly 45s to the younger ear for well over a decade.
3pm – 4pm
FUNKDUB
Funkdub have been lighting up the dancefloor since 2004, whether at their longstanding residency in Chester or playing sets all around the festivals including Positive Vibration, Boomtown and London International Ska Festival. For Oye they’ll be bringing a box of dubs, beats and vibes with a little bit of Afrobeat and funk to put a crease in your step.
4pm – 5pm
KEITH MARLEY
Keith is an avid collector of vinyl, and his DJ sets range from reggae, jungle, funk, Afrobeat, hip hop, house and all in between. For Oyé he will be serving up a cocktail of bass driven, block rocking, reggae beats.
5pm – 6pm
SIMMA
Having played alongside legends such as Lee Perry, Toots & The Maytals, General Levy, Mungo’s Hi Fi and many more, the Dub Junction label boss Simma will be bringing all things digi-dub, roots and dancehall to Trenchtown.
6pm – 7pm
KING SURMAN SOUND feat DJ-DS
DJ-DS presents ‘King Surman Sound’ at Africa Oye, bringing you the sounds of classic reggae vinyl – past and present.
7pm – 8pm
DUB DEFENDERS
DJ duo playing a variation of Reggae infused Bass Music from Dub to Steppers, and everything in between.
8pm – 9pm
100th MONKEY
Established in 2011, 100th Monkey has brought some of the biggest names in DnB/Jungle to Liverpool with shows in some amazing venues across the city. Expect a set of drum & bass and jungle from DJs Andee J, Silly G, Bad Manning. MCs: Cox, Lady Soul, Senci.
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FREETOWN: SUNDAY 19th JUNE
1pm – 2pm
JAMIE HOLLIGAN
Long term reggae spinner Jamie Holligan brings the heat to Freetown with an infusion of Reggae, Roots and Dub.
2pm – 3pm
DAVE BUTCHA
Festival stalwart Dave Butcher will be packing his bags full of deep Reggae and Dub, along with other nuggets from across the globe, making use of what’s good.
3pm – 4pm
NO FAKIN’
Through hip-hop, funk, soul, disco, reggae and more, No Fakin’ DJs flip the classic and obscure into a mix that’s guaranteed to get the party started right.
4pm – 5pm
LYRICAL COMPACT (DJ Olabean / DFresh & 2Kind)
Liverpool’s Original Hip Hop DJ Collective started out at house parties in Liverpool 8 in the early 90s, and went on to be one of the most sought out R&B / Hip Hop DJ acts for the next three decades.
5pm – 6.30pm
THE SOUND OF MUSIC & SONS
Three generations of one music happy family get that rare opportunity to play together. The family that plays together, stays together. ‘Be’ with them.
6.30pm – 8pm
MONO MONDO DJs & DHARMA COLLECTIVE (B2B)
Selectors from a new Liverpool-based record label with a taste for World Funk, Highlife and synth-lead dance beats from across the globe come together with long standing Melodic Distraction radio residents and regulars on the scene, Kole and James – Dharma Collective. Expect an eclectic set full of African Disco, Brazilian, Latin, Broken Beat, House & more.
8pm – 9pm
MELODIC DISTRACTION (Aitman b2b Niix)
Josh Aitman is one of the team behind Melodic Distraction Radio and a DJ specialising in how jazz music reaches into all corners of the musical world, on his monthly radio show Moving Through Music and regular Wake Up slot every Saturday morning. NIIX is a Manchester-based singer, producer and DJ making her Africa Oyé debut following previous DJ slots at Gottwood and Audio Farm Festival.
The 2022 Africa Oyé festival will take place on 18th and 19th June in Liverpool’s Sefton Park on the Review Field from 12:30pm til 9:30pm both days. Entrance is FREE and you do not need a ticket. You can keep up with all the latest announcements via the Africa Oyé Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.
For more information on the Africa Oye festival and other events held across the country by Africa Oyé please visit africaoye.com.
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