About

Beloved of drinkers and dancers everywhere, Skylarkin’ Soundsystem was born via a 1997 mixtape in a South London cafe, and has been kicking out its patented brew of Jumpin’ Jivin’ Rockin’ Swingin’ Reggae, Ska, Soul, Dancehall and Rhythm & Blues Exotica in Oxford and London since 2000.

With Count Skylarkin at the helm and assorted chums like Wrongtom, JSTAR, Shepdog, Mr Benn and The Legendary DJ Derek manning the turntables – not to mention some of the wickedest bands and DJs there are guesting every time – Skylarkin’ Soundsystem happens on the first Friday of every month at The Cellar, Oxford.

Past, present and future live acts at Skylarkin’ include The Skatalites, Alton Ellis, Max Romeo, Dave Barker, The Topcats, Toots & The Maytals, Jimmy Screech, Horace Andy, Susan Cadogan, Ska Cubano, Dawn Penn, Mad Professor, Ragga Twins, The Wailers, our house band The Nine Ton Peanut Smugglers, Mighty Leap, Resonators, The Drop, The Delegators, Sidewalk Doctors, Intensified and loads more that I can’t remember very well.

Guest DJs that have stopped by include The Nextmen, Daddy G (Massive Attack), DJ Format, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs (Orlando used to play with us quite regularly before he got all famous and that), Don Letts (Big Audio Dynamite), Earl Gateshead (Trojan Soundsystem), Ashley Beedle (X-Press 2), Andy Smith (Portishead / The Document), Wrongtom (Trojan Records / Big Dada), Jon Kennedy (Tru Thoughts), Mr Benn & Souls Liberation (Bristol Hi Fi), DJ Derek (of course), Scratchy (The Clash), Bam Bam Sound, Natty Bo (Ska Cubano) and Gaz ‘Rockin Blues’ Mayall. And all our mates.

Count Skylarkin, Wrongtom, Indecision and DJ Derek are also all available to play records / prop up the bar at a club / festival near you. Drop us a line! skylarkinsoundsystem@gmail.com

Skylarkin’ Soundsystem happens on the First Friday of Every Month at The Cellar, Frewin Court, Oxford.