Caribbean culture to take centre stage at city celebration of reggae

– All-day Birmingham Reggae Carnival special at Hockley Social Club (HSC) on late May Bank Holiday Sunday will bring together the city’s Caribbean community in celebration

– Event endorsed by global reggae stars and Birmingham musical heroes UB40, and features the band’s tour support and rising reggae royalty Young Culture

– Pioneers of the UK’s reggae community including Solo Banton and Wassifa Sound will join acclaimed bands, DJs, carnival dancers, steel pan bands for the one-off bash

– Current food residency by West Midlands Jerk Centre (WMJC) at HSC extended by an additional six months to the end of 2025 in response to popular demand

Birmingham Reggae Carnival

Hockley Social Club (HSC), Birmingham

13:00-23:00, Sunday 25 May 2025

Tickets, priced from £15, are available via the Hockley Social Club website.

Confirmed line up: Bad Boy Wings (food trader) – Carnival dancers – Esmie’s Caribbean Fusion (food trader) – Flavours on Fire (food trader) – Friendly Fire Band (live) – Jam Jah Sound (DJ set) – Live Steel Pans – The Marley Experience (live) – Milo Sadler (DJ set) – Neeko (DJ set) – Solo Banton (live) – Wassifa Sound (DJ set) – West Midlands Jerk Centre (food trader) – Young Culture (live)

Birmingham’s place as an international centre of culture and community for the Caribbean diaspora will be celebrated during a special event hosted in the city.

Up to 50 leading creatives from across dance, food and music will come together at Hockley Social Club (HSC) for Birmingham Reggae Carnival on Sunday 25 May 2025.

Presented by HSC together with New Vision Events, the day-long celebration will feature tastes and sounds from across the 13 countries that make up the Caribbean region.

The event will both underline Birmingham’s place as home to many cultural and culinary professionals – from carnival dancers to DJs, and steel pannists to chefs – and celebrate the city’s credentials as a landmark city for reggae.

Building on its vibrant programme of live events embracing sound system culture, along with a strong roster of food traders with Jamaican, Trinidadian and Tobagonian, Bajan and other West Indian island heritage, HSC will also mark the event by expanding its footprint for the day with a road closure of St George’s St.

“Over 46 years in the business, we’ve witnessed many artists emerge from Birmingham to represent our city and reggae internationally.” – Robin Campbell, UB40

Live music as part of the special day will come from Birmingham reggae veterans Friendly Fire Band, eight-piece Midlands-based outfit The Marley Experience who pay tribute to Jamaica’s most famous son, UK reggae pioneer and dancehall artist Solo Banton, and UB40 tour support and rising reggae royalty Young Culture.

Speaking ahead of Birmingham Reggae Carnival, UB40 founding member and guitarist-vocalist, Robin Campbell said: “Over the course of our 46 years in the business, we’ve witnessed many artists, bands, vocalists, producers, soundsystems, and dances emerge from Birmingham to represent our city and reggae internationally.

“As a band, UB40 has always supported emerging artists and talent, like Young Culture. We understand the importance of supporting the industry, and we believe that these budding young artists will take reggae from Birmingham to the world with messages of unity and consciousness that originally inspired and drove us to come together and make our music.”

HSC has confirmed food traders for the all-day celebration as Bad Boy Wings, Esmie’s Caribbean Fusion, Flavours on Fire, and West Midlands Jerk Centre (WMJC).

Birmingham Reggae Carnival will also be an additional moment of celebration for WMJC, who have extended their residency at the Jewellery Quarter venue by another six months, owing to popular demand, taking them up to the end of 2025.

“Birmingham is a true reggae city where sound system heritage runs deep” – Adrian Alexander, West Midlands Jerk Centre

Authentic ‘backayard’ flavours will be on offer from renowned ‘jerkman’ Adrian Alexander and team, including jerk chicken and pork belly with hard dough bread outside, and classics like curried mutton, brown stew chicken, rice and peas inside.

Adrian, owner of WMJC, said: “Community moments like Birmingham Reggae Carnival celebrate the heart and soul of the city, its people, culture, and rhythm. 

“West Midlands Jerk Centre has been jerking in the community since the late ‘90s, so we can confidently say Birmingham is a true reggae city where sound system heritage runs deep.” 

DJs at the event include Birmingham mainstays Jam Jah Sound, in demand selecter Milo Sadler, international disc jockey Neeko, and godfathers of sound system culture in the Midlands, Wassifa Sound.

“Reggae embodies elements of so many different cultures, that it resonates with everyone” – Robin Giorno, Friendly Fire Band and Jam Jah Sound

Robin Giorno, of Friendly Fire and Jam Jah Sound, said: “Reggae comes from the melting pot that is Jamaica, which mirrors Birmingham in its diversity, and carries elements from so many different cultures.

“Reggae embodies elements of so many different cultures, that it resonates with everyone – just like Caribbean food, which is the ultimate fusion.

“We can’t wait to celebrate the UK’s reggae capital once again, alongside the best home-grown live acts and DJs, bringing Brummies together.”

HSC is a former printing factory, transformed into an all-day, all-night hangout space where food, music and culture collide.

“Celebrating the communities who contribute so much to our city and region’s rich cultural landscape is so important to us” – Jack Brabant, HSC

Jack Brabant, director of HSC, said: “Celebrating the communities and diaspora who contribute so much to our city and region’s rich cultural landscape is so important to us, and so we were doubly delighted to work with New Vision Events on such a strong line-up for Birmingham Reggae Carnival.”

“In line with our broad and diverse programme at both HSC and Herbert’s Yard, this event underlines our pledge to deliver top entertainment and cultural experiences with, and for, the people who make our city world-class.”

Curated and operated by Digbeth Dining Club, HSC brings together the best of Birmingham’s street food with a rotating line-up of talented traders.

More than just a place to eat, the warehouse is a love letter to the vibrant cultural and music scene within Birmingham, offering a diverse calendar of incredible events, from grassroots live music and lifestyle markets, to comedy nights and classical performances from the CBSO.

Tickets for Birmingham Reggae Carnival at HSC on Sunday 25 May, priced from £15, are available from the HSC website here.