Bangmix Stage – Acoustic Lineup Announced
Selah Collins, Guire, Tenja, Digga Ranks, Shannon B and Krista Green all feature on Wilkswood’s diverse stage
The Bangmix Stage always boasts the most eclectic lineup of the Wilkswood Reggae weekend. Acoustic guitars, tribal drums, dance troupes, singer-songwriters, comedians, DJs, soundsystems, poets and story-tellers all share the stage, bringing a multi-ethnic, cultural and illuminating range of acts. Bangmix curator, Kim West, has gathered another fine lineup of over 30 diverse acts, including some must-see acoustic and singer-songwriter acts.
Selah Collins
Wilkswood Reggae Festival greets the return of the eternal wandering star, Selah Collins to its festival weekend!
Selah is a London-based dub dancehall singer/songwriter with an inimitable style in acoustic reggae. His musicality and sweet vocals came to light during the mid-1980s whilst he was an integral member of the acclaimed roots band, Black Survivors. Following a successful UK and European tour, the band eventually recorded their eight track album ‘Famine’ on the independent label, Sword Lion.
During that time, Selah also made collaborative appearances alongside numerous sound systems – most notably with Unity Sound, recording a few rare follow-up tracks on their label. The 1987 digi-dancehall release ‘Pick A Sound’ became his most popular hit and Selah went on to perform across other innovative and inspired productions.
As a revered artist who brings that natural mystic to any city street and festival field, Selah’s generous love of music shows us how reggae can be done. From the roots.
Guire & The Golden Guild
Wilkswood Reggae 2024 warmly welcomes Guire & The Golden Guild for an exclusive acoustic session on this year’s Bangmix Stage.
Hailing from Bristol, The Golden Guild is an exciting reggae collaborative, founded and fronted by the talented Guire. Exploding onto the scene in 2022, the band has since made a noticeable impact across the south-west and have built an infectious sound guaranteed to get fans and crowds skanking and grooving.
Blending roots, classic standard bearers and contemporary reggae originals, The Golden Guild have also toured Guire’s debut album ‘Freedom’ which received rave reviews. The collaborative have since performed in numerous venues and festival fields alike, including Sofar (Bristol and London) and Green Gathering (Wales). ‘Freedom’ is currently available to purchase on all platforms.
Tenja
Wilkswood Reggae 2024 heralds the exciting return of much-loved vocalist, MC and reggae producer, Tenja.
Resident in the UK, but born and bred in South Paris, Tenja has been involved in music from an early age with roots in hip hop and ragga productions. He’s grown to become a renowned roots, reggae and dub artist with a distinctive vocal style.
Tenja is most well known as the lead singer of the former roots reggae band, Dubheart, who gained notable success as winners of the 2013 Rototom European Reggae Contest. The band also strongly featured on the BBC TV show ‘UK’s Best Part-Time Band’ in 2016 and Tenja was praised by hosts Jazzie B and Rhod Gilbert for his vocals and compelling energy as the front man.
Tenja performed with Dubheart at numerous events and seminal venues across the UK and Europe including Rototom Sunsplash, Overjam Festival, Summerjam, Boomtown, Wilkswood Reggae Festival, Jazz Café and Brixton Hootanany. In 2020, he then went on to become a successful solo artist and his versatility as a vocalist and MC resulted in widespread tours with revered producers such as Manudigital, Dreadsquad, Dubmatix, Freefall Collective and many, many more.
Tenja has also been a key MC in the scene performing primarily with the highly respected Countryman Soundsystem UK for over 10 years and with lots of noteworthy others too including Sinai Sound, Rootsoup Soundsystem and Bristol Dub Club.
Alongside his formidable live reputation, Tenja is also a noted producer within the UK reggae and dub scene. His own productions released as Tenja In Dub have been supported by sound systems such as O.B.F., Sinai Sound and Iration Steppas making him a much in demand live performer.
Instagram: @mc_tenja
DIGGA RANKS
Digga Ranks has been involved in reggae music from a young age and honed his industrious skills during the late 1980s and early ’90s alongside Foundation Sound. Digga then joined RNT Ruffneck Trilogy in 1992 and hit the musical road with the band supporting various international artists such as Israel Vibrations and Mighty Diamonds. Later, Digga and the group signed with London Records and Sony Publishing in 1996.
In more recent times, Digga Ranks has been lead singer with the Preston-based good time reggae band, Zamaica; touring the UK with live sets of Lovers Rock, Rub-a-Dub and Roots.
Shannon B
A homegrown standard bearer from Southampton’s Reggae, Grime and R’n’B scene, singer/songwriter Shannon B brings a unique blend inspired by foundation sounds and stunning collaborations.
Having found early success on BBC 1Xtra, Shannon B became the winner of the Journey 2 Jerk Jam talent contest and was a nominated ambassador for Southampton’s recent City of Culture 2025 bid. She has since worked with renowned artists, DJs and producers such as Alexandra Burke, Tunde Jegede and Maka Foundation Sound System, and returns from a shining debut at Glastonbury 2023.
Instagram: @shannonbmusic91
Krista Green
Captivating and versatile singer songwriter Krista Green makes a popular return to Wilkswood Reggae 2024
Original and versatile, Krista Green is no stranger to Dorset’s live music scene and the UK summer festival circuit. The Bournemouth artist discovered a love for the stage as a dancer at the tender age of eight. She later progressed as a drummer, playing in her brother’s rock ‘n’ roll band by the time she was fifteen. However, Krista’s natural talent for song writing was soon realised after she was gifted a first guitar on her eighteenth birthday.
Crowned winner of BMTH Unplugged 2011, Krista’s soulful, smoky vocals and rhythmic acoustic present a spellbinding performance. A stellar name amongst artists alike, this singer songwriter has a huge repertoire of catchy originals and a few popular reggae covers that always bring the sunshine and get crowds grooving. Often delivering a feel-good message, Krista’s songs are lyrically poetic and her previous successes are currently available on iTunes.
