Further Artists Announced for Wilkswood Reggae 2024
Zion Train
Sinai Sound (with soundsystem)
Aleighcia Scott
It’s March and it’s time for some more artist announcements for this year’s Wilkswood Reggae Festival. Sure to start the party with a bang, Zion Train bring their unique live dub sessions to the main stage on Thursday night. Sinani Sound will bring some Sheffield Steel to the Jah Spirit Soundsystem Arena, performing with their own custom-built rig. And Aleighcia Scott makes a welcome return to the main stage following her triumphant 2022 debut at Wilkswood Reggae with her sweet, soulful collection of lovers rock.
Zion Train
One of the most unique and enjoyable live dub acts on the planet, Zion Train’s use of dynamic onstage dub mixing whilst performing alongside live instruments and vocals is always a festival treat. Around since forever, the band have been regulars on the gig and festival circuit since forming in Oxford in 1988.
Initially formed as a sound system in 1988 by Neil Perch and Ben Hamilton, they were joined by Colin Cod and Dave Tench in 1990 upon relocation to London. The line-up was added to with vocalist Molara in 1992 . Their initial releases were the 7″ singles “Power One” and “Power Two”, which became hits on the dub scene in the early 1990s. In 1992, they released the groundbreaking “Follow Like Wolves” single, which fused dub and acid house styles and spawned their reputation as innovators.
Second album, Natural Wonders of the World in Dub, hit the UK indie charts in 1994 and was followed by several EPs. Additionally, they worked on remixes for The Shamen, Afro Celt Sound System, Loop Guru, Kava Kava and others. They released material on their own label, Universal Egg, until 1995, when they signed with China Records. They returned to their own label in 1999. The last studio album album ‘Dissident Sound’ was released June 2023 and a remix EP is due in 2024.
The latest onstage lineup features Cara Jane Murphy on lead vocals and their own Abassi Sound System. and the band have played well over 3000 shows, including Glastonbury (15 times), Boomtown, Rototom Sunsplash, Bababoom and Woodstock.
Sinai Sound
Sheffield based Sinai Sound System play contemporary reggae and dub music presented in the traditional sound system style, fusing the boundaries between pro-audio and sound system culture. The sound system in its full form was debuted in Sheffield to great acclaim in March 2014. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength pushing the boundaries of what a modern sound system can be.
As time has gone by the crew has increased to four full time members, each with their own specialised skill set. Be it building boxes, creating new original music to play on the sound, promotion, maintenance and more. Working closely together with other Sheffield sound crews and working as a team, Sinai relies on its strengths and not just individual personalities. Sinai Sound was also the first dub sound system to appear on the prestigious ‘Boiler Room’, providing the sound system for Deep Medi in Nov 2015.
Other sound system and DJ appearances include SubDub, Deep Medi, Boiler Room, Telerama Dub Festival, Outlook Festival, Dimensions Festival, Boomtown Festival, SYSTEM, The Mine, Freerange, Nantes Dub Club, Dub Station (France) One Love Festival, Dancehall Science, United Nations of Dub Festival, RubberDub, Bristol Dub Club, International Dub Gathering (Spain), Displace, Young Echo, Tumble Audio, Techtonic Records, Shak Out, Jungle Cat, Back to Basics, Deeper Than Roots, Dub Cub, Decades of Dub, Dusk Till Dawn, Love a Dub, Walk N Skank and of course Wilkswood Reggae Festival.
More details of the Wilkswood Reggae 2024 line-up will be announced over the next few weeks. Keep up with latest news by following us on Facebook.
Aleighcia Scott
Blessed with a powerful yet tender voice, and the ability to inhabit a song that recalls Jamaica’s foundation singers, Aleighcia Scott is one of soulful reggae music’s brightest stars. Born to a Welsh mother and a Jamaican father, she has absorbed the passion and prowess of both nations, becoming an internationally acclaimed artist who lights up studio booths and stages around the world.
Raised in Cardiff, Aleighcia remembers her first words as a child were duetting on a song with her father. She grew up with reggae, soul and blues playing in her family home and has been singing on stage since she appeared at Cardiff’s Big Weekend, aged just seven years old.
Through raw talent and dedication, Aleighcia built her career online with her own YouTube channel and a live residency at her local reggae venue, the Irie Shack. Soon she was in hot demand as an opening act for visiting artists including Tarrus Riley, Julian Marley, Agent Sasco and Soul II Soul.
Now an established headline performer, Aleighcia has toured the UK, tearing down the place at Glastonbury, Latitude and Boomtown festivals.
She has also gone back to her Jamaican roots and performed at Kingston’s atmospheric Dub Club, at Big Yard Studio (for BBC 1Xtra) and on the legendary King Jammy’s sound system. In 2022 she made history when she appeared on all female sound system Seduction City, at the return of London’s Notting Hill Carnival, Europe’s biggest street party.
But none of these live appearances would have been possible without the strength of her recordings. Her debut EP for West London’s reggae dynasty Peckings, Forever In Love, found her fresh approach to time-honoured romantic themes fully at home on the vintage rhythms that are the label’s speciality.
Her recent singles, Cry and I Want You, produced by Protoje’s drummer Kongz, went straight to number one in the Apple Reggae Singles Chart. Both were playlisted by BBC Radio Wales, with Cry included on BBC’s 1xtra Dancehall playlist 2021.
In 2023, Aleighcia released her debut album, Windrush Baby, a collaboration with renowned sound system selector and producer Rory Stonelove. The album features top session musicians Dean Fraser, Kirk “Kirkledove” Bennett, Franklin “Bubbler” Waul and Donald “Danny Bassie” Dennis. Rory’s previous productions include debut albums that launched Jamaican superstars Jah9 and Samory I – so his investment in Aleighcia’s talent speaks volumes.
Throughout her career, Aleighcia has enjoyed strong support from reggae heavyweights David Rodigan and Seani B. She’s also been featured and played by DJ Target, Craig Charles and Tom Robinson – illustrating her music’s broad appeal.
And as if being a gifted singer wasn’t enough, Aleighcia has recently branched out into radio and TV presenting herself. She presents her own show on BBC Radio Wales and has appeared on ITV Cymru’s Backstage and Welsh language channel S4C. In yet another historic move, Aleighcia covered the legendary David Rodigan’s BBC1Xtra show, sitting in the hot seat on July 9th 2023.
A voice that grabs you by the heart, a unique story, and a soon-to-be classic album ready to drop, make Aleighcia Scott one of those rare artists whose every move feels fresh – yet is likely to be with us musically for a very long time.
