Rocksteady Reggae with Wayne Hernandez at Soul Mama Islington, London
About the show
Expect a live set that honours the pivotal sounds of reggae, rocksteady, ska and lovers rock, featuring tracks by pioneers like Desmond Dekker, Alton Ellis and The Techniques. From Jimmy Cliff’s “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” and The Melodians’ “Rivers of Babylon” to Bob Marley’s “Don’t Rock My Boat” and John Holt’s beloved “Help Me Make It Through the Night”, each song captures a moment in Jamaican musical history. You’ll also hear lovers rock anthems and roots classics like “Tempted to Touch”, “Wild World” and “Money In My Pocket”, played live with the groove and energy they were born to carry.
Rocksteady, which flourished in the mid-60s as a slower, more soulful evolution of ska, laid the foundations for reggae’s global rise and remains one of Jamaica’s most influential genres. With Wayne’s voice at the helm, praised by The Guardian as “emotive and effortless”, this show offers a deep dive into the sounds that shaped a nation, performed with the respect, joy and spirit they deserve.
Featuring - Wayne Hernandez
Charismatic soul singer Wayne Hernandez always gets the audience going with his infectious energy and amazingly powerful voice. He has a tight backing band that perform a repertoire of all-time soul and funk classics by Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield and even the odd reggae track by Bob Marley. Wayne himself is hugely successful session singer who has worked with the likes of Blur, Tina Turner, Madonna and the Gorillaz.