After almost three years of blogging and DJing, I’ve decided to call time on the Sensible Dancehall project. Over the years the website has promoted some of the best shows and promoters in Oxford and beyond, crossed the world to review other local scenes, and brought you countless videos, mixes and tunes.

From this platform, we set up the monthly Lord ‘av Mercy night at the Port Mahon before moving to The Library in 2011. This year the night transformed into Tun Up! bringing a stage for local reggae DJs in the city,alongside the larger tropical carnival night Pon de Floor at Oxford’s leading club The Cellar. As well as promoting these nights, I’ve been lucky enough to play shows with some of the leading names in the genre, including Major Lazer, The Heatwave, David Rodigan and Mungo’s Hi-Fi, as well as headlining the local House of Roots and Skylarkin Soundsystem nights, playing the infamous Sommerville-Jesus ’Last Ball’ and the O2 Academy’s Propaganda night. I was also asked to record a mix for Hipsters Don’t Dance and had my Latin American mix cosigned by NYC-scene-leaders LargeUp. 

After our triumphant PDF finale last week, this Friday will be the last ever session in The Library on Cowley Road. It’s free entry from 8pm till midnight and we’ll be having a jerk BBQ in the garden; check the Facebook event. Fittingly my final show will be at Oxfordshire’s favourite summer event Truck Festival, where I’ll be bringing the biggest dancehall, soca and reggae party to Steventon on 19-20th July.

Whilst the Oxford website output will hault, this summer sees the incarnation of Sensible Dancehall: Sydney, where SD contributor phatmattbaker has set up a similar hub of local events alongside international features from his hometown in Australia. As for Oxford blogging and events: vibes done. Thank you for all your help and support; to everyone that’s booked me to play, come out to party or simply enjoyed reading the website. Big vibes! x

Get ready to go wild to London’s hottest tropical DJ collective Hipsters Don’t Dance in the Cellar tonight. Nothing but carnival vibes 11pm till 3am. Five pound on the door all night, with bargain booze deals throughout. 

So we’re having a party this Thursday night and we’ve welcomed along London DJ-duo Hipsters Don’t Dance to run the vibes. They host one of the biggest vibesy carnival parties in the capital, running everything from afrobeats and Naija pop to soca and dancehall to rnb and hip hop. For a taster, check their fantastic blog. It all kicks off at 11pm with a set from Positive Vibes Crew selector Garvin Dan, followed by a 90 minute carnival party from HDD, and ending with the biggest reggae vibes imaginable from Man of Science, Man of Faith. It’s just £5 entry and for more details check the Facebook event; make sure you get down early to make the most of the drinks deals: £2.50 pints and jagerbombs, £3 double mixes and £1.50 VKs (all night). Join us for some wukking and wining!

Last week we were asked to run the Major Lazer afterparty at Oxford’s O2 Academy. Before the show, we were understandably psyched, running numerous previews and recording a special Major Lazer reggae minimix. The show was fantastic, and directly after their last track we began running big riddims, with seemingly half the crowd coming over to join us in the ‘cocktail bar’ for two hours of continued fun. After the jump, we’ve got a few nice snaps of the afterparty courtesy of Ollie Castell; simply click the read more link below. 

Read More

Next week for our May PON DE FLOOR session we are delighted to be joined by London DJ collective Hipsters Don’t Dance headlining the night. Hootie Who and Kazabon (above) run one of the number one clubnights in the capital, taking in every ounce of tropical vibes from Africa to the Caribbean via the USA and Britain; afrobeats, rnb, dancehall, house, reggae, hip hop and, of course, soca. After the crazy party vibes of our last four parties (including the first show out of Bristol for the incredible Jus Now), we are really looking forward to this one. The night takes place on Thursday 16th May, we’ll be running the vibes from 11pm till 3am but in the words of Lyrikal’s latest smash 25/8 “all we need is one extra hour, and one extra day”. Check out all the details on the Facebook page.

Next week we’ll return with our monthly PON DE FLOOR residency at The Cellar. This month we’ve got the fantastic London DJ collective Hipsters Dont Dance coming down for a headline set. Through the steamed-up windows of their monthly residency, Kazabon and Hootie Who, collectively known as Hipsters Dont Dance, run one of the biggest hip hop, dancehall and tropical parties in London. The HDD clubnight was listed in Mixmag, Time Out and Metro’s top nights in the capital, having played alongside Mosca, The Heatwave, Dre Skull and Schlachthofbronx. 

Over the next ten days we’ll bring you some of their fantastic mixes and refixes, as well as more details on the night including the support slots and times. We are absolutely delighted to have Hipsters Dont Dance headlining and we’ll share our excitement right here with all of you guys. As a taster, check out their latest Carnival Mix below and get on the Facebook event right now.

See you tonight!

With May Day/Major Lazer mania sweeping Oxford this week, you’d be a fool for forgetting that this Sunday night FWD are bringing David Rodigan, one of the legends of reggae music, to Cowley Road for an incredible five hours of music from 10pm till 3am. Taking place at the Bullingdon Arms, the BBC Radio 1xtra selector (having formerly held down a legendary Sunday evening Kiss FM slot for over twenty years) is largely considered the number one DJ in the genre, a position he’s held for a quarter of a century.

Tickets are just £10 in advance via wegottickets, which includes support slots from local stalwart Clive White, the Original Gatecrasher out of Birmingham and yours truly representing Sensible Dancehall. For more details check out the Facebook page; you won’t find a better Bank Holiday party. In the meantime, listen to Ramjam Rodigan’s latest 1xtra show here, and his special Annie Mac minimix in amongst the rest of the show below:

Major Lazer come to town on Thursday night for what promises to be the show of the year. If you’ve not got your ticket yet, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! There’s not many other DJs/artists within the genre that could top Major Lazer right now, and they’re playing on Cowley Road on Thursday night - don’t miss it.

With the likes of Pon de Floor and Bubble Butt understandably demanding the most forwards, many will be expecting a set full of the crazy upbeat dancehall and moombahton infused party tunes we’ve come to expect from Diplo, Jillionaire and Walshy Fire. Today, however, with it being a sunny Monday vibe, Molassie has put together a short thirty minute mix highlighting Major Lazer’s love of reggae, roots and rocksteady through a collection of original tracks, remixes and production duties (with a few inspirational tracks thrown in). Whilst many will expect a daggering-intense relentless-dancing show on Thursday night, Robin reminds you that there should be plenty of chance to catch your breath and enjoy some sweet reggae music. Check it out below.

On Thursday we will be running the Official Sensible Dancehall Afterparty in the ‘Cocktail Bar’ of the O2 Academy straight after the main event, which is free for all Major Lazer ticket holders until 2am, where Molassie will be joined by Ollie Castell and phatmattbaker. See you on Thursday.

Tonight we continue our monthly residency on the Cowley Road, opening up The Library decks to familiar east Oxford face Garvin Dan for a night of reggae, dancehall, soca and everything in between. After three quality sessions so far this year with Free Range selector Red-I, House of Roots headhoncho Paul Williams and Disco Shed stalwart Grande, this month we’re delighted to have another top local selector holding down the summer sunshine vibes.

You’ll recognise Garvin from the magnificent Positive Vibes Crew (our guests at February’s PON DE FLOOR night) and the east Oxford longstanding establishment that is Natty Hi-Fi sound. PVC have been making waves across the city and have previously played shows alongside Toddla T, Gappy Ranks, Roni Size, High Contrast, Dub Pistols and Gentlemen’s Dub Club, with Garvin leading the selections. Check out his soca mix from last night below, and see you down in the basement tonight: