Dancehall sound systems
Dancehall put the MC at the front. In the 1980s Saxon Studio International made the "fast chat" style famous, and sound clashes, where two sounds play against each other with dubplates until the crowd picks a winner, decided reputations. Lord Gellys has played dancehall at Notting Hill Carnival since the 1960s, and Rampage Sound draws the biggest crowd on the streets of Notting Hill.
On the register
- Baron Turbo ChargeMoss Side, ManchesterLegacy
Manchester (Moss Side and Hulme), formed 1974 by Wizzy Dan and Barzy, with MC Money Green.
- BIG Toe's HiFiLeedsStill playing
Vinyl-only reggae sound with systems in the UK, Canada and New Mexico; selectors Choppa Chop and B-Dawg juggle 45s.
- GhettotoneLondonLegacy
London, early 1980s. Named in Lezlee Lyrix’s 1983 lyric as “the cream of the crop”.
- HighteousSouth-east LondonLegacy
South London. Played alongside Saxon at Deptford’s Rollerball park in 1983.
- Humble LionUK (area not recorded)Possible match
Only a 1988 release, “Humble Lion – Pirates On Shore”.
- KillerwattNotting HillStill playing
Notting Hill Carnival since 1982, St Luke’s Road. Family sound run by George Shaw (DJ PoppaShaw).
- King OriginalEast LondonStill playing
East London, since 1973. Founded by Clifton Carnegie (Ras Wazair, d. 2021); now run by his son Footsie.
- LionpulseBristolStill playing
Roots, dub and dancehall sound active since 2008, known for warm, heavy basslines; has played Boomtown with Sinai.
- Lord GellysNotting HillStill playing
Founded in 1964 by Fitzgerald "Farda" Gelly, who came from Jamaica in 1961 and started with blues spots. Plays dancehall at Notting Hill Carnival outside 47 Cambridge…
- Mungo's Hi FiGlasgowStill playing
Glasgow sound founded in 2000 by Tom Tattersall and Doug Paine; runs the Scotch Bonnet label (2005). Albums include Sound System Champions (2009).
- Rampage SoundNotting HillStill playing
Notting Hill Carnival, Colville Square since 1992 (Mike Anthony). The largest static sound at Carnival.
- Reggae RoastKentish TownStill playing
London, since 2007 (first Kentish Town pub Sundays).
- Saxon Studio InternationalLewishamStill playing
Lewisham, 1976 (Lloyd “Musclehead” Francis, Dennis Rowe). Fast-chat MCs: Maxi Priest, Tippa Irie, Papa Levi, Smiley Culture. Saturdays at Boisdale, Canary Wharf.
- UnityEast LondonPossible match
Possibly Unity, the north-east London sound of Robert “Ribs” Fearon (mid–late 1980s), home of the Ragga Twins.
- Kings Hi-Fi UKLewesStill playing
Lewes sound running since 2004, grown out of Brighton's reggae scene. Plays an eclectic mix of reggae, dancehall, dub, dubstep, jungle and hip hop at free parties…
- Dub GeneralsHastingsStill playing
Hand-built Hastings sound founded in 2007, playing strictly vinyl dub, roots and dancehall "inna rub a dub stylie". Selector and MC Coz Barnsfield ran the Minista and…
- V. Rocket InternationalNottinghamStill playing
Founded in 1964 in their Nottingham living room by Dougie and Imogen Robinson, who came from Spanish Town, Jamaica. In 1987 it became the first UK sound to ship its…
- King MaestroHuddersfieldLegacy
Huddersfield sound that began in 1980 as Mount Zion and took the name King Maestro in 1987. Won the North of England Cup Clash in 1989 and beat the Jamaican sound…
- Hometown Sound SystemGlasgowStill playing
Glasgow sound led by James Whelan (Rub a Dub Rocker), who apprenticed with Mungo's Hi Fi in 2012 and ran Walk n Skank at The Berkeley Suite before starting Hometown.…
Ran a sound, chatted on one or carried the boxes? Add your sound system to the register.