Joe Yorke

Born in northwest England, Joe Yorke developed an early, direct relationship with music—somewhere between punk, folk and reggae—before playing on the streets of Wigan and Manchester. A stint at the Notting Hill Carnival in 2006 set him firmly on the path of British soundsystem culture, and his move to Moss Side in Manchester rooted him in the local dub and reggae scene around venues such as the Junction pub and The Big Western. There, Joe Yorke shaped his career as a singer and songwriter in close collaboration with producer Eeyun Purkins, building a musical partnership while also taking part in Black Star Dub Collective and Hulme’s weekly jam sessions. He also joined Conscious Youth, where he crossed paths with Paul Lush of Nucleus Roots. Now based in Bristol, Joe Yorke runs the Rhythm Steady label and continues work that links live performance with soundsystem culture. His music rests on rocksteady and dub foundations, featuring flexible vocal writing and arrangements that also incorporate soul, folk, dub techno and more experimental textures. Over the years he has also collaborated with The Co-Operators and Stand High Patrol, following a trajectory rooted in the continuity of the British reggae and dub scenes.