f54 present Barrington Levy

On 20 May 2026, Barrington Levy lands at The Cluny in Newcastle upon Tyne. Born in Kingston, he came up on Jamaican sound systems with his cousin Everton Dacres as the Mighty Multitude before going solo at 14. Early sessions at King Tubby’s with producer Henry “Junjo” Lawes and Jah Life, backed by the Roots Radics, forged a stripped, danceable style that helped pivot roots reggae toward the emerging dancehall. First shots like Ah Yah We Deh, Looking My Love, Wedding Ring Aside and the pivotal Collie Weed set the tone, followed by a run of albums including Bounty Hunter, Englishman and Robin Hood. Through the 80s and 90s, his melodic phrasing and unmistakable vocal inflections fueled staples such as Here I Come and Under Mi Sensi, while collaborations linked Jamaica, the UK and North America, from Bounty Killer to Shyne. On stage, Levy moves freely between rub-a-dub foundations and digital-era cuts, his voice riding classic rhythms with easy authority. He’s currently working on It’s About Time, announced as his final album, with guests including Damian Marley, Buju Banton, Beres Hammond and more. The set spans signature anthems and new material, rooted in the live pulse of the dancehall.