Eek-A-Mouse

On 12 November 2026 Eek-A-Mouse will perform at Patronaat in Haarlem. The vocalist, born in Kingston and whose real name is Ripton Joseph Hylton, brought his singjay style to the sound systems in the late 1970s and became a recognizable voice within reggae. With his nasal delivery, melodic inflections and playful onomatopoeic utterances he moves between roots, dub and early dancehall. After his start with Joe Gibbs he worked with Linval Thompson and Henry “Junjo” Lawes, during a period when production became drier and more rhythm-driven. That yielded tracks like “Wa-Do-Dem” and “Ganja Smuggling,” as well as albums such as Wa-Do-Dem (1981) and Skidip! (1982), later followed by Mouseketeer, Assassinator, Eek-A-Nomics and Black Cowboy. Live performance is about timing, phrasing and a vocal tone you recognize instantly.

Jahvolution is also on the bill at Patronaat alongside Eek-A-Mouse. The band offers their own take on reggae and ties into the mix of roots, dub and dancehall influences that will color the evening. Together with Eek-A-Mouse they form a set in which riddims provide the foundation for variations in tempo, call-and-response and improvisation — exactly the terrain where his singjay approach works best. On 12 November in Haarlem everything will revolve around the voice, the groove and the immediate connection with the audience.