The Reggae Roots Revival Series presents

Maroon Town

Curated by Shades of Soul Ltd.

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Last Show: Thursday 25 th May 2023

PizzaExpress Live (Holborn)

9-piece Maroon Town combine original jazz-inflected brassy ska and reggae of current sax sensation Aaron Liddard with conscious lyrics and the Latin melodies and grooves of Argentinian keys virtuoso Natalio Faingold. Maroon Town has over 30 years of recording and touring experience all over the globe from Kazakhstan to Kingston (Jamaica) Barcelona to Brazil and recently gained a fan in BBC funk and soul legend Craig Charles who made the band's last single one of his releases of the year. Expect an explosive night of dance and riveting entertainment.

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"organ-quiveringly funky ska outfit"

Evening Standard

When two childhood friends, guitarist Deuan German and music writer and broadcaster Rajan Datar decided to start a ska band in the 1980’s in honour of the original Jamaican music of Deuan's country of birth and named it after the first community to rebel and strike independence from the English colonials, Maroon Town was born.

Their journey has been incredible. They were played on John Peel’s legendary Radio One programme, then selected to be on an Acid Jazz compilation. Their first album was produced by John Bradbury, the drummer of the Specials, they toured Jamaica, India, Canada and Indonesia amongst others in collaboration with the British Council, signed a record deal in Barcelona, had tracks featured in Hollywood movies and won the biggest independent sponsorship deal hitherto signed with style icons Dr Martens. For 2021 

And all this because they remained true to the spirit of invention, combining original jazz-inflected brassy ska with the conscious lyrics of frontman Lenval Brown and the Latin melodies and grooves of Argentinian keys virtuoso Natalio Faingold. Move on to 2023 and this group are still buzzing on the scene, enhanced by the likes of recent jazz mag front cover star Aaaron Liddard and ace virtuoso trumpeter Simon Finch as well as Groove Armada drummer Martin Carling and vocalist Sandra James.

To see this band live is to not only to witness a slice of Britain’s musical heritage but to experience the irresistible urge to dance your socks off! 

Band Line Up

Martin Carling (drums)
Rajan Datar (bass guitar)
Natalio Faingold (keyboards)
Deuan German (guitar)
Lenval Brown (vocals)
Sandra James (backing vocals)
Simon Finch (trumpet)
Aaron Liddard (tenor saxophone)
James Lawrence (trombone)