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Truly a band of Congolese maestros.

Kasai Masai’s music reflects their journey from the rural to the urban world. They mix the infectious dance grooves of Soukous, traditional Congolese folkloric music, and of course their own contemporary style and Kasai Masai magic.

Written in Swahili, Lingala and Kimongo, Kasai Masai’s lyrics portray the cultural diversity of Congo where more than four hundred languages are spoken.

Kasai Masai’s original compositions have moved beyond traditional expectations of Congolese music with their galloping rhythms, strong melodies, passionate beats, swinging guitars and soaring saxophones.

Kasai Masai successfully marry a respect for vintage grooves with an overwhelming urge to move the dance floor this is the sound of the old and new, of the countryside and the city, from deep in the heart of Africa.

With support from / Gyda chefnogaeth gan: DJ Kaptin Barrett

Kaptin is a hard man to pin down musically which is why we can completely trust him with a Congolese dancefloor selection of Soukous and beyond. He's played many of the top festivals and is a regular at Glastonbury (both solo and previously with Chrome Kids, Big Swing Sound, Super Soca Show and the Ibibio Sound DJs), Boomtown, Green Man and WOMAD to name a few. He's also played further afield at the likes of Nyege Nyege (Uganda), Ongala (Tanzania), Clockenflap (Hong Kong), Bestival Canada, Sicily Music Week and Fusion. He is currently Head of Music at Big Love Festival after a decade at Boomtown and has a regular showcase with his lifelong friend and artistic partner as Kaptin & Dregz at Focus Wales. 

The Selecter is led by their iconic frontwoman Pauline Black OBE with original drummer Charley ‘Aitch’ Bembridge also in the current live Selecter line-up. Pauline Black is one of very few women in the 2-Tone scene and is often referred to as the Queen of Ska.

After releasing their first album, Too Much Pressure, in 1980, The Selecter went on to release five top 40 singles in the UK. Their first single ‘On My Radio’ peaked at No. 6 in the Official UK Charts. 2025 marked the 45th anniversary of Too Much Pressure and, amongst other dates worldwide, they performed on Glastonbury’s iconic Pyramid Stage.

A new feature documentary Pauline Black: A 2-Tone Story had its premiere at the BFI’s London Film Festival and has had many UK and international screenings since. Based on her memoir ‘Black by Design’, Pauline tells her extraordinary life story in the same frank manner that helped shape her as an iconic, era-defining female musician. It’s a highly cinematic documentary that uses interviews and archive material plus a variety of contributors sourced from a wide swathe of the British music and artistic scene.

With support from / Gyda chefnogaeth gan: Captain Accident

Captain Accident creates his unique blend of rock-driven soulful roots reggae, ska & dub at his home studio in Cardiff. With the help of the finest musical collective dubbed "The Disasters" this sound is then explosively transformed onto the stage, bringing an energetic & captivating live show. With soulful vocals, luscious harmonies, soaring twin guitars and a truly infectious groove, there’s no standing still when Captain Accident and his clumsy companions hit the stage.​

​As well as Toots & the Maytals, CA & the D have shared a stage with many of the biggest names in reggae & ska including: Suggs (who jumped on stage to sing with the band!), Steel Pulse, Alborosie,  Less Than Jake, Aswad, The Skints, The Abyssinians, Big Youth,  Maxi Priest, Sister Sledge, The Skatalites, Bad Manners, The Toasters, Neville Staple (The Specials), Fishbone, David Rodigan and countless others, and are due to go out on a short UK tour this autumn with reggae royalty, Julian Marley. 

This show is dedicated to the loving memory of Yvonne Edge, a true supporter of the Fringe who loved dancing to ska and reggae.