"The VibeMakerz Official DJ Set opens the programme with a high energy blend of Afrobeats, Hip Hop, R&B, Dancehall, UK sounds and contemporary party music." Then quarter-hour sets from around twenty artists through to 9.30pm, with a streetwear runway show, an African masquerade dance troupe and DJs in between. 18+.
DJ Finzy is a familiar name within the Nottingham party and events scene and a key figure within the VibeMakerz network. His sets move across Afrobeats, Hip Hop, Dancehall, R&B and contemporary club music, with an emphasis on energy, crowd connection and keeping the atmosphere moving. His wider creative network also connects him with artists including Nai Mils, reflecting the collaborative ecosystem surrounding Nottingham’s independent music scene.
The VibeMakerz Official DJ Set opens the programme with a high energy blend of Afrobeats, Hip Hop, R&B, Dancehall, UK sounds and contemporary party music. Setting the atmosphere from the very beginning, the set brings the VibeMakerz sound to life and gets the crowd ready for an afternoon celebrating Nottingham’s diverse creative community.
Abstract Creative Line, better known as ACL, is a Nigerian streetwear brand operating at the intersection of fashion, music and contemporary visual culture. Known for its bold and architectural approach to urban fashion, ACL creates premium oversized hoodies, structured streetwear sets and distinctive one of one pieces that combine strong silhouettes with a distinctly modern African identity. The brand has built a presence within Nigeria’s creative scene, with its pieces being worn by artists, musicians, influencers and creatives across events, media appearances and cultural spaces. ACL’s approach goes beyond conventional streetwear, using fashion as a form of self expression and visual storytelling while bringing Nigerian cultural energy into a contemporary global streetwear aesthetic.
African Pride Troupe presents a vibrant Dancing Masquerade Cultural Showcase celebrating African heritage through movement, costume, music and performance. Combining striking masquerade imagery with energetic choreography and traditional cultural influences, the troupe brings colour, spectacle and communal African celebration to the stage.
UNRIL is an artist bringing together Afrobeats and UK Pop with smooth Afro Swing influences. His music combines melodic vocals, contemporary production and catchy songwriting, with releases including Get Down, HER and YNSH. His sound sits comfortably within the evolving crossover between African music and modern UK urban culture.
Dr. AKP is a Preston and Nottingham connected Nigerian Afrobeat artist whose music sits at the intersection of culture, rhythm, storytelling and academia. Having previously been a resident in Nottingham before establishing himself in Preston, he has developed a distinctive musical identity rooted in Afrobeat and contemporary African sounds. His debut album, The Essay, takes his academic journey and turns it into an eight track musical concept, with titles including Abstract, Introduction, Discussion, Conclusion, Reference and Appendix. The project reflects his journey towards a PhD in Forensic Microbiology at UCLan, creating an unusual meeting point between academic life and Afrobeat. He has also appeared alongside the London Afrobeat Collective in Preston.
Da Skill is a seasoned rapper whose relationship with Hip Hop stretches back to 1999. Originally part of the AK Family, he was involved in organising urban music events in Portugal featuring artists including Sam The Kid, Força Suprema, TT, Chullage and Tekilla before continuing his musical journey in the UK. After performing across the North of England, including Bolton and Leeds, he returned to releasing music and developing his solo work. His experience spans performing, event organisation and independent music, giving him a perspective that reaches well beyond the recording studio.
Wavyy Kxng brings a contemporary urban sound to the VibeMakerz stage, combining rhythm, melody and modern production with a performance style built for the live environment. His sound reflects the increasingly fluid space between Afrobeats, Afro Swing and UK urban music, bringing a fresh voice to the programme.
El Rondo brings a melodic approach to Drill, combining the rhythmic intensity and darker edge of UK Drill with smoother melodies and a more emotive vocal style. His ability to move between hard hitting flows and melodic passages gives his music a distinctive character within the current UK urban landscape.
Yungxkyng is part of Nottingham’s wider independent creative scene and the Circle of Light collective, appearing alongside artists including ZariOnTheBeat, Elmz XIX, Maugz, Jahrel J.P and Lishon. The collective’s work was recorded through Nottingham’s Confetti and Metronome creative infrastructure, reflecting the collaborative and experimental spirit of the city’s next generation of artists.
Pottoski brings an Afrofusion sound shaped by influences from both African music and contemporary UK sounds. With connections between Preston and Nottingham, his music represents the growing movement of artists crossing regional and cultural boundaries rather than being confined to a single city. His sound draws on the rhythmic foundations and melodic qualities of Afrobeats while incorporating contemporary urban influences, giving him a style that can move naturally between African and British musical spaces.
Nai Mils is a vocalist and artist connected to the wider Nottingham music network, including his work with DJ Finzy. His music brings a melodic and contemporary edge to the programme, contributing to the collaborative network of artists and creatives developing around Nottingham’s independent music scene.
CaDior brings a contemporary urban sound shaped by London’s musical energy and the crossover between Hip Hop, Afrobeats and melodic rap. His catalogue includes Turn It Up featuring CDot, adding to a growing body of music built around modern production, rhythm and a distinctive urban identity.
Jayse is a Nottingham based rapper focused on direct, uncompromising UK rap. His catalogue includes Party Hard, Crash Out, What We Say and Top One, while his live appearances have included Nottingham Carnival. With a straightforward approach to lyricism and an energetic performance style, Jayse represents the rawer side of Nottingham’s current rap scene.
Aceix is a Nigerian Afropop artist whose music blends melodic Afrobeats with Hip Hop influences. Born Ayowole Paul Aina, he has been building his catalogue since the mid 2010s and has developed a style centred around melodic songwriting, rhythmic delivery and contemporary African production. His releases include the Aceix In The Building project, Two of a Kind and more recent singles including Nawty and Kokoka. His music draws on Nigerian cultural influences while maintaining a modern Afropop sound, with his Yoruba and Nigerian Pidgin influences becoming particularly evident in his songwriting.
DJ Wallexy is a familiar name within Nottingham’s Afrobeat and carnival circuit, having appeared at Nottingham Carnival across multiple years, including performances within the African Pride Zone and Afrobeat Zone. His sets bring together Afrobeats, Dancehall, Hip Hop and party focused sounds, with an emphasis on energy, rhythm and keeping the crowd moving.
JE REVE brings a contemporary melodic sound to the programme, continuing to develop his own musical identity through a growing catalogue of releases. His recent work includes LIKE YOU, released in 2026, showcasing a modern approach to songwriting and production.
Tanuki Moon are a Nottingham fusion act combining Indie, Reggae and Hip Hop with their own distinctive mystical character. Their music moves across genres rather than staying within one lane, bringing together contrasting influences to create a sound that feels both unconventional and unmistakably their own. The band have established themselves within Nottingham’s live music circuit, continuing to perform across the city and wider region.
Simran is a Nottingham artist whose music centres on deeply personal R&B songwriting. Her work explores emotion, personal experience and everyday life through an intimate and expressive style, giving her music a reflective quality that stands apart from the more high energy performances across the programme. Her appearance adds a soulful and personal dimension to the VibeMakerz stage.
Yazzy B brings an energetic contemporary urban sound to the stage, with a catalogue that connects her to the wider UK independent music scene. Her collaborative work includes appearances alongside Polish Mic and Sir.Dubz on tracks including Mazzaleen and Weed & Rum. Her style brings together rhythm, attitude and a strong vocal presence, adding another dynamic female voice to the VibeMakerz lineup.
J12 is a UK based Afrobeats artist and songwriter whose music combines dynamic vocals with contemporary African production and melodic songwriting. His work incorporates English, Yoruba and Pidgin English, reflecting the multicultural character of modern UK Afrobeats. His releases include the Clue EP and Transition, alongside singles such as Shawty Bounce, Diva and O SING O. His work with artists including Merblond demonstrates his collaborative approach, while his music has also received BBC Introducing East Midlands attention.
Raya is a Nottingham artist bringing her own contemporary sound and personality to the VibeMakerz stage. As a local female artist, she represents the depth of independent talent developing within the city and adds another distinctive voice to a programme built around Nottingham’s creative community.
Omari Marsalis is a Nottingham artist from St Ann’s whose music is built around heartfelt storytelling, rhythmic passion and personal experience. Growing up around a community recording studio, with his father Nick Stez having worked within Nottingham’s music scene for more than three decades, Omari began making music himself at around 15 or 16. He later developed the live band RosesUnderTheMoon and built a catalogue including Let Em In, Human and Four Seasons. In 2026, Omari won the Future Sound of Nottingham competition, earning a main stage appearance at Splendour. His upcoming work includes UnderTheMoon Volume 1, continuing the artistic journey that has established him as one of Nottingham’s standout new voices.
Andy Zoutr is one of Nottingham’s most experienced producers, engineers and mastering specialists, with more than two decades working across the recording industry. As co-director and sound engineer at The Elementz Studios, he has worked with more than 1,000 artists and musicians across genres including Hip Hop, R&B, electronic music and Drum & Bass. His extensive credits include Jayahadadream, Big Zuu, Bru-C, Wretch 32, Skinnyman, Blitz the Ambassador and many others, with his work receiving BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra and Capital XTRA support. He has also co-produced albums released through WCPM, EMI and Sony. Andy’s work with Jayahadadream has been particularly significant, having produced, mixed and mastered the majority of her work to date, including material from Redemption Songs and Happiness From Agony. His live credentials include appearances at Glastonbury in both 2024 and 2025, making him one of the most experienced names on the VibeMakerz programme.
Saffron Gray is a Nottingham born R&B singer, songwriter and performer whose musical journey began with singing and songwriting from childhood. She began releasing music consistently in 2019 and has developed a distinctive sound blending contemporary R&B, Soul and Pop with honest, personal storytelling. After performing through open mics and supporting other artists, Saffron expanded into live performance with her own band in 2024. In 2025 she became a Future Sound of Nottingham winner, earning a main stage performance at Splendour. Her music combines vulnerability and vocal strength, making her one of Nottingham’s most recognisable emerging R&B voices.
Dutch born and Nottingham raised, Jorday is an established R&B artist and songwriter whose sound combines smooth vocals, catchy melodies and relatable songwriting with influences from R&B, Pop and Dancehall. He began releasing music in 2018 and has built a substantial catalogue while developing a reputation both within Nottingham and across the wider UK scene. Jorday’s career includes a collaboration with Geko on Closer Part II, following the success of his original Closer. He has also supported Young T & Bugsey, including their Nottingham Rescue Rooms show, and has continued to build his profile through a series of releases and live performances. His latest chapter includes Falling, produced by Rymez, which blends Jorday’s late night R&B style with Dancehall influences. With his combination of vocal ability, songwriting and crossover appeal, Jorday closes the VibeMakerz programme as the main headliner.
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