From the forthcoming EP "Stories"

"Homecoming” is the debut single from Rooftop Assembly, a grime & folk fusion project from London who formed playing rooftop concerts during lockdown. They have been featured multiple times on BBC RADIO LONDON and played major festivals including GLASTONBURY, and funded by HELP MUSICIANS UK & ARTS COUNCIL ENGLAND.

“HOMECOMING” VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/2cUAPNVtw8A

During covid lockdown in 2020, folk musician James Riley & grime MC Kayes Mensah joined forces, playing live-streamed gigs on a north London rooftop to entertain their locked-down neighbours and raise money for food banks. The concerts became a national sensation, attracting coverage from the BBC, funding from the Arts Council, inspiring a large mural and prompting an outpouring of community support. The project culminated with James & Kayes collaborating with a full string quartet and a drummer in a live show that went viral on social media, prompting invitations for the ensemble to perform at Glastonbury, The Great Escape, Wilderness and many other UK festivals.

FROM A TOTTENHAM ROOF TO GLASTONBURY: STORY OF ROOFTOP ASSEMBLY:
https://youtu.be/kbT2qVM47xA

Now with their crowdfunded debut EP set for release in November (with support from Help Musicians UK) on August 25th Rooftop Assembly will drop their first single “Homecoming”. The song is a paean to the band’s roots in Tottenham, whilst alluding to the shared “home” that the group has found through music: their sound spanning radically different genres and bringing together a plurality of voices and influences, in true London style.



Homecoming - Rooftop Assembly (MASTER)

“Ithaka” is the new single from Rooftop Assembly, a grime & folk fusion project from London who formed playing rooftop concerts during lockdown. They have featured on BBC 6 MUSIC & BBC RADIO LONDON, and on Spotify’s NEW MUSIC FRIDAY & FRESH FINDS playlists, whilst playing major festivals including GLASTONBURY. The track is the second single to be released from their debut EP “Storeys” (backed by HELP MUSICIANS UK), out in December ‘23.

When James and Kayes first began writing songs together, one of the first things they connected over was a shared love of literature and particularly myths. "Ithaka" is a spacious, dreamy folk-rap ballad, inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, a 3000-year old story about a long journey home. Quivering strings evoke sails in the high sun, a swaying chorus sings of voyages across a wine-dark sea, whilst rapped bars tell of the modern-day warrior, charting a course through the epic city.

The band formed during lockdown, when folk musician James Riley, grime MC Kayes Mensah and a host of classical musicians began playing gigs on a London rooftop, entertaining their locked-down neighbours, raising money for food banks, and attracting backing from the BBC & the Arts Council.

FROM A TOTTENHAM ROOFTOP TO GLASTONBURY - THE STORY SO FAR:
https://youtu.be/kbT2qVM47xA

"Ithaka" out October 27th
From the forthcoming debut EP "Storeys", out December 1st
linktr.ee/rooftopassembly

Ithaka - Rooftop Assembly

From the debut EP 'Storeys', out January 19th 2024.

Rooftop Assembly are a grime & folk fusion project from London, blending rap poetry with old-school songwriting, accompanied by swooning strings and dubby beats. Their music brings together a plurality of voices and influences in true London style.

They have been featured on BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio London and playlisted by Spotify editorial on New Music Friday & Fresh Finds. They have performed at festivals including Glastonbury, The Great Escape, Wilderness & been backed by Arts Council England and Help Musicians UK.

Their debut EP Storeys (out 19.1.24) showcases the ensemble’s groundbreaking fusion of styles; from the highlife-infused groove of “Homecoming”, to the Odyssey-inspired grime balladry of “Ithaka”, and the orchestral splendour of “The Lanes” - a nostalgic rap paean to the band’s roots in Tottenham.

The band’s story began during lockdown in 2020, when folk singer James Riley & grime MC Kayes Mensah joined forces, playing live-streamed gigs on a north London rooftop to raise cash for food banks. The concerts attracted national media coverage, funding from the Arts Council, inspired a large mural and prompted an outpouring of community support. The shows culminated with James & Kayes collaborating with a full string quartet and drummer Emanuela Monni in a live concert that went viral on social media, prompting invitations to perform at festivals including Glastonbury. 

After a sold-out London launch show in December, 2024 kicks off with a BBC Radio London appearance in January, plus new music and a string of UK festival dates scheduled for the summer.

"Exhilarating energy buzzes from the space between the two varied genres" - Next Wave

"Music to celebrate" - Folk Radio UK

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3z6zd5ws
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@rooftop.assembly
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rooftopassembly
YouTube: http://tinyurl.com/4shuwate
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rooftopassembly

Ithaka - Rooftop Assembly

Rooftop Assembly

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