Find out moreAll-Day Programme · Late August · Hidden Beach Festival

From Kingston to London to Hastings — the story of sound system culture is a story of resistance, creativity, engineering brilliance, and pure community joy. This all-day session invites you into the heart of that legacy.

Daytime: Talks, Film & Deep-Dive Sessions

Spend the day immersed in the roots and evolution of sound system culture. Expect:

• Talks from historians, selectors and local practitioners exploring how sound systems shaped Black British identity, nightlife, and grassroots music movements.

• Film screenings featuring classic and contemporary documentaries that bring the culture to life through archives, interviews and rare footage.

• Interactive moments where you’ll learn about box-building, dubplate traditions, bass frequencies, and the social importance of community dances.

It’s part education, part celebration — the perfect space for anyone curious about how these mobile musical powerhouses rewired global culture.

Evening: Live Sound System Sessions

As the sun goes down, the knowledge turns into energy. The evening opens with a curated line-up of heavyweight sound systems bringing their stacks, selections and signature styles.

• Humble Rumble Sound System — bringing warmth, weight and deep community vibrations.

• Plus special guest sounds from across the South Coast and beyond, filling the night with reggae, dub, roots and culture selections.

Expect bass you can feel in your chest, selectors who read the crowd like a book, and that unshakeable feeling of being part of something bigger.

Part of the Hidden Beach August Programme

This session forms one of over 20 workshops, talks and cultural events taking place across Hastings throughout August — a month of music, food, film, wellness, creativity and community.

More details released February 2026