Raising the rooftop

Haringey band that started by playing rooftop gigs in lockdown make headline appearance at Trafalgar Square
By James Cracknell

Rooftop Assembly performing in Trafalgar Square on 23rd April (credit Stephen Furner)

A Haringey-based band were invited to play at a special St George’s Day event in Trafalgar Square last month.

Rooftop Assembly, who describe themselves as a “seven-piece fusion ensemble” playing “grime poetry, old school songwriting, swooning string arrangements and dubby, incessant beats”, performed in front of thousands of people just two years after forming.

The band, led by singer-songwriter James Riley, formed during the Covid-19 lockdown and rose to fame for playing free socially-distanced concerts from the rooftops between Belmont Road and Turnpike Lane – which were streamed on the internet.

The band played on the main stage in Trafalgar Square, at the base of Nelson’s Column, as the headline act for the Mayor of London St George’s Day celebration event.

Stephen Furner, who watched and photographed the Rooftop Assembly performance, said: “A very appreciative audience danced along or watched while stilt walkers moved through the crowd waving flags and posing with people for selfies.”

For more information about Rooftop Assembly:

Instagram @rooftopassembly

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