Talk of the Town: House of Common festival at Clapham Common this August

A bank holiday of madness has been promised to those on Clapham Common this August as the House of Common festival returns for another year, writes James Twomey.

Headlined by the band Madness, the one-day festival on Bank Holiday Monday, August 26, will see a wealth of great talent take to the stage, including special guest Jimmy Cliff plus Ziggy Marley, David Rodigan, Horace Andy, Akala, Craig Charles, Jah9 and Children of Zeus.

House of Common is fun for all the family, with under 10s admitted for free and able to enjoy the spectacular Minor Madness.

Minor Madness spans a huge area with a special House of Fun play garden, giant funky inflatables and activities throughout the day with special guest appearances from Shaun The Sheep and Hey Duggee – perfect for those who want to enjoy some family madness together.

Madness celebrate their 40th year of ska, reggae and punk with lead singer Graham McPherson – aka Suggs – still at the helm.

Suggs said: “Forty years at the coal face of modern popular culture. Man and boy. Dedicated to the purveyance of popular music of quality and distinction to the people.

“Dedicated in our selfless quest to have the nation singing, dancing and making merry through some of the darkest times of the last four decades.

“Join us. Raise your glasses, lower your swords, arise Sir madness. Get stuck in.”

Grammy award winners Jimmy Cliff and Ziggy Marley will be taking to the stage to play their hits from the past 40 years that popularised reggae music globally.

For more than 35 years, David Rodigan has been the top dog in the bass heavy-atmosphere of Britain’s reggae dance-halls.

He continues to share his passion for both new, cutting-edge reggae and classic cuts around the world, as well as championing new artists on his own Roots and Branches brand, which he brings to House Of Common in 2019.

Jamaican reggae singer/songwriter Horace Andy, known for his breakthrough track Skylarking and long association with British icons Massive Attack, will be making an appearance on the main stage.

Said to have the sweetest voice in reggae, consistently recording and performing globally, he has remained at the forefront of roots reggae, rocksteady and dancehall.

BAFTA and MOBO winner Akala emerged from London’s hip-hop underground as one of its leaders, and will take to the stage as well as one Manchester’s most well-respected artists, Children of Zeus, who broke trends to create a blend of classic soul for the hip-hop generation.

Craig Charles, who has established himself as a funk and soul icon after 10 years broadcasting his primetime Saturday night show on BBC 6 Music, will be sure to keep festival-goers dancing into the night.

Tickets for House of Common 2019 are on sale now, selling fast at madness.co.uk/houseofcommon