The Red Earth Collective is a band drawn from alumni of Youthsayers, the youth music charity based in South London run by Soothsayers founders Robin Hopcraft and Idris Rahman. Youthsayers provides free opportunities for young people to experience group music making in culturally relevant genres such as afrobeat, jazz and reggae, and the Red Earth Collective is a platform for post 18 year old alumni of Youthsayers to continue to explore this music in professional settings with independence and autonomy.

The line-up is a flexible collective of young musicians who are emerging onto the music scene having been grounded in group music making via Youthsayers’ bands, workshops and mentorship programmes.

The music is chosen, arranged and composed by the band and includes a mixture of high energy afrobeat grooves, from Fela Kuti to contemporary tunes drawn from the current lively global afrobeat scene, as well as classics and rare gems from the reggae, jazz and dub canons. Fresh energy and original arrangements ensure that the band is forging their own unique identity which defines their exuberant and joyful sound.

Regular performances in venues across London and beyond, including their Jazz Cafe debut last year, Jazz in the Round, Love Supreme Festival and regular monthly sessions at Brixton’s long-running music establishment The Effra, have cemented the group’s creative identity and established a growing fanbase attracted by the quality of the musicianship and the upbeat, hypnotic and life-affirming grooves.

Red Earth Collective’s Streatham Strut 2026 appearance will be at 10pm on Saturday 17th October at The Bull, 498 Streatham, London SW16 3QB.