Count Skylarkin stumbled into DJing in the late 90’s after his mixtapes proved a hit with customers at a South London cafe. The lauded DJ, promoter, garden shed enthusiast and all-round dapper dan behind Skylarkin’ Soundsystem, an hour in the company of the Count guarantees jumpin’ jivin’ rockin’ swingin’ reggae, ska, soul, dancehall and rhythm & blues, turntablism, hip hop acapellas, aching feet and grins all round.
The Count has shared stages, decks and rum with such black music luminaries as The Wailers (2009 UK Tour DJ), The Specials, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, The Skatalites, Prince Buster, Alton Ellis, Max Romeo, Mad Professor, Don Letts, Jerry Dammers, Trojan Soundsystem, Benga, Coki, Benny Page, DJ Yoda, Alex Paterson (The Orb), Massive Attack’s Daddy G and Horace Andy.
As co-founder of The Disco Shed he has made headlining appearances at numerous summer festivals, including The Big Chill, Latitude, Reading, Truck and The Mayor’s Thames Festival. Shedless, The Count has also rocked Glastonbury, Shambala, The Secret Garden Party, Outlook Festival (Croatia), Notting Hill Carnival and countless others. An authority on reggae music particularly, he has written for several music publications, including NME.
In 2009 The Count (aided by Harvey K-Tel) moved into music production, and their debut release “Dub Of A Preacher Man” is out in 2011 on Trojan/Nice Up.
“Oxford’s most esteemed dubmeister”
“A local institution, providing an essential education in all things ska, reggae and r&b.”
“Club Night of the Week” (all from) The Guardian
“The King Of Rum & Bass” Oxford Mail
“Rhythm and blues meets rocksteady, calls round for ska and rock and roll to see if they’re playing out before heading round to drum ‘n’ bass’s place for a party right out of the top drawer” bigchill.net