They’re the greatest band you’ve never heard of.Unsung heroes whose music was political, spiritual and generations ahead of its time.As children of the Windrush Generation, Cymande were part of the first wave of innovators and originators of the fledgling Black British music scene.Taking influences from their Guyanese and Jamaican roots, the band fused reggae basslines, Afro-tinged Nyabinghi percussion, psychedelic rock touches and American style funk instrumentation into a unique sound they dubbed as ‘Nyah-rock’. 2024 marked the 50th anniversary of Cymande’s ‘Promised Heights’, a much-beloved and often-sampled record that closed out a historic three album run of seminal early 1970s Afro-soul that included Cymande’s 1972 self-titled debut – the first UK soul album to land on the Billboard charts – and 1973’s ‘Second Time Round’, which placed them back on the US charts again.Cymande were also the first British band to ever play the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem. These three albums are now available on CD once again. Cymande played Glastonbury Festival’s West Holts stage this Summer, kick-starting a run of extensive international festival appearances and a headline European tour in October. “They turn grim urban reality into an empowering statement, a forwardlooking philosophy that still resonates” – MOJO TV – BBC & ITV News coverage of ‘Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande’ documentary. Press – Features with The Guardian, The Times, The Big Issue, Uncut, Wire, MOJO, Brooklyn Vegan, Variety, Record Collector. Radio – Interviews on BBC 6 Music with Craig Charles & Deb Grant, Live At Maida Vale session for Gilles Peterson’s Hip-Hop At 50 series
