Time to get your rock on.

In the ever-persistent war against bland property developers determined to make London a sea of grey, the Stoke Newington Music Festival plans to celebrate the live music venues that make this city great. And this year, reggae icon Janet Kay will be headlining to celebrate 40 years in the music business.

Spread across three days, this musical extravaganza is host to all kinds of singers, poets and performers, such as country music star Hank Wangford and poet (and Stoke Newington local) John Hegley. You can catch these guys at music venues like the Mascara Bar and other bars, restaurants, and coffee shops – as well as the local hairdresser, Beaucatcher, who will have an opera singer and folk musician perform while you get your hair done. If that didn’t seal the deal (frankly, nothing will), then the headline act of Janet Kay, the first black female artist to have a reggae song at the top of the charts, should. Or that the festival raises money for sexual health and wellbeing charity, Brook. So you can party all weekend and still do a good deed.

Stoke Newington Music Festival is held in many venues across Stoke Newington between 20th October to 22nd October.