Exhibition
The Music is Black: A British Story
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upperground: DJ sets
Thursday nights on another frequency. NEXT: sweetestcape
upperground is a new DJ residency at V&A East Museum, inviting artists and selectors to activate the museum’s upper ground floor on Thursday evenings.
Each edition places the spotlight on one guest DJ, giving them space to develop an extended set through their own musical language. Moving across genres, generations and geographies, upperground recognises DJing and selection as creative practices that connect histories, communities and sounds.
Taking place during the museum’s public opening hours, the programme explores how live music can change the way a museum is inhabited and create space to listen, dance, meet and experience the building differently.
upperground will not take place on 29 October and returns on 5 November.
upperground will not take place on 29 October and returns on 5 November.
Next up
On Thursday 5 November, upperground welcomes London born, Nigerian raised DJ, producer, artist and record collector sweetestcape.
On Thursday 5 November, upperground welcomes London born, Nigerian raised DJ, producer, artist and record collector sweetestcape.
Drawing on a deep relationship with recorded music and an instinctive understanding of the dancefloor, sweetestcape approaches DJing as a space for discovery, connection and collective release. His sets bring together records, influences and unexpected connections through a distinctive and continually evolving musical language.
About sweetestcape
sweetestcape, real name Tobias Iriah, is a London born, Nigerian raised DJ, producer, artist, record collector and curator. An industrious cultural innovator with a seemingly bottomless record bag, his practice is shaped by an expansive approach to collecting and a belief in the dancefloor as a space for freedom and connection.
sweetestcape, real name Tobias Iriah, is a London born, Nigerian raised DJ, producer, artist, record collector and curator. An industrious cultural innovator with a seemingly bottomless record bag, his practice is shaped by an expansive approach to collecting and a belief in the dancefloor as a space for freedom and connection.
Previous upperground
22 October 2026 — OLUWA
London and Paris raised DJ and producer OLUWA brought his high-energy, bass-heavy approach to upperground, combining an instinct for reading the room with a sound shaped by the overlapping club cultures of both cities.
22 October 2026 — OLUWA
London and Paris raised DJ and producer OLUWA brought his high-energy, bass-heavy approach to upperground, combining an instinct for reading the room with a sound shaped by the overlapping club cultures of both cities.
15 October 2026 — DRYBABE
London DJ and music curator DRYBABE brought a genre-spanning selection shaped by the contemporary music, fashion and creative communities around her, moving between emerging club sounds and the music circulating through London now.
London DJ and music curator DRYBABE brought a genre-spanning selection shaped by the contemporary music, fashion and creative communities around her, moving between emerging club sounds and the music circulating through London now.
8 October 2026 — CHEZA LUCINA
DJ, producer and cultural curator CHEZA LUCINA brought together Caribbean, UK and global bass rhythms in a high-energy set spanning soca, amapiano, jungle, dubstep, garage and UK funky. Rooted in movement and collective connection, their set transformed the dancefloor into a space for energy, affirmation and release.
DJ, producer and cultural curator CHEZA LUCINA brought together Caribbean, UK and global bass rhythms in a high-energy set spanning soca, amapiano, jungle, dubstep, garage and UK funky. Rooted in movement and collective connection, their set transformed the dancefloor into a space for energy, affirmation and release.
24 September 2026 — A.G
Hackney born DJ, producer, curator and designer A.G brought her deeply rooted but genre-fluid approach to upperground, moving across Grime, Garage, Dance, UK Drill, R&B and Hip Hop. In partnership with BBC Introducing as part of the BBC’s The Music is Black season of programming inspired by the V&A East Museum exhibition.
Hackney born DJ, producer, curator and designer A.G brought her deeply rooted but genre-fluid approach to upperground, moving across Grime, Garage, Dance, UK Drill, R&B and Hip Hop. In partnership with BBC Introducing as part of the BBC’s The Music is Black season of programming inspired by the V&A East Museum exhibition.
17 September 2026 — Demae
Harlesden born multidisciplinary artist Demae brought a selection shaped by her wide musical vocabulary, moving through the spaces where golden era hip hop, soul, jazz and contemporary R&B meet.
10 September 2026 — Zakia Sewell
Writer, DJ and broadcaster Zakia Sewell brought her expansive approach to listening and selection to upperground, drawing connections across music, memory, place and cultural history.
Writer, DJ and broadcaster Zakia Sewell brought her expansive approach to listening and selection to upperground, drawing connections across music, memory, place and cultural history.
3 September 2026 — LO-LOW
London DJ LO-LOW brought her genre fluid approach to techno to upperground, moving between deep house, electro, ballroom, breaks and pop. Guided by the energy of the room, her set approached the dancefloor as a space for freedom, connection and collective release.
London DJ LO-LOW brought her genre fluid approach to techno to upperground, moving between deep house, electro, ballroom, breaks and pop. Guided by the energy of the room, her set approached the dancefloor as a space for freedom, connection and collective release.
27 August 2026 — Karen Nyame KG
Known as the Goddess of Rhythm, Karen Nyame KG brought her distinctive blend of African polyrhythms, low end bass and energetic percussion to upperground. Rooted in UK Funky, London club culture and her Ghanaian heritage, her set moved through the cross currents of contemporary Black electronic music.
In partnership with BBC Introducing as part of the BBC’s The Music is Black season of programming inspired by the V&A East Museum exhibition.
20 August 2026 — Gloria Rose
French born and London based DJ Gloria Rose brought hypnotic grooves, driving rhythms and layered textures to the upper ground floor, drawing on a musical vocabulary shaped by classical training and London’s underground club culture.
13 August 2026 — Polyjammerous
London cultural platform and multi genre club night Polyjammerous took over upperground with resident DJ KEMI joined by DIGITAL SAINT and Baby Jackz. Together they moved across Afro tech, dancehall, amapiano, baile funk, garage, house and jungle in a night centred on connection, collective joy and genre fluid exploration.
London cultural platform and multi genre club night Polyjammerous took over upperground with resident DJ KEMI joined by DIGITAL SAINT and Baby Jackz. Together they moved across Afro tech, dancehall, amapiano, baile funk, garage, house and jungle in a night centred on connection, collective joy and genre fluid exploration.
6 August 2026 — Josh Caffé
upperground opened with London based DJ, producer, singer and activist Josh Caffé, whose practice moves through house, techno and queer club culture. His extended set brought the intimacy and energy of the dancefloor into V&A East Museum for the first edition of the residency.
upperground opened with London based DJ, producer, singer and activist Josh Caffé, whose practice moves through house, techno and queer club culture. His extended set brought the intimacy and energy of the dancefloor into V&A East Museum for the first edition of the residency.
Header image: OLUWA