Exhibition
The Music is Black: A British Story
Our partners at the BBC have created a season of content across iPlayer and Sounds inspired by The Music is Black. BBC
Find out more
upperground: DJ sets
Thursday nights on another frequency. NEXT: CHEZA LUCINA
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.
Next up
Next up
On Thursday 8 October, upperground welcomes London DJ, producer, cultural curator and community facilitator CHEZA LUCINA.
Moving between Caribbean, UK and global bass rhythms, Cheza’s high-energy sets bring together sounds from amapiano, soca, bouyon and dembow to jungle, juke, dubstep, garage and UK funky.
About CHEZA LUCINA
CHEZA LUCINA is a DJ, producer, cultural curator and community facilitator working across London’s underground music and queer cultural scenes. As co-founder of Bumpah, co-director of Felt Sound System, and a resident producer with Popola and Goldfat Music, their practice creates space for emerging queer artists from the global majority while connecting musical traditions across cultures and generations.
Cheza has performed at festivals including Glastonbury, Boomtown, Body Movements and We Out Here, hosted radio residencies across Kool FM, Voices Radio and Subtle FM, and curated sold-out events at venues including FOLD, Elektrowerkz and Dalston Superstore.
Previous upperground
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.
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.
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.
Membership
V&A Members enjoy free and unlimited entry to all exhibitions, a sought-after programme of Members' events, use of our Members' Rooms, at least 10% off in V&A shops, and much more.
Find out more
Header image: CHEZA LUCINA