FRED ROBARTS

DJ / DAKAR

Music matters

Fred Robarts is a Dakar-based record collector and vinyl DJ, partial to jazz, funk, Afrobeat, highlife, dub and plenty more for the discerning dancefloor.

Listen to mixes

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01 / LISTENING ROOM

Sample mixes

A selection of genre-hopping mixes to play from this page. Please like, follow, comment, share & send feedback if you enjoy these.

Low Sun (1hr 15m) - Downtempo cumbia & jazz from Hermanos Gutierrez, The Poets of Rhythm, Waltel Branco, Atjazz, The Circling Sun and others.

Low Sun (1hr 15m) - Downtempo cumbia & more

Something’s Happening (46m) - Music for a summer afternoon , featuring Kokoroko, Khruangbin, Sault, Caribou, Nathan Fake, Jordan Rakei, Roy Ayers, Michael Naura, Tricky, Makaya McCraven, Tony Allen, Theon Cross, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, Shuggie Otis & Sidney Bechet.

Something’s Happening (46m) - For a summer afternoon

Something’s Happening (46m) - Music for a summer afternoon , featuring Kokoroko, Khruangbin, Sault, Caribou, Nathan Fake, Jordan Rakei, Roy Ayers, Tricky, Makaya McCraven, Tony Allen, Theon Cross, Gyedu-Blay Ambolley, Shuggie Otis & Sidney Bechet.

Cut That Rug (1hr) - Something bouncier. Kicks off with Fanfare Ciocarlia in Colombia, then Quantic's take on Khruangbin. Detours via Azymuth, a slice of disco-reggae, some classic Quincy Jones and a spell in Brazil before Hot Chip's Atomic Bomb and finally some post-apocalyptic reveries.

Cut That Rug (1hr) - Something bouncier

Cut That Rug (1hr) - Something bouncier. Kicks off with Fanfare Ciocarlia in Colombia, then Quantic's take on Khruangbin. Detours via Azymuth, some disco-reggae, Quincy Jones and a spell in Brazil before Hot Chip's Atomic Bomb and finally some post-apocalyptic reveries.

Explore all 20 mixes

02 / ON AIR

Radio archive

A series of 2-hour excursions through global sounds and rare grooves, originally broadcast on BMC Radio in London (2022-2025).

A series of 2-hour excursions through global sounds and rare grooves, originally broadcast on BMC Radio in London (2022-2025).

June 2025: Tracks from Ishmael Ensemble, Quincy Jones, Roger Damawuzan, Pasteur Lappe, Gnonnas Pedro, Wandalea, Gerson King Combo, Sivuca, Prince Blackman, Lord Echo, Roland Alphonso and more.

June 2025

May 2025: Starting with some dub from the likes of The Detonators, Lee Perry, Jackie Mittoo and Rhythm & Sound, Tony Allen's collaboration with Jeff Mills, a dose of War, plus other bits from Tenderlonious, Aflex Combo, Marijata, Fela Kuti, and many more.

May 2025

June 2024: Features Trio Mocoto, Lalo Schiffrin, Azymuth, Gerardo Frisina, Nil's Jazz Ensemble, Maynard Ferguson, Mulatu Astatke, Black Beat Disco, Mad Professor's amazing dub of Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, Jackie Mittoo, Louie Ramirez, Grace Jones, Oluko Imo & more.

June 2024

June 2024: Features Trio Mocoto, Lalo Schiffrin, Azimuth, Gerardo Frisina, Nil's Jazz Ensemble, Mulatu Astatke, Black Beat Disco, Mad Professor's amazing dub of Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey, Jackie Mittoo, Louie Ramirez, Grace Jones, Oluko Imo & more.

Explore more radio recordings

Explore more

03 / BEHIND THE DECKS

A lifetime of listening

A lifetime of listening





Fred has been collecting records and DJing since his university days in Bristol in the 1990s. Now based in Dakar, Senegal, his selections reflect years in London, Accra, Kinshasa and beyond.

Fred has been collecting records and DJing since his university days in Bristol in the 1990s. Now based in Dakar, Senegal, his selections reflect years in London, Accra, Kinshasa and beyond.

He has warmed up for Ebo Taylor at a festival in Ghana, played regular sets at Republic in Accra and Spiritland in London, and supported Jalen Ngonda at Peckham Festival. Dakar appearances include Groov, Loman Art Rooftop and Terminus (with Analog Dakar).

04 / GET IN TOUCH

Let’s talk

To get in touch about bookings (including private events), collaborations, track ID queries, or anything else, please use the form or send a WhatsApp message. Either way, you should get a direct reply within a day or two.

Réservations et questions : écrivez en français ou en anglais, par WhatsApp ou via le formulaire.

To hear about upcoming events, follow @therealfredr on Instagram.

To get in touch about bookings (including private events), collaborations, track ID queries, etc., please use the form or send a WhatsApp message. To hear about upcoming events, follow @therealfredr on Instagram.

Réservations et questions : écrivez en français ou en anglais, par WhatsApp ou via le formulaire.

To get in touch about bookings (including private events), collaborations, track ID queries, etc., please use the form or send a WhatsApp message. Either way, you should get a direct reply within a day or two.

Réservations et questions : écrivez en français ou en anglais, par WhatsApp ou via le formulaire.

To hear about upcoming events, follow @therealfredr on Instagram.

FRED ROBARTS

FRED ROBARTS