In 2014 having, promoted music for a number of years, David Messer decided to start a festival to give a platform for new and up and coming artists, to play alongside known and established names and to bring the best in roots music to London under one banner.

He teamed up with his friends at Kilimanjaro Live and created  The London Folk & Roots Festival.

2018 saw the name change to The London Roots Festival, to reflect the eclectic mix of styles it now embraces, including folk, country, Americana, blues, singer-songwriters and world music.

Now in our 10th year, London Roots Festival is proud to have presented many great names, including:

African Gospel Choir, Ailbhe Reddy, All Our Exes Live in Texas, Aoife O’Donovan, Blick Bassy, Brandi Carlile, Breabach, Brooke Sharkey, Cara Dillon, CC Smugglers, Chuck Prophet, Dermot Kennedy, Eddi Reader, Eliza Carthy, Emily Mae Winters, Fantastic Negrito, Fisherman’s Friends, Foy Vance, Gretchen Peters, Jarred and The Mill, John Smith, Johnny Lang, Jon Boden, Kaia Kater, Kathryn Williams, Keston Cobblers Club, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis, Lindisfarne, Luke Jackson, Mark Eitzel, Maz O’Connor, Michael McGoldrick, Mick Flannery, Mokoomba, Newton Faulkner, Oysterband, Patch & The Giant, Rhiannon Giddens, Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys, Sam Lee, Sam Outlaw, Sarah Jarosz, Secret Sisters, Show of Hands, Skerryvore, Tall Heights, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, The Young’uns, Tom Baxter, Tony Joe White, Trampled by Turtles, Wainwright Sisters, Wallis Bird, Ward Thomas and many more.