Sound System of the Year

V Rocket 

For almost 60 years, V Rocket International has dominated sound system culture in Nottingham. Starting out with a 50-watt sound system, progressing to valve amplifiers built by the skilled hands of Legs the Giant, V Rocket's popularity took them from playing at house (blues) parties, to venues all over the world.

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Over time, V Rocket has been hosted by various selectors and MCs; however, it was when brothers Ruben and Parliament joined the sound that the transformation truly began; this transformation continued with the introduction of Lady Vee.

Her arrival made V Rocket unique as it was the first sound system in the UK to be co-run by a woman. Brains (our genius sound engineer), the late Bolo, Ranking, Scrapey Banton, the late Edginton (Edgy), Teacher Desi, Penny Irie, Ricky Stereo, Geoffrey the Driver and Daddy Wharf were all part of this transformed sound system family.

During the 70s and 80s, V Rocket competed ('clashed') against UK and international sounds including Sir Coxsone, Saxon, Unity, Java Nuclear, Master Blaster, Asha World Movement, Baron Turbo, Now Generation, Stone Love, Body Guard, Killamanjaro and many more. As a result, the record box got bigger, with dub plates from Channel One, King Tubby's (Jamaica) and King Jammy's. The sound system grew bigger too and in 1987 was shipped to Jamaica to join the crew and complete a six-week tour of the island.

Over the years many top artists have performed on V Rocket, including Shabba Ranks, Beenie Man, Ninja Man and Dennis Brown to Nitty Gritty, Brigadier Jerry, Josey Wales, Charlie Chaplin, Horace Andy, Maxi Priest, Mr Vegas and more! As the sound system industry developed, V. Rocket moved with it. Whilst maintaining the roots and foundation they were known and respected for, the sound introduced a younger generation of MC and selector; first came Val B and Belly who joined the sound in 1999 and 2002 respectively and then later, Fire Mark in 2006, DJ Marl and DJ Keno joining as the most recent members.

V Rocket plays a mixed genre of music and given that it was founded in 1964, has an enviable and comprehensive catalogue of dubs from the late greats, foundation, rub-a-dub, roots and exclusives.

The sound is still very active and in recent years hosts big name events such as The UK Cup Clash and Full 100 as well as travelling both domestically around the UK and internationally in Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, USA,

Jamaica and Gambia.

In 2022 V Rocket made history by being the first sound system to have their story told in a documentary 'V Rocket International: A Sound System Dynasty which was acquired for streaming in multiple territories around the world on a dozen platforms including Amazon Prime, Tubi, Xumo and TLC. The documentary also played at the Windrush Film Festival and Caribbean Film Festival in 2023 2022 was also an award-winning year for V Rocket - winning Sound System of the Year at the Blac Achievement Awards in association with the Royal Air Force.