Herbal Mafia returned this Friday with the third chapter of their birthday celebration series at York’s leading independent DIY venue, The Crescent.
Review and Photos By Caitlin Barnard
The night marked a return to their ‘old skool’ roots, with a lineup featuring an array of live hip-hop and boom bap, heavyweight jungle sets, and the deepest baselines in DnB.
From the moment doors opened, attendees were met with a programme of DJ sets spanning drum and bass, breaks and electronic hits, all channelled through a top-tier sound system that set a vibrant dancefloor tone from the outset. Even in room two, resonant bass bled through the floors as crowds socialised and grabbed drinks at the bar, the venue buzzing with a strong sense of community.
From the off, it was clear that Herbal Mafia consistently curates its line-ups with intention, placing a strong emphasis on showcasing both seasoned industry veterans and standout emerging talent, with this evening being no exception. Blending the classic foundations of turntablism and dance music with both local and established underground artists, the event highlighted how a new generation of creatives continues to evolve stylistically while remaining rooted in the origins of the scene.
After high-octane sets featuring tight mixing and expertly selected tracks from newest resident DJ Tomm and Yenz, UK hip hop duo North South Divide were first up on the mic in the main room. The MCs – consisting of M.A.B. and Double Deuce – rapped dynamically over dark, off-kilter beats, garnering approving nods from the engaged listeners.
Headliners Verb T and Pitch 92 took to the decks next, establishing an atmospheric yet upbeat tone that drew on clear ‘90s influences, underscored by intricate wordplay, assured flow, and textured boom bap production. The appearance formed one stop on Verb T’s tour in support of his seventeenth album To Love A Phantom, with the set blending new material alongside fan favourites.
His performance effortlessly combined a laidback, conversational vocal style that highlighted his ease on the mic with densely constructed lyricism. Moving fluidly between flows and engaging the audience throughout, the set featured call-and-response moments that energised the crowd, alongside witty strands of storytelling.
DJM was next up in the main room, delivering a healthy dose of scratching and experimental jungle reworkings of classics such as World a Reggae and Junglist Massive. His dexterity on the decks and palpable exuberance saw the animated crowd move with him, fully immersed in a moment not to be missed.
The second headlining set of the night came from award-winning junglist DJ Mrs Magoo whose sharp selections and production skills exemplified exactly why she sits at the forefront of contemporary jungle. A consistently high-calibre, forward-thinking selection of driving tracks was anchored by entrancing, sonorous basslines, with her deft turntablism reaffirming her reputation as “the junglist’s junglist.”
Capping off the night was C-DJ, delivering a unique amalgamation of tight mixing and soaring vocals, a fitting finale for those whose dancing shoes carried them through to the end. With each performance, the passion for curation from the creatives behind the night was evident in the expansive breadth of the line-up, catering to a wide range of tastes and offering something for anyone and everyone inclined to lock in with the music or let go on the dancefloor.
Herbal Mafia returns for the final instalment of its 20th Birthday series on 23 May, with acclaimed drum and bass legend Dillinja topping the bill, alongside a stacked roster of dynamic grime, UK bass and dubstep acts.
Herbal Mafia 20th Birthday: Part 3 took place on 24 April 2026 at The Crescent York.