For more than a decade, the Camden Skinhead Meet N’ Greet has quietly grown into one of London’s most cherished grassroots meet-ups. Born out of a simple need – to bring people together before a gig – it has flourished into a monthly social fixture for lovers of ska, reggae, punk, Oi!, and the rich tapestry of working-class subcultural music and style which shaped and defined skinhead culture. 

From Pre-Gig Social to Scene Staple 

The Meet N’ Greet began roughly eleven years ago as a loose gathering tied to semi-regular performances by King Hammond at The Dublin Castle – one of Camden’s most historic live music venues. Regulars attending these gigs didn’t have a set place to mingle beforehand, and what started as an impromptu, pre-show hangout soon developed a life of its own. 

Over the years, the vibe has shifted from a pre-gig meet-up into a bigger Social – a space where anyone can come from early afternoon for a catch up, dance, to swap stories, and build community. As word spread, the event grew busier, drawing in not only those heading to gigs but a broader network of artists, DJs, punks, skinheads and music fans, all hungry for a scene-centric evening before the show. 

At times, the Meet N’ Greet events have taken on a festival-atmosphere, informally “taking over” what was once just a pre-show get-together. This reflects how deeply it’s developed and appreciated among alternative communities, for it to have become not just a waiting room before a performance, but a central hub for all to reunite in London’s staple town.  

Camden: A Home for Subculture 

To understand why the Camden Skinhead Meet N’ Greet feels so natural in its surroundings, you must look at Camden itself. The area isn’t just a convenient backdrop – it’s historically intertwined with the evolution of British subculture, including skinhead culture in all its complexity. Camden Town itself has long been a magnet for alternative music and youth subcultures. The streets around the market, and venues like The Dublin Castle, have hosted punk, ska, reggae, indie and underground gigs for decades. From ska-punk nights to reggae mixers and classic rock shows, live music is part of Camden’s identity – so much so that the area has been referenced in countless gig archives and scene histories.   

Today’s thriving community also includes clothing and memorabilia shops such as those found in Camden Market, celebrating punk and skinhead style – a nod to the aesthetic roots that helped shape the Meet N’ Greet’s appeal.   

The Man Behind the Turntables 

At the heart of the Camden Meet N’ Greet is organiser and DJ Dave Plume – a lifelong music enthusiast with deep roots in the scene. Dave started DJing at just 15 years old in Romford, cutting his teeth at The Rezz club back in his teens. From the start, he developed a guiding philosophy: “music is music” – a belief that refuses rigid genre boundaries and celebrates the sheer joy of sound. 

This philosophy is reflected in how he curates the Meet N’ Greet music lineup. DJs at the original Meet N’ Greet event are playing classic Ska and Reggae anthems, while DJs at the Meet N’ Greet Social are given full freedom to play what they want, drawing from ska, reggae, punk, Oi!, soul and beyond. Dave explains that he returned to DJing more seriously because he wasn’t hearing the music he wanted to hear at other events – so he decided to create his own space where it could be played. That DIY instinct is deeply tied to the very culture the events celebrate. 

A Cultural Connection 

Understanding the Meet N’ Greet also means understanding the culture from which it springs. Skinhead culture first emerged in late-1960s London, and while areas of East and South London are often cited as early epicentres, Camden quickly became a meeting point for different strands of youth culture. Its markets, pubs and live venues offered something crucial: visibility. The area’s record shops and market stalls have long stocked Trojan Records reissues, bootleg Oi! singles and vintage band tees, keeping the musical heritage tangible and accessible. 

The skinhead look – cropped hair, boots, and braces – thrived in urban spaces where identity was worn boldly. Camden’s streets, particularly around Camden High Street and Chalk Farm, became catwalks for alternative style. By the 1970s and early 80s, as punk exploded across London, Camden was a crossroads where punks, skins, goths and new romantics all overlapped. That crossover energy still defines the area today. The skinhead subculture itself traces back to the working-class youth of 1960s London, blending British mod influences with Jamaican music styles, including ska, rocksteady and reggae.  These early cross-cultural influences mirrored the very music that still resonates at events like the Camden gathering – underscoring how music and community have always been inseparable in this world. 

Today, skinhead culture takes many forms and has a complex history. Groups like Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice (SHARP) work to reclaim parts of that history that were overshadowed by far-right associations in the late 20th century, emphasising the original multicultural roots of the movement.  While the Camden Meet N’ Greet is fundamentally about music and friendship, understanding this broader backdrop helps frame why such gatherings matter to participants: they’re about culture, identity, heritage and solidarity. 

More Than Just a Warm-Up 

Ultimately, what sets the Camden Skinhead Meet N’ Greet apart is its sense of community and continuity. In a city where venues open and close and subcultures constantly evolve, an event that has weathered more than a decade of change is significant. 

It’s no longer just a warm-up before a show – it’s a moment in the month where people connect, celebrate shared passions, and keep a vibrant scene alive. Whether you’re there for the music, the style, the chats, or just the memories, the Meet N’ Greet stands as proof that grassroots gatherings still leave a powerful presence and purposeful stamp on London’s cultural landscape.