Time Out’s Londoner of the Year has been crowned for 2024

Drum roll, please. It’s that time of year again. The time of year when we take stock, reflect, and think about what Londoner deserves the enviable title of Time Out’s Londoner of the Year. Last year we had Ezra Collective, the youth-club born five-piece band who were the first jazz act to receive the Mercury Prize, and in 2022, we had Chloe Kelly, who scored the winning goal for the Lionesses’ during the Women’s Euros Final. 

This year? None other than Tottenham’s very own DJ AG.

Ashley Gordon has blown up on social media with his live-streamed pop-up DJ sets on the streets of London, attracting surprise guest performances from the likes of Skepta, JME and Jorja Smith. More importantly, he’s been providing a platform for emerging talent in an increasingly difficult industry and spreading joy through music for unknowing passers-by. He’s taken his decks into care homes and has ambitions to work with schools, prisons and youth clubs, and dreams of bringing his pop-ups to cities across the world – and, one day, maybe even building something like Stormzy’s Merky FC HQ, the football pitch and community centre in Croydon, for his own community. Inspiring others, spreading joy, pushing boundaries – we couldn’t think of anyone more deserving.

To celebrate AG’s contributions to the UK’s grassroots music scene and Londoner of the Year win, we photographed him outside the Ritzy cinema in Brixton with his name on the front marquee. 

In the cover interview with Time Out editor Georgia Evans, Jorja Smith said about AG: ‘What AG is doing is super important. He’s bringing people together and turning every session into a celebration of community and sound. He’s inspiring others to step out and share their voices, and I felt blessed to contribute, even in a small way.’

Elijah, the co-founder of influential grime label Butterz, said: ‘The most important DJ in the UK also being Londoner of the year makes sense to me. Interesting cities can’t be quiet cities. Keep London loud!’

Check out the full Time Out cover shoot and read the full interview with DJ AG here. 

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