Black Fest

Some of Liverpool’s most iconic venues set the stage for a festival in the city celebrating black art,  showcasing award winning artists such as YolanDa Brown. BlackFest 2023 will feature live music, theatre, spoken word, art, fashion and more — with an exciting programme of entertainment that aims to celebrate cultural diversity within our region. The multi-award-winning festival, now in its 6th year, is showcasing some incredible talent at venues such as The Palm House, Museum of Liverpool and The Philharmonic Hall in August, September, and October. 

Here’s what’s on, by the organisers themselves...

 

Locks / Mon 25th Sept, 7pm / Liverpool Lighthouse

A fascinating night of in conversation and book launch with award winning author, playwright and rapper, Ash Nugent. A literary powerhouse, Ash is the author of Locks — a profound semi-autobiographical book based on his life and character Aeon— Ash is also the Founder of Rise Up CIC, where he helps reform prisoners. Want to be a writer find out a lived journey in Ash in Q and A and get a copy of ‘Locks’ Signed by Ashleigh himself! A night of Literature to spark your imagination!

 

Black Boy Joy Gone / Tues 26th Sept, 7pm / Unity Theatre

This year BlackFest and Panoptical are teaming up to deliver #Realise — compiling the experiences of black men in Liverpool into theatre pieces inspired by the original campaign. The new works created will air as devised LIVE theatre and film pieces as a creative response to the themes of BBJG film, plus original dice-poem film screening of Black Boy Joy Gone, followed by a panel discussion.

A profound play that captures the lives, realities, and hopeful perspectives of black men in the United Kingdom, this powerful production features interviews, poetry, dance, and storytelling. A gripping mental health related production that will have a lasting impact on the audience.

 

Satin Beige / Weds 27th Sept, 1pm / Tung Auditorium

This very special free concert sees Satin Beige perform at the grand Tung Auditorium at 1pm. A supremely talented artist, she has received an award at the UK Music awards (2017), opened the main stage at Africa Oye (2019) and played sessions for the BBC. A free event featuring one of Liverpool’s finest vocalists.

 

YolanDa Brown / Weds 27th Sept, 7pm / Tung Auditorium

BlackFest are proud to present and welcome YolanDa Brown OBE in partnership with the Tung Auditorium to Liverpool.

For some, world-wide touring and critically acclaimed albums would be satisfaction enough. Not for YolanDa Brown, she wears many hats, musician, broadcaster, author, philanthropist and wears them well... with passion and full of vigour.

YolanDa is a double MOBO Award winning artist, her music is a delicious fusion of reggae, jazz, and soul. She has toured with The Temptations, Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Billy Ocean and collaborated with artists such as Dave Stewart from Eurythmics, Snarky Puppy's Bill Laurance, Kelly Jones from Stereophonics and Rick Astley. She is currently composing music for the iconic Sesame Street. 

She was awarded an OBE for services to music, music education and broadcasting in the 2023 New Year Honours List by his Majesty the King. 

In July 2022, YolanDa was appointed Chair of BPI (organises The BRIT Awards, The Mercury Prize).

She is a broadcaster working across TV and Radio, including her eponymous series for CBeebies, "YolanDa's Band Jam", which won the RTSNW award as Best Children's Programme. Over on the airways, she hosts YolanDa Brown on Saturday on Jazz FM, presents the best of classical music on Scala Radio on Sundays, BBC Radio 4's 'Loose Ends' with Clive Anderson and can be heard regularly across BBC Radio 2. 

You may have also spotted her flexing her general knowledge muscles on such shows as: 'Bridge of Lies' with Ross Kemp, 'University Challenge', 'The Hit List', Richard Osman's 'House of Games', 'Celebrity Mastermind', 'Pointless Celebrities'. An entrepreneur too, YolanDa is about to launch her own music venue and restaurant Soul Mama in Autumn 2023.  YolanDa loves to drive fast cars around racetracks in her spare time and can even rattle off a Rubik's Cube in around five minutes (on a good day).

A?real renaissance woman set to reach new heights, join YolanDa Brown for some sunshine music.

 

Spoken Word Night / Thurs 28th Sept, 7pm / Palm House

The magical night at The Palm House will feature an exceptional line up of Liverpool’s and Manchester’s emerging and established poets Naami J Soya, Sian the Visionary, Sidney Conteh, Alexis Maxwell touching on unseen narratives. Join BlackFest for a night of collective conscious and wonderful wordsmiths that you definitely won’t forget and will learn from with an open mic to sign up to for any budding poets in the audience.

 

Riddims Night – Celebrating 50 years of Hip Hop / Sat 30th Sept, 7pm / Philharmonic Music Room

Plus / Beatboxing workshop by Testament / Sat 30th Sept, 1pm / Philharmonic Music Room

Join BlackFest as we bring you another rendition of our iconic Riddims Night this year celebrating 50 years of hip hop.

We will be joined by headliner Testament who will be providing a hip hop history and beatbox workshop as well as hosting a cypher. Testament is a Hip-Hop MC, writer, theatre maker and world record breaking human beatboxer.

Come see the exciting new acts including a legendary Bboy battle between Miguel Doforo Dancers and AfroDance Academy, a brilliant Afro Dance company committed to connecting people to their roots through movement. Miguel is passionate about community work, dance, equality, and diversity and supports many important causes to help break down barriers and help people achieve their goals.

Meet the line-up:

Testament | Remée | Yilly | Conduit

Featuring local artist Remée, an extraordinary alternative rock, soul, indie, pop singer/song writer.

Angolan Hip Hop rapper and songwriter Yilly.

And Conduit, a classic, progressive, and contemporary Hip Hop artist.

DJ Andy H applies his unique style of DJing to dancefloor bass-music while still remaining true to his Hip Hop roots.

 

Diasporic Dialogues / Sun 1st Oct, 2pm / Museum of Liverpool

Celebrating the life of the legendary Leroy Cooper, this free event at Museum of Liverpool pays tribute to him and the life he led by exhibiting his paintings with Smithdown Social Arts Hub and screening his interview with BlackFest at the museum on his journey and experiences as a photographer, artist, and activist.

 

Sustainable Cooking Workshop / Mon 2nd Oct, 10am / Granby Winter Garden

Bay Tree Cookery Academy will be leading a sustainable cooking workshop teaching you how to reduce your food waste, save money, energy, and the planet in Granby Winter Garden. Michelle O’Dwyer professional chef and director of Bay Tree Cookery Academy CIC is a not-for-profit community interest company that works to improve access to healthy, nutritious food, to help individuals and families develop skills in cooking and nutrition, to reduce food waste and to tackle poverty, hunger, malnutrition and lack of skills and aspirations in high deprivation areas of Liverpool.

 

Fashion Fest / Weds 11th Oct, 7pm / Zenn

Thanks to Community Foundation Lancashire & Merseyside, BlackFest are hosting a huge fashion festival at the plush Zenn venue — featuring award winning fashion designers such as Dionne Da Costa, House of Charles, Tare Isaac, Lohi founder of AfrofashionUK, Cultureville and more. A must for fashionistas, this event brings two cities closer together — featuring 5 designers from Liverpool and 5 from Manchester.

 

Visual Arts Launch/ Tues 17th Oct, 7pm/Smithdown Social Arts Hub

Hosted at Smithdown Social Arts Hub with a series free visual arts workshop 2-week exhibition featuring artists such as Hellen Songa presenting Mwalula: photography on sustainability and environment, launching DJ Soulfultiz Tony Nwachukwu as a Visual sketch drawing artist, Petronelle showcasing precious Congolese artifacts and Okechukwu Ugonna landscape art of the Wirral. From foraging, landscape and life drawing fine art, there’s an interactive workshop for everyone. Dates available are Launch on Tues 17th Oct, Workshops: 19th Oct, Sat 21st Oct, and Wed 25th Oct. 

 

Landscapes Workshop / Thurs 19th Oct, 2pm / Smithdown Social Arts Hub 

Oke Ugonna though goes by the artist name Oksy. He would categorise his art practice into three parts landscape, portraits, and the work he does on African masks and sculptures. Oke has been presenting work on Merseyside for about ten years after completing studies in Liverpool.

His practice now has moved from very couched in the abstract expressionism of 1950’5 New York to a more figurative style. He is interested in the buildings of Liverpool and the more suburban feel of the Wirral. Oke feels part of the art community in Wirral. Oke was born in Nigeria, so part of his heritage is from that culture. He is very interested in the masks of Africa specifically that of the Igbo people of south Nigeria. This is where Oke’s paternal ancestry stems from. He is not only fascinated by how they look but also of their spiritual connotation within the cultures and how they are used in rites and ceremonies. Each mask and sculpture has a visual language that relates to the beliefs and history of the people of the culture. Oke is trying to learn the language of these artworks.

 

Foraging Workshop /Sat 21st Oct, 2.30pm / Granby Winter Garden 

Join BlackFest for some Foraging and fresh air this year as our visual artists Hellen Songa guides us through identifying some local medicinal plants and herbs to create some exciting elixir finishing off with a Lunar gathering workshop with Nu Yoga.

Hellen who will be joined by Nu of Heartstring Yoga, will be guiding us through a workshop beginning with mediation in Granby Winter Garden and continuing with intuitive foraging in Princes Park.

When, we have returned to the Winter Garden we will look at what we have gathered and take part in some journaling followed by collecting moon water to share as a collective and Yoga Nindra.

We hope you can join us for this amazing workshop.

Hellen wants others to become empowered and involved with food and land related projects.  

Hellen Songa is Rwandan-Zambian food grower, community activist and socially engaged photojournalist focused on environmentalism. They work, volunteer, and sit on the board of L8-community food organisation, Squash Liverpool, and is passionate about using photography as a visual tool to tell stories about people and their relationship with the natural world.

 

Fine Art Workshop / Wed 25th Oct, 10am / Smithdown Social Arts Hub

Join Tony Nwachukwu at Smithdown Social Arts Hub for a fine art workshop.

We are launching Tony Nwachukwu, a self-taught fine artist and brings a unique perspective and creativity through his work.

His dedication and passion for pursuing art is what we are proud to be launching at BlackFest 2023. 

Tony also known as DJ Soulfultiz will be leading a workshop covering pencil drawing at Smithdown Social Arts Hub.

    

Mask Making Workshop / Thur 26th Oct 12pm / Smithdown Social Arts Hub

Petronelle who leads the Merseyside Congolese Association will be hosting a mask making workshop for both adults and children.

This promises to get the creative juices flowing and offer an exciting interactive workshop that explores Congolese culture and artefacts and will keep you entertained for hours.

 

Celebration Night / Friday 27th Oct, 7pm / Palm House

Join BlackFest once again as they close the festival with a bang, featuring an exciting line up of incredible artists and performers including Roukaya B, Andre Jahnoi, Keith Coker, Tyrone Lewis, Wxndchxme, Cherelle, Griot Gabriel, Sian the Visionary, Be Manzini, Elizabetta, Nzanzu, Kingfast and more. A party like no other featuring live music, entertainment, and community performances!

 

FESTIVAL PASS

With the BlackFest 2023 Festival Pass you'll have access to a variety of events, including captivating music concerts, inspiring art installations, engaging panel discussions, and much more. This pass will grant you entry to all festival venues and activities throughout the event including a standing seat at BlackFest FashionFest.

Get the festival pass and save over £45!

Subject to availability.

CONTACT US WITH ANY QUERIES INFO@BLACKFEST.CO.UK

 

Website: www.blackfest.co.uk Instagram: blackfestcreatives Facebook: blackfestcreatives Twitter: fest_black