BASS Festival (British Arts and Street Sounds), the UK’s only month-long celebration of Black music and art, returns to Birmingham in June with a city-wide feast of urban culture.
Now in its sixth year, BASS 2011 is bringing the theme of Revolution to Birmingham with a range of music, arts and fashion events in venues across the city.
Ammo Talwar, founder and chief executive of Punch Records, organiser of the festival, says: “BASS has always had its finger on the pulse of the latest talent, trends and opportunities that will revolutionise your thinking about music, dance, spoken word and theatre. And this year’s theme is exactly about that – it’s all about revolution.
“It could be political change, artists who have transformed music, the next generation of talent or turning things round in dance. This year’s BASS Festival invites you to take a fresh look at what’s happening in culture and beyond.”
The year’s festival will welcome and support some of the hottest and newest talent around including rising star, Ghostpoet, who can be seen at the festival’s launch, upcoming grime superstar RoxXxan, and street dancer Turbo and streetwear designer SOAPBOX WORLD, who can both be seen throughout Hip Hop Revolution on the festival’s last day.
For the first time, BASS Festival will stage a fashion show featuring new black designers from across the region and an artist in residence at mac. Keeping true to its roots, there will also be club nights with Benji B at the Hare and Hounds and local Hip Hop stalwart Juice Aleem at The Rainbow.
Other planned highlights include Pauline Black, lead singer with Two Tone outfit The Selecter, who revolutionised music through the Two Tone movement 30 years ago. BASS Festival marks this key figure for women in music by a special event in the intimate surroundings of The Edge, where she will talk about her career, new book and play tracks from her new album – and hopefully a few old classics to boot.
Trendsetter and US Hip Hop artist Spec Boogie, who hails from the same corner where The Notorious B.I.G once roamed, will be performing his underground SMASH ‘Bed Stuy’ as well as previously unheard material at the Custard Factory. This event is set to be one of THE Hip Hop gigs of the year and a sure fire sell-out.
One of the most influential performance poets on the scene, Jean Binta Breeze, will be showcasing her new poetry collection ‘Third World Girl’ at the Library Theatre and will be supported by some of the finest spoken word performers on the UK circuit. This really is an unmissable event!
For more information on BASS Festival and line-up announcements, visit Punch Records www.punch-records.co.uk
