Balaklava Blues is the brainchild of Mark and Marichka Marczyk, creators of the multi-award winning guerrilla-folk-opera Counting Sheep and leaders of the mighty Lemon Bucket Orkestra – Canada’s notorious 12 piece balkan-party-punk-massive. Falling somewhere between a traditional song cycle and a full blown multimedia techno show, the duo fuses Ukrainian polyphony and other folk traditions with EDM, trap, dub step, and more as a launching pad to explore the seemingly never-ending blues that have long emanated from the Ukrainian steppe.

Mark and Marichka composed all the music for Counting Sheep, a story of love and revolution. Balaklava Blues music is a reclamation of the violence perpetrated on the artists’ home country and they want to redesign and remix physical and psychological oppression and question how and why it continues to inform who we are and what we can become.

Don’t miss this Hot Boppin, Groovin' 4 piece group playing Rockin, Roots Music with a Guitar, Double Bass & Stand Up Drums! Right across the board people seem to be lovin’ it – young, old, stupid, clever, hippies, punks, students, drop outs, mums, dads, drunks, weirdos, ravers, strippers, rockers, mods…Everybody loves that raw sound!

Black Kat Boppers hail from down on the South Coast Water Way in Southampton and are 4 fellas who love to play hard boppin’, jump up, rockin’ blues, dance music. Their influences include Rhythm & Blues, Jump & Jive, Ska, Doo-Wop with a lucky energy. Collectively, when all brought together, Black Kat Boppers sound is raw, authentic, sincere & unique.

A Russian feminist punk-rock collective that stages politically provocative impromptu performances in Moscow, on subjects such as the status of women in Russia formed in August 2911. The collective's lyrical themes included feminism, LGBT rights, and opposition to current Russian President.

The Priscillas have gained an awesome live reputation. Their shows leave audiences with huge grin, humming their catchier-than-flu tunes. They have honed their shows into proper events. They're not just the best all-girl band in the UK, but among the best bands in the country full stop. They make music to make the heart soar, the feet tap, and the jaw drop. On the cusp of rock n roll, punk and pop, they balance perfectly sweet tunes, sarky attitude, and romper stomping beats.

An Irish singer and songwriter. In February 2017 Don received an Irish World Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting and Production in London. He also received the award for Songwriter of the Year at the Irish Post Country Music Awards 2017 on August 30 2017.

Following his success writing for other artists, Mescall released his own album ‘Lighthouse Keeper’, in November 2018, which went in at number 1 in the Irish Independent Album charts.

British band that was formed in 1983. They are mainly known for their success in the mid-1980s and their jazz, Latin-flavoured music

Lowkey, is a rapper and activist based in London, England. Born Kareem Dennis, this English-Iraqi rapper has been known for his strong political views. He first gained fame through the series of mixtapes he released as a teenager. He later made it onto the national album charts with his sophomore LP Soundtrack to the Struggle in 2011.

A British-Congolese musician from Lewisham, London. Better known for his single's "Living In The Moment" which peaked at number 68 on the iTunes world chart and Playlisted by Spotify on the day of its release on the "New Music Friday UK" playlist whilst still unsigned and most recently "Summer Rain" Peaked at number 13 on the iTunes world chart. He is known for mixing genres such as Pop, Afrobeat, Afro house, Hip hop, UK RAP and Urban music

CHAIR: ASIM QURESHI

Lowkey

Hoda Katebi

Aamer Rahman

Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan

Dr Azeezat Johnson

Check out the groovy South London Choir led by the dynamic American composer and entertainer, MJ Paranzino..

This year’s theme is Musicals; from past old favourites to the new wave of ideas embracing the influence of England and beyond. If you would like to participate at rehearsal to join MJ’s GREAT BIG CHOIR, sign up and register with your contact details as you check in or just jump in on the day spontaneously when you see the time slot.

CHAIR: HARDEEP MATHARU in conversation
with Aisha ali-Khan, Shahmir Sanni and Lord Victor Adebowale

Chaired by Rebecca Omonira-Oyekanmi

World over, the poorest and most oppressed communities have long felt the sharpest impact of climate breakdown and environment degradation. In countries rich and poor, the poorest suffer most. Be it polluted water, devastating storms, deadly factories spewing killer chemicals, or swathes of indigenous lands and rainforests stolen for industrial extraction. World over, people of colour in poorer countries have resisted, raised the alarm and challenged powerful vested interests.

Yet the stories we tell about climate action and resistance rarely feature people of colour. We portray environmentalism as a modern Western phenomenon. Why is this?What role does the media play in setting these narratives? Do white journalists see heroism and resistance only when it happens on their doorsteps or the activists look like them? What would climate reporting look like if national newsrooms were truly diverse? Come and join our panel of journalists, activists and climate experts to discuss the role of people of colour in telling stories about climate change and the environment.

Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah 

Simmone Ahiaku 

Dalia Gebrial

Damian Gayle

What are the warning signs of autocracy? How do you know the oligarchs are taking over the media, the police, the judiciary? How do you stop rights being eroded and dissent being silenced?

Nadya Tolokonnikova from Pussy Riot

Carole Cadwalladr from the Observer

Luke Harding from the Guardian

A review of the papers hosted by the Curious Arts Festival - news and views and a stellar line up of festival speakers: hosted by Paul Blezard