 | JUST ANNOUNCED:
Legendary Brazilian musician Jorge Ben Jor to join the Back2Black Festival line-up. Ben Jor will perform with his band and also as a special guest with Gilberto Gil. Also confirmed: A talks programme featuring authors Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Tahar Ben Jelloun and Paulo Lins and more
Friday 29, Saturday 30 June & Sunday 1 July 2012
Old Billingsgate Market, London EC3R 6DX Update: 15 June 2012
Hosted by and featuring Gilberto Gil
Part of the London 2012 Festival
Sponsored by RIOTUR /Prefeitura do Rio, Governo do Rio de Janeiro, SEBRAE, Estrombo and PETROBRAS
Supported by the Embassy of Brazil in London and Arts Council England
Back2Black Festival Highlights and newly confirmed artists include:
- Live music on three stages featuring an eclectic line-up of upcoming and established UK and international artists including Gilberto Gil, Macy Gray, Marcelo D2, Amadou & Mariam, Hugh Masekela, Roots Manuva, Mart’nália, Fatoumata Diawara and many more
- Tropicalia superstar Jorge Ben Jor to perform on Sunday with his band, plus a rare collaboration with Gilberto Gil
- A talks and debates programme on Saturday and Sunday features s peakers: Kalaf Ângelo (Angola), Paulo Lins (Brazil) and David Treece (UK); Gilberto Gil (Brazil) and Hugh Masekela (South Africa); Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria) and Tahar Ben Jelloun (Morocco)
- Art direction and photos by artist Miguel Rio Branco and art design by director and illustrator Rico Lins
The three-day Back2Black Festival ( part of the London 2012 Festival), arrives in the capital at the end of June in the first ever iteration outside Brazil. Hosted by and featuring Gilberto Gil and produced by the Barbican, Zoocom Events and Serious this unprecedented, urban, curated festival is a celebration of African roots in music and culture. It features an eclectic line-up of more than twenty Brazilian, UK and international artists in a heady mix of funk, reggae, dub, hip hop, samba, and blues. Back2Black takes place across three stages (outdoor Terrace Stage, Main Stage in the Grand Hall and Vault) at Old Billingsgate Market in East London, which is transformed for the occasion by Rio de Janeiro-based painter, photographer, filmmaker, and creator of multimedia installations, Miguel Rio Branco (art direction & photo) and designer, art director, illustrator and educator Rico Lins (art design).
During the weekend, Back2Black will host a series of live interviews and panel sessions with artists and leading cultural commentators, curated by José Eduardo Agualusa (Angola). Included are a conversation between Gilberto Gil and Hugh Masekela around the subject of ‘Music & Exile’; a session around ‘ Cultural Identity & Communities’ featuring City of God author Paulo Lins who is joined by musician and poet Kalaf Ângelo and Professor David Treece; and a debate around ‘ Literature & Democracy’ featuring two of Africa’s finest writers: Orange Prize winner Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Tahar Ben Jelloun .
The Back2Black Festival also includes drumming displays and workshops involving Drum Heads – an ensemble of young musicians from East London and the Pracatum School from Salvador de Bahia, Brazil.
East London-based cultural organisation Open the Gate will host their unique alternative fair, The African Market, as part of the Back2Black Festival offering, featuring stalls selling original & ethical fashion, accessories, jewellery, shoes as well as Arts & Crafts, homeware, natural beauty products, books, music and more. Plus ecologically aware and socially responsible products from Brazilian designers, alongside Brazilian music, books and street-food stalls. Stalls from local and international charities will also be represented, including Action for Brazil's Children (ABC) Trust.
Friday 29 June
The Main Stage features Grammy Award winner Macy Gray, presenting material from her new album Covered – a new collection of cover songs; Samba nobleman and one of the most beautiful and recognisable voices of Brazilian music Luiz Melodia; multi-platinum artist Marcelo D2, who is renowned for mixing samba and hip hop; and veteran dub poet Linton Kwesi Johnson and British reggae artist Dennis Bovell who have been recording together for over 30 years. The Vaults Stage hosts a Rio Baile Funk featuring DJ Sany Pitbull, one of the exponents of the style’s new phase, MC Fininho and Passinhos dancers. H ip hop heavyweight MC Emicida plays on the Terrace Stage, which also showcases East London’s Dr um Heads ensemble and Pracatum Drumming School.
Saturday 30 June
The Main Stage sees British godfather of hip hop Rodney Smith aka Roots Manuva; MC and rapper Criolo and father of ‘Ethio-Jazz’ Mulatu Astatke’s brand new collaboration; South African trumpeter legend Hugh Masekela; the ‘king of Afrobeat’s heir’ and renowned artist in his own right Femi Kuti & The Positive Force; Malian singer and one of Africa’s hippest contemporary musical exports Fatoumata Diawara and Brazilian singer-songwriter and daughter of samba master Martinho da Vila, Mart’nália. Featured on the Vaults Stage are Soul Caribbean, DJ Nepal, DJ João Brasil, Shrine Synchro System and Gomanchi as well as two talks: Cultural Identity & Communities featuring s peakers: Kalaf Ângelo (Angola), Paulo Lins (Brazil) and David Treece (UK) and Music & Exile featuring s peakers: Gilberto Gil (Brazil) and Hugh Masekela (South Africa). One of the best new talents of Rio’s music scene, pop-rock outfit Tono; rising Brazilian hip hop artist Flavio Renegado; Candylo and performances by Drum Heads ensemble and Pracatum Drumming School are featured on the Terrace Stage.
Sunday 1 July
Headlining on the Main Stage are icon of Brazilian music and Back2Black host Gilberto Gil & special guest Jorge Ben Jor who plays both with his own band and alongside Gilberto Gil; Malian superstars Amadou & Mariam whose new album Folia is now out; award-winning Kora player Toumani Diabaté who teams up with Brazilian rock artists Arnaldo Antunes and Edgard Scandurra in their debut performance following their collaborative album A Curva Da Cintura; and DJ João Brasil, famed for his daring sound collages, mashups and original productions. The Vaults Stage sees Kinshasa’s latest and hottest musical export, Jupiter & Okwess International , who make their London debut; as well as an All Comers Drumming Workshop ; London based collective Afrik Bawantu and DJs. Also featured is a talk on Literature & Democracy featuring two of Africa’s finest writers who come together to discuss the role of literature in the process of Africa's democratisation and development: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Nigeria) and Tahar Ben Jelloun (Morocco). Emerging Brazilian singer and Back2Black regular Natasha Llerena and one of Angola’s finest new talents, singer-songwriter Aline Frazão are featured on the Terrace Stage alongside further artists to be announced.
FULL BACK2BLACK PROGRAMME DETAILS CAN BE FOUND HERE: www.barbican.org.uk/back2black
Launched in Rio de Janeiro in 2009, the annual Back2Black Festival has quickly established itself as one of the foremost cultural events in Brazil attracting over 35,000 visitors to date. A pioneer in promoting global appreciation for black culture in Brazil, this curated festival explores new ways of presenting music and art and aims to entertain, raise awareness, further cultural exchange and rebuild bridges, bringing Brazil back in touch with its African Heritage.
Since its inaugural edition, the Back2Black Festival has taken place in the beautiful setting of the disused Leopoldina railway station close to downtown Rio de Janeiro. To recreate a similar setting, the London festival will be held at Old Billingsgate Market in East London.
Notes to Editors
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Back2Black
Friday 29, Saturday 30 June & Sunday 1 July 2012
Old Billingsgate Market, London EC3R 6DX
Fri 29 Jun, 6pm - 2am
Day ticket £35 / £20 (under 16s)*
Line-up including: Macy Gray; Luiz Melodia; Marcelo D2; Linton Kwesi Johnson; Dennis Bovell; Emicida; DJ Sany Pitbull; Passinhos and MC Fininho & more
Sat 30 Jun, 1pm - 2am
Day ticket £45 / £25 (under 16s)*
Line-up including: Roots Manuva; Criolo; Mulatu Astatke; Hugh Masekela; Femi Kuti & The Positive Force; Fatoumata Diawara; Mart’nália; Tono; Flavio Renegado; Soul Caribbean; DJ Nepal; DJ João Brasil; Gomanchi; Shrine Synchro System; talks programme including Kalaf Ângelo; Paulo Lins; David Treece; Gilberto Gil and Hugh Masekela
Sun 1 Jul, 1pm - 12am
Day ticket £45 / £25 (under 16s)*
Line-up including: Gilberto Gil; Jorge Ben Jor; Amadou & Mariam; Toumani Diabaté; Arnaldo Antunes; Edgard Scandurra; DJ João Brasil; All Jupiter & Okwess International; Afrik Bawantu; Natasha Llerena + Aline Frazão; talks programme to include: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Tahar Ben Jelloun
Three-day Weekend Pass £120 / £70 (Under 16s accompanied by an adult)
*Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Bookable by phone only. Artist line-up and times are subject to change
Barbican Box Office: 0845 120 7550
www.barbican.org.uk
Also coming up soon:
Gilberto Gil with the London Symphony Orchestra
Strings and Rhythm Machines
4 July / Barbican Hall / 7:30pm
Following the Back2Black Festival, Gilberto Gil plays the Barbican Hall with the London Symphony Orchestra and conductor Francois-Xavier Roth. The evening features new arrangements of Gil’s infectious songs by Jaques Morelenbaum, and music originating from and influenced by Brazil, including works by Heitor Villa-Lobos and Darius Milhaud. Part of the London 2012 Festival.
Press Information
For any further information, images or to arrange interviews, please contact the Barbican’s music media relations team:
Annikaisa Vainio, Media Relations Manager
t - +44 (0)20 7382 7090
e - avainio@barbican.org.uk
Sabine Kindel, Senior Media Relations Officer
t - +44 (0)20 7382 6199
e – sabine.kindel@barbican.org.uk
Naomi Burgoyne, Media Relations Officer
t - +44 (0)20 7382 6196
e – naomi.burgoyne@barbican.org.uk
Rob Severyn-Kosinski, Media Relations Assistant
t - +44 (0)20 7382 6138
e – robert.severyn-kosinski@barbican.org.uk
Or, Back2Black in Brazil on:
Canivello Comunica çao / Factoria Comunica çao
Mario Canivello: mario@canivello.com.br
Vanessa Cardoso: vanessa@factoriacomunicacao.com
Eduardo Marques: eduardo@canivello.com.br
Tel: (55-21) 2274.0131 / 2239.0835 / 2249.1598
ENDS
About the Barbican
A world-class arts and learning organisation, the Barbican pushes the boundaries of all major art forms including dance, film, music, theatre and visual arts. Our creative learning programme further underpins everything we do. In 2012 we celebrate the Olympic year with many of our projects forming part of the London 2012 Festival – it is also our 30th Birthday year. Over 1.5 million people pass through our doors annually, hundreds of artists and performers are featured, and more than 300 staff work onsite. Our architecturally renowned centre opened in 1982 and comprises the Barbican Hall, the Barbican Theatre, the Pit, Cinema One (with Cinemas Two and Three opening in Beech Street in September 2012), Barbican Art Gallery, a second gallery The Curve, foyers and public spaces, a library, Lakeside Terrace, a glasshouse conservatory, conference facilities and three restaurants.
Find us on Facebook | Twitter | Flickr | YouTube
Back2Black
Pioneer in promoting global appreciation for black culture in Brazil, Back2Black festival has established itself as one of the most complete cultural events in the country. Many illustrious attractions from Brazil and around the globe have appeared in the festival’s previous editons. Since its debut in 2009, more than 50,000 people have hit the event’s different stages to watch memorable performances from more than 100 artists such as Jorge Ben Jor, Marisa Monte, Arnaldo Antunes, Carlinhos Brown, Seu Jorge, Macy Gray, Aloe Blacc, Chaka Khan, Oumou Sangaré, Taj Mahal, Dave Stewart, Seun Kuti, Youssou N’Dour, Erykah Badu, and Omara Portuondo. In addition to the music, art exhibitions and teachings from great contemporary world figures including Bob Geldof, Gavin Hood, José Eduardo Agualusa, Mia Couto, Wael Ghonim, Jamila Raqib, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Os Gêmeos and Vik Muniz have enlightened the festival’s concept in renovating the connection between Brazilian modern-day culture and its African roots.
Further info at: http://www.back2blackfestival.com.br/en
About Serious
An established innovator, Serious is one of the UK’s leading producers and curators of contemporary music. Their work is characterised by two fundamental principles – artistic excellence and partnership. They place musicians and artists at the heart of everything they do. The events they produce range from major concerts and festivals, including the London Jazz Festival in association with BBC Radio 3, and national tours through to learning and participation programmes. For more information, see www.serious.org.uk
About the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival
The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Spread over four years, it is designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012 and inspire creativity across all forms of culture, especially among young people.
The culmination of the Cultural Olympiad will be the London 2012 Festival, a spectacular 12-week nationwide celebration bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK, from Midsummers Day on 21 June and running until the final day of the Paralympic Games on 9 September 2012.The London 2012 Festival will celebrate the huge range, quality and accessibility of the UK’s world-class culture including dance, music, theatre, the visual arts, fashion, film and digital innovation, giving the opportunity for people across the UK to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Principal funders of the Cultural Olympiad and London 2012 Festival are Arts Council England, Legacy Trust UK and the Olympic Lottery Distributor. BP and BT are Premier Partners of the Cultural Olympiad and the London 2012 Festival.
For more details on the programme, to download the London 2012 Festival official guide and to sign up for information visit www.london2012.com/festival
Update: 15 June 2012
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