 | The three-day Back2Black festival with a stellar line-up arrives in London this month, in what promises to be one of the hottest events in the capital this summer
Friday 29, Saturday 30 June & Sunday 1 July 2012
Old Billingsgate Market, London EC3R 6DX 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
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
- Exciting new collaborations including a brand new project with Brazil’s biggest breakthrough artist Criolo and father of ‘Ethio-Jazz’ Mulatu Astatke; and Toumani Diabaté teaming up with rock musicians Arnaldo Antunes and Edgard Scandurra in their first performance outside Brazil following their recent album release
- The Story of the Blues featuring Roberto Frejat band , Vieux Farka Touré, Lucky Peterson and more
- Baile Funk phenomenon brought to London featuring DJ Sany Pitbull and more
- Jupiter & Okwess International – Kinshasa’s latest musical export make their London debut
- Creative Learning events including performances by East London ensemble Drum Heads and Pracatum Drumming School from Bahia and an All Comers Drumming Workshop led by special guest musicians from the Pracatum School
- Plus further workshops, interviews, panel discussions, African & Brazilian craft market and a host of food & drink stalls
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, main stage in the Grand Hall and club stage in The Vault) at Old Billingsgate Market in East London, which is transformed for the occasion by Brazilian visual artists. During the weekend, Back2Black will host a series of live interviews and panel sessions with artists and leading cultural commentators, including a conversation between Gilberto Gil and Hugh Masekela around the subject of musicians in exile. Additional sessions cover the themes of “Literature and Cultural Change”, and “Cultural Politics and Communities”.
The 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.
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 Baile Funk featuring DJ Sany Pitbull, one of the exponents of the style’s new phase, MC Fininho and Passinhos dancers. Hip hop heavyweight MC Emicida plays on the Terrace Stage, which also showcases East London’s Drum 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; Malian singer and one of Africa’s hippest contemporary musical exports Fatoumata Diawara and a special project: The Story of the Blues in which the journey of the blues from Africa to America is given a distinctly Brazilian twist by the driving band of guitarist Roberto Frejat and a clutch of special guests including the ‘Jimi Hendrix of the Sahara’ Vieux Farka Touré and the searing American guitarist/organist/vocalist Lucky Peterson, and more guests still to be announced. Featured on the Vaults Stage are Soul Caribbean; DJ Nepal, DJ João Brasil and Shrine Synchro System as well as a series of talks and more. 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; Malian superstars Amadou & Mariam whose new album Folia is now out; Brazilian singer-songwriter and daughter of samba master Martinho da Vila, Mart’nália; 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 ; fresh new orchestra Afrik Bawantu and DJs and talks. Emerging Brazilian singer and Back2Black regular Natasha Llerena is 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.
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; Fatoumata Diawara; Tono; Flavio Renegado; Roberto Frejat; Vieux Farka Touré; Lucky Peterson & more
Sun 1 Jul, 1pm - 12am
Day ticket £45 / £25 (under 16s)*
Line-up including: Gilberto Gil; Amadou & Mariam; Toumani Diabaté; Arnaldo Antunes; Edgard Scandurra; Mart’nália; Natasha Llerena & more
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
ENDS
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 Comunicaçao / Factoria Comunicaçao
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
Notes to Editors
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 Cultural Olympiad and 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.
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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 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
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