BASS Festival is back in Birmingham
BASS Festival of the arts is returning to Birmingham this month showcasing exclusively black artists, creatives, speakers and performers.
BASS Festival 2019, which runs from October 22 to 27 across the city, is in its 13th year and will be showcasing the best of the Second City's arts, culture and creative scene.
BASS, produced by city-based Punch Records, offers six days of live music, workshops, panel discussions, exhibitions and film screenings. And the hosts are local too, with Aliyah Hasinah and RTKal chosen as the curators.
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Hasinah is a young curator, writer and creative whose work centers on international black experiences. Her most recent work sees her researching decolonial curatorial methods and practice across the UK, Americas, Caribbean and Africa.
She has curated projects such as Bald Black Girls with artist Ruth Sutoyé, The Gallery is Many Things at Eastside Projects and The Past is Now at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Hasinah was also previously the Midlands producer for Apples and Snakes and has worked with organisations including V&A, SBTV, BBC1XTRA, Channel 4 Random Acts and TEDx, among other projects.
RTkal is a young veteran of the Birmingham music scene. Inspired by his generation and his heritage, he has used music to spread positive vibes, unite and entertain audiences across the world including Glastonbury, Bestival, Lovebox, Outlook and much more.
RTkal is one of the founders of IDST music studio and Beats and Barriers Academy, who aim to upskill and equip young Birmingham-based creatives with knowledge and entrepreneurial skills.
This year's festival will also take place at The MBC, a space created by RTkal and his team to shine a light on Birmingham's creative industry and its rich pool of talent.
Events include The Great British Bake Off's Liam Charles hosting a beats and bakes party, a screening from The 8 Club all about masculinity, a mural unveiling showcasing the future of Birmingham's black culture in a secret location, a night of Black and Brown womxn performing their poetry, and much more.
Artists from across the world performing include Big Zeeks, Jamie Rodigan, Mr Williamz, Jevon, Randy Valentine, Cali P, 808INK, Anaïs, Italo Skarcha, JAS CRW, Layfullstop, Bake Off's Liam Charles and many more.
For more about the events taking place across the week and the venues included, see www.punchbass.com
