Flyover Show 2011 Sat 20th August

Saturday August 20th 2011 / Hockley Flyover (underneath), Birmingham / 12noon – 9pm / Free admission

The Flyover Show IV is confirmed for Saturday August 20th 2011.

The free one day event, showcasing live music, dance and art, will again take place underneath the Hockley Flyover – at the beginning of Birmingham’s Soho Road.

Supported by the Arts Council England and Birmingham City Council, the innovative urban celebration returns for it’s 4th consecutive year.

Soweto Kinch and his team will once again ‘transform the grey space beneath the Hockley Flyover into an oasis of cultural expression’.

Running from 12noon – 9pm, the Flyover Show IV will feature a main stage of international musicians, sporadic dance displays, live graffiti and urban theatre and art productions.

The Flyover Show IV is a totally free event, open to all members of the public, and enjoys a family friendly legacy.

Currently confirmed to join Soweto Kinch on stage are; local Drum & Bass legend Goldie, UK Soul innovator Omar (There’s Nothing Like This), MOBO award winning UK rapper Akala, NYC based hip hop artist Why G? (Def Jam/Zulu Nation), Vancouver born Jazz trumpet protégé Jay Phelps (Co-Director Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Youth) and Jazz pioneer, virtuoso pianist, composer & BBC presenter Julian Joseph (Jazz Warriors, Jazz with Julian Joseph).

The Flyover Show IV is also extending the event’s tradition of showcasing new and emerging talent, with musicians from the BBC programme Goldie’s Band: By Royal Appointment performing alongside a number of new voices from the region, including artists RT and Professor D.

To request an interview with artists or organisers, event press accreditation, or for further information, please contact Ed King at edkingfreelance@yahoo.co.uk
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Following last year’s focus on positive black female role models, organiser Soweto Kinch wanted the Flyover Show IV’s main line up to ”celebrate the contributions of black male artists to British culture”.

Kinch explains, “Often black men are fetishised by the media, or only seen as an intractable social problem. Not only will the Flyover Show IV tackle this complex issue with music, art, theatre and dance, but it will celebrate the heroism of generations of black British men who have contributed to the UK’s rich cultural landscape.”

According to the National Office of Statistics, UK black males suffer the highest rate of unemployment (13-14%) and the highest rate of permanent exclusion from education (2.5%). They are also amongst the UK’s largest demographic to be effected by serious mental health issues, according to the 2010 Count Me In census – managed by the Care Quality Commission.

This backdrop of empirical data raises important questions about the direction and support of Britain’s black male population. With fear mongering continuing it’s divisive role in modern media and politics, Kinch hopes “the Flyover Show IV will highlight positive stories and role models for black males, whilst embracing and sharing them with Birmingham’s entire, multicultural populous.”

And, although a national concern, Kinch points out “very few cities are as successfully diverse as Birmingham, we have a real opportunity to promote positive alternatives.”

Previous Flyover Shows have focused on; positive use of abandoned city spaces, healing community tensions, challenging citywide preconceptions and supporting community projects such as the Mohammad Ali Centre.

Copies of the National Office of Statistics ‘Focus On – Ethnicity & Identity’ summary or the Care Quality Commission’s ‘’Count Me In’ 2010 census results are available on request.

Notes to Editor/s:

The Flyover Show was created and founded by Soweto Kinch.

Soweto Kinch is an award winning musician and creative. For more information visit http://www.soweto-kinch.com

The Flyover Show IV takes place underneath the Hockley Flyover from 12noon to 9pm on Saturday August 20th

Appearing at the Flyover Show IV will be; Goldie / Goldie’s Band, Omar, Akala, YG, Jay Phelps, Juice Aleem, Julian Joseph, RT and Professor D – more artists TBC

The first Flyover Show was held underneath Hockley Flyover in North Birmingham in May 2008. The second event was held in the same location in June the following year

The Flyover Show receives funding from Birmingham City Council and Arts Council England

The Flyover Show is a flagship project of Soweto Kinch’s charity Uprizing