MAXI PRIEST MAXI PRIEST will be headlining The Flyover Show 2012. One of the most successful solo reggae artists of all time, ‘second only to Bob Marley’, MAXI PRIEST has released 10 albums since his debut, ‘Intentions’, in 1986.
MAXI PRIEST’s globally selling singles, such as ‘Wild World’, ‘Some Guys Have All the Luck’, ‘Close to You’ and ‘That Girl’ helped disseminate reggae roots around the world.
MAXI PRIEST, alongside Paul ‘Barry Boom’ Robinson, also produced the first UK reggae track to reach No1 in Jamaica – Philip Levi’s ‘Mi God Mi King’ (1984) http://www.maxipriest.com/
Janet Kay Returning to The Flyover Show for its 2012 event, is reggae legend and ‘queen of lovers rock’, Janet Kay. Renowned for her seminal reggae track, ‘Silly Games’, Janet Kay is the first British Black Female reggae artist to top the UK British pop charts. http://www.janetkay.com/
Wordsworth MC Born and raised in Brooklyn, Wordsworth MC travels from the US to appear at The Flyover Show 2012. Part of ‘rap supergroup’ Emc – with Punchline, Stricklin & Masta Ace; Wordsworth has also featured on albums with Mos Def, Talib Kweli and Tribe Called Quest.
Wordsworth’s debut album, ‘Mirror Mirror’ was released in 2004; his latest, ‘The Photo Album’, was released in June 2012. Wordsworth was also involved in the critically acclaimed MTV comedy sketch series ‘Lyricist Lounge’. http://www.halftooth.com
Basil Gabbidon Founding member of Birmingham born reggae group, Steel Pulse, Basil Gabbidon performs at The Flyover Show 2012. Currently touring his latest album, ‘Reggae Rockz’, the 3 time Grammy nominated Gabbidon is joined by Burning Spear bassist, Paul Beckford. http://gabbidonband.com/
Also performing will be the MOBO Award winning Soweto Kinch, DJ Winchester, plus local rising stars Lady Leshurr and Deci4life. There will also be a specially commissioned performance from Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Walking distance from Birmingham City Centre, The Flyover Show 2012 can be accessed via four subway tunnels, feeding into the location from; Soho Rd, New John St, Great Hampton St and Heaton St.
Live music, graffiti art, break dancing, food and a host of activities for all ages will be taking place from 12noon until 9pm.
The Flyover Show remains, as it has always been, a free admission and family friendly event.
For any press enquiries regarding The Flyover Show 2012, including interviews and accreditation – please contact Ed King at edking2210@gmail.com _______________
FLYOVER SHOW 2012 – Celebrating Jamaica
The Flyover Show 2012, “celebrates the cultural contributions of Jamaica to Britain throughout its programme”, says founder Soweto Kinch.
Artists performing at the event; alongside a preceding series of workshops held in schools across the city, will explore and represent Jamaica’s influence in the UK, “both historically and as a dynamic force in contemporary culture.”
The West Midlands has the second highest concentration of British Jamaicans in the UK, particularly in the areas that join at the Hockley Flyover, such as; Handsworth, Lozells and Aston.
Birmingham is also host to the Jamaican track and field 2012 Olympic team, who will be staying and training in the city before the games.
“Jamaica, much like its athletics team, has imparted a cultural phenomena and impact far beyond its relative size as an island,” says Kinch.
“The Flyover Show 2012 will explore, through a variety of platforms, how it (Jamaica) has provided a badge of identity in the face of racial marginalization.”
Previous shows have explored other pertinent issues of race and culture; including the portrayal of women in the music industry, and positive Black male role models.
“The Flyover Show 2012 intends to continue and extend its pattern of connecting different generations through its rostra,” concludes Kinch.
The Flyover Show was created and founded by Soweto Kinch.
Soweto Kinch is an award winning musician and creative. For more information visit www.soweto-kinch.com
The Flyover Show was first held underneath the Hockley Flyover, Birmingham, in May 2008.
The Flyover Show has returned each year since 2008 at the same location.
On March 31st 2012, The Flyover Show held its first international event; a 2500 capacity sell out show in Freedom Square, Johannesburg, South Africa – http://www.theflyovershow.co.za
The Flyover Show 2012 receives funding from; Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council and Marketing Birmingham.
Previous artists performing at The Flyover Show have included; Ms Dynamite, Bashy, Goldie, Omar, Janet Kaye, Akala, Andy Hamilton, Julian Joseph, Jay Phelps, Eska, Speech Debelle, Jonzi D and Why G?
The Flyover Show 2012 takes place underneath the Hockley Flyover, from 12noon to 9pm, on Saturday August 18th.
Julian Joseph is one of the leading luminaries of contemporary Jazz – and will be playing at The Flyover Show 2012 on Saturday Aug 18th.
‘One of the finest pianists to emerge this side of the Atlantic’
Julian Jospeh is a celebrated composer, band leader and broadcaster. For more on the man and the show, plus a great online interview, visit our website:
Kinch, one of the most exciting and versatile young musicians in both the British jazz and hip-hop scenes, will bring his iconic festival from the streets of Birmingham to the streets of the township he shares his name with – Soweto. The Flyover Show is Kinch’s project and has been a day-long, music and arts festival that has taken place for five years in its unusual setting beneath a flyover in Birmingham, UK.
The Birmingham festival has featured artists as diverse as Goldie, Akala and Omar and continues to build on its reputation, bringing world class entertainment to an often forgotten corner of Birmingham.
This year the show will not only take place in Birmingham, but in the historic Freedom Square – also known as the Walter Sisulu Square of dedication in Kliptown, Soweto.
“Freedom Square is in many ways the most natural place to extend the concept of The Flyover Show. I have both a deep artistic and personal connection to Johannesburg and I’m really excited about expanding this concept there,” said Kinch, who is also an award winning alto-saxophonist.
“As an area with rich historic and often unappreciated traditions it has much similarity with the areas in Birmingham where the show originated,” he added. Continue reading
In the days of early apartheid rule half a century ago, on 26 June 1955, over 3 000 representatives of resistance organisations made their way through police cordons to gather on a dusty square in Kliptown, Soweto, 40km south of Johannesburg.
This was the Congress of the People, who met to draw up the Freedom Charter, an alternative vision to the repressive policies of the apartheid state.
At the time, Nelson Mandela had to stay concealed to avoid the police. On the second day, the authorities broke up the gathering, but not before the charter was adopted as a guide document. It remains the cornerstone of African National Congress (ANC) policy to this day, and is seen by many as the foundation of South Africa’s 1996 Constitution.
That dusty field has now been declared a national heritage site, and on 26 June 2005 President Thabo Mbeki lit a flame of freedom in Kliptown to mark the opening of the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication – and 50 years of the Freedom Charter.
The Flyover Show 31st March 2012:
Hip-Hop artist and award winning alto-saxophonist, Soweto Kinch, will host a groundbreaking show featuring a diverse and brilliant line-up in the historic Freedom Square on 31st March 2012. Among the artists that have confirmed their appearance at the Flyover Show are Tumi from Tumi and the Volume, Soweto Kinch and band, Feya Faku, ESKA, Jonzi D, Bokani Dyer, DJ Raiko and the Kliptown Youth Program Gumboot Dancers. Continue reading
