An eclectic mix of energetic talent, Urban Flames was formed in September 2016 with 6 young singer-songwriters who had showed great promise during previous Urban Development Holiday Writing Camps. Fast forward to today and the vocal collective has grown from 6 to 20 singers aged between 14 and 18 years old.

The group write and arrange their own songs and have just completed their first 6 track EP, showcasing their ability to blend contemporary pop and urban music. The group have an infectious vibe when performing together with the live band that accompanies them. They came 2nd at Hackney Empire’s Alter Ego, their first ever live show and competed in the Music For Youth National semifinals up against the best under 21 musical acts in the country. They have been invited to perform at the final at the Royal Albert Hall in December

Bringing the Festival to a close with singing from Brexit Girl, Poetry from Salena Godden, and other special performances.

PEN Pinter Prize, poet, performer, author, chancellor of Manchester University talk about his extraordinary memoir ‘My Name is Why’

CHAIR: Chris Keulemans

Evdoxia Lymperi

U.K. Correspondent for the Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) since 2007 so British politics and current affairs are her bread and butter.

The last nine years have been turbulent times for the country, with a hung parliament, a Scottish referendum, the EU referendum, terror attacks, and, for the last three years, Brexit. In Greece, she’s “the Brexit lady on TV” or, “not her again” for those who are fed up hearing about it. Jokes aside, it’s the most complicated political problem of our times in this continent and she’s happy to cover it.

Jakup Krupa

Stefanie Bolzen

Eric Albert

French journalist, has been based in London for 16 years. He works for Le Monde as well as the Swiss newspaper Le Temps. Quite reluctantly, he has become a Brexitologist during the last three years, watching with sadness and puzzlement Britain tearing itself apart. He did a documentary last year on Brexit for France 5 and he has even now become a British citizen. In 2015, before imagining Brexit possible, he published a short book about the English ("Les Anglais dans le doute", Ateliers Henry Dougier).

With Peter Jukes, Caroline Orr and Otto English

A review of the papers hosted by the Curious Arts Festival - news and views and a stellar line up of festival speakers: hosted by Paul Blezard