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.

Balaklava Blues is the brainchild of Mark and Marichka Marczyk, creators of the multi-award winning guerrilla-folk-opera Counting Sheep and leaders of the mighty Lemon Bucket Orkestra – Canada’s notorious 12 piece balkan-party-punk-massive. Falling somewhere between a traditional song cycle and a full blown multimedia techno show, the duo fuses Ukrainian polyphony and other folk traditions with EDM, trap, dub step, and more as a launching pad to explore the seemingly never-ending blues that have long emanated from the Ukrainian steppe.

Mark and Marichka composed all the music for Counting Sheep, a story of love and revolution. Balaklava Blues music is a reclamation of the violence perpetrated on the artists’ home country and they want to redesign and remix physical and psychological oppression and question how and why it continues to inform who we are and what we can become.

A Russian feminist punk-rock collective that stages politically provocative impromptu performances in Moscow, on subjects such as the status of women in Russia formed in August 2911. The collective's lyrical themes included feminism, LGBT rights, and opposition to current Russian President.

CHAIR: ASIM QURESHI

Lowkey

Hoda Katebi

Aamer Rahman

Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan

Dr Azeezat Johnson

One of the UK’s foremost poets, regularly anthologised and headlining festivals nationally and internationally. A BBC regular, Salena Godden has written and presented several arts and music programmes – a film of her poem Titanic was aired as part of BBC poetry programme We Belong Here. A short-fiction Blue Cornflowers was shortlisted for the Guardian Short Story Prize 2016. Her essay Shade was published in 2016’s literary sensation The Good Immigrant, which won the Reader’s Choice Book Of The Year Award. A new piece Skin was commissioned for The Essay and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in February 2017. Her live album LIVEwire showcases a broad range of her work and has attracted rave reviews since launching with indie poetry label Nymphs and Thugs. The LIVEwire limited edition vinyl launches with the N&T ‘Summer of LOVEwire’ UK tour in spring 2017.

Extinction Rebellion will stage one of their memorable iconic protests against ecocide, a Funeral for the Earth. With the help of Citizens of the World Choir. A choir for people who are refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and friends. They provide a safe space for refugees to express themselves through music, as well as creating a diverse, friendly social community.

They will be joined by host John Mitchinson and the founders of the festival - Stephen Colegrave and Peter Jukes to welcome everyone and kick off a fabulous three days