BlackFest – Riddims Night 2023

Saturday 30th September

Join BlackFest as they return to the Music Room for another rendition of their iconic ‘Riddims Night’ this year celebrating 50 years of hip hop.

 

Headliner Testament will be providing a one hour set, a hip hop history and beatbox workshop as well as hosting Cypher. Testament is a hip-hop MC, writer, theatre maker and world record breaking human beatboxer. Born in North London and growing up Manchester, moving onto to study in West Yorkshire where he now currently resides.

As a lyricist his critically acclaimed work together strands of rap, song and spoken word. Testament’s work includes the celebrated Hip-Hop album Homecut: No Freedom Without Sacrifice, as well as several spoken word performances for BBC TV, BBC Radio 1Xtra, BBC Radio 4 and BBC 6Music. In 2019 he was Channel 4 Writer in Residence at Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester.

Testament has also devised pieces for NetflixBBCChannel 4 and more, working with the likes of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, ‘Grammy’ winner Corinne Bailey Rae, Ray Parker Jnr, jazz legends Joe Lovano and Jean Toussaint, ‘Mercury’ nominee Soweto Kinch, to the originator of hip hop himself, DJ Kool Herc.

Come see the exciting new acts including a legendary B-boy battle between MD Creatives’ Miguel Doforo and AfroDance Academy, a brilliant Afro Dance company committed to connecting people to their roots through movement. Miguel is passionate about community work, dance, equality and diversity and supports many important causes to help break down barriers and help people achieve their goals . He has developed the Doforo dance technique over 25 years of industry experience.

Continuing with the 50 years of hip hop theme we have renowned artists DJ Woody who is known for his innovative and musical approach to turntablism and is responsible for the invention of various scratches and techniques including his famous signature “Woodpecker Scratch”.

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