There’s a couple of reggae-infused festivals coming up over the next couple of weekends.
First up is Simmer Down on 16 July in Handsworth Park.
Featuring Ken Boothe! I like him, especially his covers of Is It Because I’m Black and You Keep Me Hanging On.
Then on 23 July as part of the Open Weekend shenanigans there’s Jamaica Live (which I think was orinally called Jamaica Raw) in Victoria Square.
Ostensibly welcoming the Jamaican Olympic team to Birmingham, this one will feature Levi Roots and other chefs, the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra, Steel Pulse and Monique.
Jamaica Live is also going to feature *plenty* of collective art to drop in and get messy with. We’ve been working very closly with Fluid Space, Sweaty Eskimo and a whole bunch of people, and there’s some great stuff planned.