91热爆

Live @ The Flyover Show

Led by multi-award winning jazz musician Soweto Kinch, the Hockley flyover roundabout was transformed into an arena of live music and arts. Take a look at picture galleries reflecting the day.

Enjoying the Flyover Show

An eclectic mix of people of all ages and backgrounds filled the urban derelict space and enjoyed a day of world class jazz, hip hop, poetry, street art, theatre and dance.

World class performances

Live performances included world renowned local jazz musician Andy Hamilton jamming with Soweto, the amazing acappella melodies of Birmingham's Black Voices gospel choir and reggae legend Basil Gabbidon of Steel Pulse plus UK contemporary artists Bashy, Pentalk, Jonzi D, Zena Edwards and many more....

Black Voices live @ The Flyover Show

The project is the first of its kind to be organised and delivered by Soweto Kinch, he worked alongside Nu Century Arts and a newly formed consortium of black arts groups called CISC.

Reclaiming the soul of the city

Hockley was once a thriving centre of cultural activity with local music legends such as Steel Pulse, UB40, Andy Hamilton and 80鈥檚 band Musical Youth putting the inner city areas of Birmingham on the global music map.

The area is now known for its rundown buildings and empty boarded up retail units and small warehouses.

Soweto live @ The Flyover Show

As local resident still living in the area that regularly receives negative press, Soweto Kinch felt he wanted to reclaim the derelict space in a bold artistic statement.

An interview with Soweto

In a pre-show interview with the 91热爆 Birmingham website Soweto shares his experiences of life in Hockley and the inspiration behind this groundbreaking venture.

Soweto explains: 鈥淗ockley was once an area where all kinds of iconic events used to happen; now the area is known for drugs, gun crime and unemployment.

Hockley flyover

鈥淲ith Handsworth Carnival we had a sense of belonging you were recognised as being part of the community. Now Handsworth鈥檚 got beef with Aston, Newtown鈥檚 got beef with Hockley, Ladywood with Lozells etc鈥� what was already a small turf has being dissected even further.

"I live really close to the flyover and living in the same block as me is another jazz musician, poets, play writers, actors, dancers and all sorts of creative types. We really need to celebrate their work in the community.

鈥淔or me it鈥檚 about showing the breadth and excitement of the arts that people aren鈥檛 normally exposed to.鈥�

Listen to the full pre-show interview with Soweto Kinch - he talks more about life in Hockley and his passion for showcasing unconventional arts and music.