News / Power Town festival
New festival celebrates Caribbean culture with music, food and ‘pure vibes’
There’s a new date for the diary of those who welcome the apparently increasingly early onset of the festival season.
A winter festival of Caribbean culture plans to heat things up by gathering families together for a day of music, creativity and “the best tasting food”.
The inaugural Power Town festival will bring headline acts and grassroots talent, a DJ battle, interactive activities and undisclosed ‘surprises’ to the Prospect Building on February 15.
Radio 1Xtra’s Kenny Allstar, creator and host of freestyle show Mad About Bars on British urban music platform Mixtape Madness will headline alongside rapper Donae’o who has collaborated with the Streets and Calvin Harris among others.
Kenny Allstar has won the DJ of the Year title many times over the years – photo: Kenny Allstar
Prime, Charley Valentine, DJ Affie and more will also perform at the day festival of hip hop, dancehall, Afrobeat, neosoul and Amapiano music.
It has been organised by CIC Creative Power Town, headed up by Omari Cato and based in the Kuumba Centre in St Paul’s, ‘one of the most significant buildings to Bristol Black and African Caribbean history and heritage’ as the organisation puts it.
The CIC uses creativity to build and celebrate community, with a particular emphasis on African and Caribbean history and culture.
“This is a festival for all ages with fun activities for students and families throughout the day with amazing food, an exciting music line-up and DJ sets so everyone can relax, make friends and enjoy themselves,” Cato said, with the event “very intentionally scheduled to pay homage to the hub of talent and creativity that Bristol is”.
Creative Power Town run a free 12-week development programme for local singers, rappers and producers, some of whom will be appearing on the festival’s programme.
Rapper Kwazi, Danny A of the band Adopted Faces and a musical collaborator with family theatre company Tidal Tales, and songwriter Sashka Hamilton are all former students of the programme who will appear at Power Town.
Other grassroots artists set to perform on the mainstage include Rising soul/DnB vocalist Marns, r’n’b pop fusion singer/songwriter Olivia Rose and soul-influenced hip-hop artist Xyzelle, bringing tracks from latest release Guilty & Gorgeous.
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For the Bristol versus Birmingham soundclash competition, four DJs from each city will go head to head to compete for a trophy.
African and Caribbean cuisine will be on offer to round off the day. If all goes to plan, the event will become an annual fixture.
Power Town Festival runs from 1-11am on February 15 at the Prospect Building on Feeder Road. More information and tickets at theprospectbuilding.com/events/powertownfestival
Main image: Connor Pope Photos
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