An immersive celebration of African and Caribbean history and heritage, blending culture, education, choreography and live artistry.
Dee Kolo takes over The Social at Aviva Studios on Tuesday 27 October for Liberation Town, a night of African and Caribbean poetry, music and dance. Kolo is the one pulling the strings here: he's a performing artist and community champion who describes the evening as an immersive celebration of African and Caribbean history and heritage, bringing together culture, education, choreography and live artistry in a showcase of community and local talent.
The night is part of Factory Spotlight, Aviva Studios' platform that invites grassroots organisations, collectives and individual artists to curate their own night of live music and performance. It's a long one, running for three hours, and the programme moves through different styles without much gap between them. It kicks off at 7pm with a DJ, followed by a welcome from Dee Kolo himself at 7.15pm. From there, the live acts take over: drumming by Dada Za Roho at 7.20pm, dance by Sophia & Friends at 7.35pm, and a conversation with Chisom Atakulu at 7.45pm. A short DJ break at 8pm resets the room before the second half, which opens with Zolatec live at 8.10pm, poetry from Olumide Holloway at 8.25pm, and live sets from Vivi at 8.35pm and Mc Shallar at 8.50pm. Dee Kolo then takes the stage himself at 9pm, with DJ Kollegah closing things out at 9.30pm. The whole thing wraps up by 10pm.
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It's a packed bill that runs from drumming and dance through to poetry and live music, with Kolo curating the whole thing. The venue is The Social, inside Aviva Studios on Water Street, M3 4JQ. Entry is free, though you'll need to pre-book your place directly from Factory International. The age guidance is 14+, and the night runs from 7pm to 10pm.
