Birmingham Festival 23 kicks off to honour Commonwealth Games legacy
Birmingham Festival 23 got underway on the one-year anniversary of the Commonwealth Games.
Soulful house DJ Echo Juliet and BBC Asian Network's Bobby Friction built excitement on the square with live DJs ahead of the show.
The event was hosted by award-winning BBC presenter Ayo Akinwolere and DJ and Radio 1Xtra presenter Kaylee Golding, who brought their energy and enthusiasm, guiding everyone through a packed evening.
The Festival site on Centenary Square features a big screen where audiences watched newly-commissioned short films, B2022 highlights and messages from a few familiar faces.
B2022 Mascot, Perry, made a special appearance with his favourite Bhangra group the Dhol Blasters, firing up the audience and getting people moving. The whole events was BSL interpreted and audio described.
A collaboration with Team England, the English Commonwealth Games team, saw a host of medal-winning athletes from Birmingham 2022 feature at the event.
Athletes paraded in the Square before an emotional performance from Birmingham Conservatoire-trained Mezzo-Soprano, Samantha Oxborough (who performed the national anthem at the 2022 Opening Ceremony) with The Choir with No Name (who were part of Birmingham 2022 Festival's opening event 'Wondrous Stories') supported by community BSL choir Music in Motion in a moving musical tribute that everyone joined in with.
The final part of the evening took place in the fountain area of Centenary Square in front of the Festival's iconic stage as Ayo and Kaylee introduced speeches and interviewed guests before welcoming a live music finale courtesy of Birmingham Music Archive.
Drawing from Birmingham Music Archive's On Record album - the specially-commissioned 'Sonic Love Letter' to Birmingham for the B2022 Festival last year - the final part of the evening featured an eclectic mix of Birmingham's musical talent. Singer, dancer and multi-instrumentalist Bambi Bains was followed by Urban Music Award winner SANITY, before headliner, Friendly Fire Band, took to the stage for a rousing finale.
Commissioned and supported by Birmingham City Council to celebrate the city's creativity, and as a sign of its ongoing commitment to accessible culture for everyone, Birmingham Festival 23 continues on Centenary Square until Sunday 6 August.
Arts Council England and University of Birmingham are Principle Partners in May and Hollywood Monster is Presenting Partner.
The Festival echoes the city-centre experience of the games with live music and performance, creative and participatory activities, and big-screen content to conjure the shared experiences, magic and memories of the summer of 2022.
The Festival also serves to celebrate the city's creativity through a programme committed to diversity, inclusion and homegrown talent and will be another bold showcase of Birmingham's talent, character and reputation as a world-class destination for major events.
Steven Knight CBE, and former gold-medal winning Team England Netball Captain, Ama Agbeze, are Patrons of the Festival, signifying the city's cultural and sporting ambitions.
