Liverpool BlackFest returns for 2024 with a busy programme of events

BlackFest returns to Liverpool venues this autumn with a programme of must-see events and activities.

The award-winning grassroots annual Black arts festival runs from September 23 to October 31.

A Grand Launch takes place at Granby Winter Gardens on Monday, September 23 with the unveiling of a solo visual arts exhibition by Oke Ugonna as part of the Granby Visual Arts Residency.

Ugonna – who studied art at Chester University and has exhibited widely across Merseyside – specialises in portraits and urban landscapes and will lead a workshop exploring the process of creating landscapes while also sharing some of his methods and techniques.

Granby Winter Garden is also the venue for Book to TV Series on September 24. Rise Up CIC founder, playwright, poet rapper and author Ashleigh Nugent will take part in a discussion with Yasmin Ali who has wide experience in the TV industry.

The festival moves to the Tung Auditorium in Oxford Street on September 25 where BBC Young Musician string finalist, violinist Elodie Chousmer-Howelles and pianist Stella Marie Lorenz will perform a lunchtime concert programme which includes work by Beethoven, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Amy Beach.

A spoken word poetry night takes place at the Hope Street Theatre on September 26 featuring an exceptional line up of established and emerging poets, while there’s a return to the Tung Auditorium on September 27 when world-famous jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine appears as part of his 60th birthday celebrations.

BlackFest’s popular Riddims Night returns on Saturday, September 28. The event at District in the Baltic Quarter will celebrate local artists CopDat, Immidish, Nazeem and ManlikeMally with DJ PAPU RAF Founder of Choplife + Finite band.

Then on September 29, award-winning Liverpool author, poet and academic Malik Al Nasir will talk Race, Religion, Riots at Granby Winter Garden.

The festival’s visual arts exhibition launch takes place at Smithdown Social Arts Hub on October 3 with work on show from Cara Walker, Ridwa Horreh, Kassessa Gandara and Mary Jasmine.

The Capstone Theatre in Shaw Street is the venue for Endless Crescendo with Liverpool actress and singer Heather Tomlinson who has performed with stars like Take That, Seal and Bon Jovi and at venues including the Royal Albert Hall. Endless Crescendo is a poignant exploration of identity, acceptance and the complexities of navigating the intersectionality between race and heritage.

Gandara and Horreh will hold visual arts workshops at Smithdown Social Arts Hub on October 19, and Cara Walker on October 23, while on October 24 Michelle Odwyer of Bay Tree Cooking will host a sustainable cooking workshop at Sefton Park Palm House.

Finally, the 2024 event comes to a close on October 30 with a BlackFest Fashion Fest Finale at Future Yard in Birkenhead.

BlackFest was launched in 2018 with the aim of platforming, empowering and developing work by Black artists across community spaces and established venues.

BlackFest 2024 runs from September 23 to October 31. More details and tickets HERE