Decolonise Fest is the UK's first

music festival A music festival is a festival, community event with music, performances of singing and instrument playing that is often presented with a theme such as musical genre (e.g., rock music, rock, blues, folk music, folk, jazz, classical music), nation ...

created by and for

people of colour The term "person of color" (: people of color or persons of color; abbreviated POC) is used to describe any person who is not considered "white". In its current meaning, the term originated in, and is associated with, the United States. From th ...

. The first event happened at

DIY Space for London DIY Space for London was a volunteer-run social centre, music venue, rehearsal space, and creative hub formerly located at 96-108 Ormside Street in South Bermondsey, London. History The space opened in September 2015 after the founding collect ...

in 2017.

Background

In 2016 a collective named DIY Diaspora Punx was formed. It was assembled by Stephanie Phillips of Big Joanie, inspired by Chicago's Black and Brown Punk Fest. The collective also contained other London musicians such as Ray Aggs. Over the weekend of 2 - 4 June 2017 the first Decolonise Fest was held at

with international bands, consisting of live music, workshops and panels. Panels at the festival have included intergenerational musicians such as

Miki Berenyi Miki Eleonora Berenyi (born 18 March 1967) is an English singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known as a member of the alternative rock band Lush and currently a member of Piroshka and the Miki Berenyi Trio. Biography Early life Beren ...

. Two more festivals followed in 2018 and 2019, before the

Covid-19 Pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

forced the cancellation of the one planned for 2020, and ultimately the closure of

DIY Space For London DIY Space for London was a volunteer-run social centre, music venue, rehearsal space, and creative hub formerly located at 96-108 Ormside Street in South Bermondsey, London. History The space opened in September 2015 after the founding collect ...

. Two further festivals have happened at Signature Brew in Haggerston in 2022 and 2024. In 2023 the collective announced a touring version of the festival. The first event was held at Mono in

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

on 11 November that year. The lineup was Kapil Seshasayee, R.AGGS ( Ray Aggs), and Trishaaa. The second touring event was held at The Castle & Falcon in

Birmingham Birmingham ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of West Midlands (county), West Midlands, within the wider West Midlands (region), West Midlands region, in England. It is the Lis ...

on 30 March 2024. The lineup for that was Blue Ruth, Resting Bitch Face, and Layla Tutt.

Line-ups

References

{{Reflist Music festivals in London 2017 establishments in England Punk rock festivals Music festivals established in 2017 Underground punk scene in the United Kingdom Counterculture festivals