The Music is Black Festival from East Bank

The Music is Black Festival from East Bank final live weekend, Black to the Future, is a genre-bending closing party, bringing together artists who push the boundaries of storytelling, imagination and science fiction.

Curated by FLOHIO and The Blues Project, Black to the Future is rooted in ideas of futurism and possibility. It celebrates musicians and creatives expanding what contemporary Black music and culture can sound and feel like.

Location: The Music is Black Festival from East Bank, Sadler's Wells East, 101 Carpenters Rd, Stratford Cross, London E20 2AR
Date: Saturday 12th - Sunday 13th September
Time: Saturday (12pm - 12am), Sunday (12pm - 6pm)


Saturday 12th September
Curated by FLOHIO - Live music sets: 12–7pm

Saturday of Black to the Future is curated by Nigerian-born, south London raised artist FLOHIO. Known for blending elements of hip hop, grime and electronic music, her work is characterised by high-energy delivery, unconventional production, and a forward-looking, often futuristic aesthetic.

Saturday lineup: 

V&A East Making Sound x Ruff Sqwad Arts Foundation
Angel Gray
Fluxo Tamagotchi
vvsmygwen
bib sama.
FigsO
OOab
FLOHIO
Master Peace
fat-lïp
Lisa Keeks
MASTAQUE
Rico Mars
Cass Brewster
Elheist
TINYMAN
Finessekid
+ special guests
Plus don't miss East London Dance presents Together We Move

The Dance Floor is Black at Sadler's Wells East
Family Dance, 12-3pm, with Fly Kid - Fly Kid are set to bring a daytime party where you can introduce the kids to the tunes you grew up on.

Club Night, 7pm-late, Soul System: Afrofuture Funk with Dannielle "Rhimes" Lecointe
Close out the night with DJ sets and live performances, curated by Dannielle "Rhimes" Lecointe, the Associate Artistic Director of ZooNation and choreographer of last year’s hit Christmas show at Sadler’s Wells East, Ebony Scrooge.

Sunday 13th September
Curated by The Blues Project - Live music sets: 12–7pm
Bringing Black to the Future to a close, The Blues Project curate a final Sunday that looks firmly ahead, celebrating artists who explore the outer edges of sound, imagination and futurism. Rooted in possibility, the programme reflects a vision of Black music and culture that is expansive, experimental and constantly evolving.

The Blues Project is the UK's home of R&B and future soulful sounds. A collective which platforms boundary-pushing talent and builds experiences for connection between music lovers and artists.

Sunday line up:
BERWYN
BINA.
Sade Olutola
LULU
SIPHO.
DJ sets with live band:
A Vibe Called B
Mister S
The Oracle Collective
+ The Blues Project and ALTVERSE present the Rooted stage ft. emerging DJs and artists

Sunday sessions, 12-6pm, with Poetic Funk Collective - Closing out Black to the Future is Poetic Funk, a DJ collective led by Mark Alexander. This relaxed set will draw on their passion for afrofuturism and 80s funk. 

The Line’s Youth Guides are local young people aged 18–25 who have been employed and trained to share the stories, histories and creative highlights of east London. Drawing on their own experiences of the area, they offer fresh perspectives on the region’s heritage, public art, waterways and natural landscape, while introducing visitors to the artists and ideas behind The Line.

On Sunday 13 September, the Youth Guides will lead three tours between 12pm and 5pm, exploring artworks and locations along The Line across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Hackney Wick.

The first two tours will focus on artworks within the Park, while the final tour will follow The Line towards Hackney Wick, ending at Yard Theatre.

Meet at the Festival Information point at least 5-minutes before the tour start time to join a tour. First-come first-served.