A brand new concert TURN UP!, featuring Black voices from the West End and Broadway, is to be streamed online next month.

The event will be recorded at Cadogan Hall and will include music with a live band, readings, poetry and speeches from Black community leaders to raise awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement.

This project is the brainchild of performers Nicole Raquel Dennis and Ryan Carter, who will be joint Creative Directors of the event, produced by Club 11.

Dennis said: “TURN UP! is something that we’ve needed in London for a long time. Black voices need to be heard and celebrated now and forever. Hopefully this will be the start of many more celebrations to come.”

Carter added: “We’ve seen a much-needed sense of change sweeping across our industry in recent weeks, and with that comes a wave of excitement that real change is coming. We’re taking ownership of how our voices are used, and most importantly, who they are used for. This is an event with Black people leading the creative direction and production of the show. The age of Black performers only being invited for their vocal riff or niche casting is over, and I for one couldn’t be more excited about it!”

Artists confirmed to be involved are: Kelly Agbowu, Jeannette Bayardelle, Melanie La Barrie, Marcus Collins, Chloë Davies, Alexandra Grey, Cameron Bernard Jones, Claudia Kariuku, Natalie Kassanga, Alexia Khadime, Vula Malinga, Sandra Marvin, Cedric Neal, Trevor Dion Nicholas, Jay Perry, Sharon Rose, Jordan Shaw, Danielle Steers, Vinegar Strokes, Obioma Ugoala, Layton Williams plus more to be revealed.

As well as increasing awareness, TURN UP! will raise money for The Bail Project, The Okra Project, The Black Curriculum and UK Black Pride.

The concert will be available to stream over two nights in early July.
For more information, please visit club11.london/turn.

Written by: Jenny Ell