New Birmingham festival focussing on diversity, inclusivity and gender balance.
TEG Live Europe have announced the second wave of artists to join the lineup for their upcoming InterMission Festival – a one-day multiroom festival featuring live music, sound workshops, industry talks and food stalls.
Taking place at Birmingham’s iconic The Mill in Digbeth on Saturday 22nd July, InterMission explores sounds from the UK’s leading jazz, Afro, global, electronica and hip hop scenes. With diversity and inclusivity at its core, InterMission presents a culturally rich and gender-balanced event, celebrating music and creatives from underrepresented backgrounds.
Joining the lineup are legendary northern hip-hop/neo-soul group Children of Zeus Live (pictured), electric South African singer, dancer, producer and humanitarian Toya Delazy, Romo Weeks, MINI, signal, Essie, Auracul, echojuliet, Island:T, NGAIO, Devolicious, Ayy Den and Obsidian takeover ft Booty Bass & Shade Cartel.
Acclaimed London jazz collective Steam Down are billed to be headlining the festival, alongside performances from Shy One, Tash LC, QuinzeQuinze, Hagan, TC and the Groove Family, GladeMarie, SANITY, Roseland En Why Cee, Nihiloxica, Ceeow, BootyBass, LYZZA, Grove, Selextorhood DJ Collective and Saffron Records Mix Nights DJ Collective.
Speaking of the announcement, TEG promoter and Founder of InterMission Festival Betty Adesanya says, “We’re thrilled to announce the final wave lineup for InterMission Festival! We’ve been working hard to curate a diverse and exciting program of music from multiple genres, including jazz, electronica, hip-hop, Afro and global that is sure to keep you dancing all day and night long.
Among the artists joining us are the legendary northern hip-hop/neo-soul group Children of Zeus live, as well as the electric South African singer, dancer, producer and humanitarian Toya Delazy, hailed as the Queen of Afrorave, Toya brings together Zulu verses with Rave sounds to deliver incredible onstage energy. She is one not to be missed! With the festival fast approaching, make sure you grab a ticket before they move up to the final tiers. We can’t wait to see you all there. Get ready to be blown away by this incredible line up!”
The festival will run a day-to-night programme, featuring two stages of live music, a creative area with music industry lead talks, DJ workshops led by Pioneer, music and mental health workshops, an outdoor yard with food traders and stalls, and a roof top takeover from female & gender-minority DJ collectives.
With over ten years of event experience within the UK and European festival sector, Betty has programmed the festival lineup and is passionate about curating spaces for marginalised communities, paving the way for POC women within the industry.
Betty says, “I’m so excited for the launch of InterMission. Birmingham is such a culturally rich place, it was important to me that the festival program reflects this; a celebration of different people and artists coming together in a space that feels safe, that’s curated with them in mind. From personal experience, music festivals aren’t always a space that minorities feel included, so InterMission is an invitation for all to join.
“It’s been great to collaborate with local female and gender-minority collectives Selextorhood and Saffron Record’s: Mix Nights who’ll be hosting a roof-top takeover. We’ve announced some super talented artists already, some local, some international and there’s still more to come! There’s also the music education aspect of InterMission, with a great program of workshops and talks planned; Pioneer will be running DJ skill sessions (for all levels) and our panel will be addressing some of the imbalances and barriers within the industry and inviting those who are interested in moving into the live music and events industry a chance to ask questions and explore experiences from a range of professionals.
“We need to keep pushing for more diverse and gender-balanced festival line-ups, but we also need to address the lack of black and minority promoters, agents, event managers, and live industry professionals running the shows. I’ve been working in the live music and festival industry for years and when it comes to the people at the top making the big decisions there is a long way to go.”
Event and ticket information can be found here:
www.intermissionfestival.com