Seminal multi–genre lyricists Foreign Beggars are set to headline StreetFest Leeds as part of the festival’s first ever UK–wide event series, with dates in Liverpool and London later this year. Taking place at Canal Mills, Leeds’ ultimate space for creative arts, StreetFest Leeds will bring together the city’s top artists from 2pm–2am on Saturday 11th May.
Critically acclaimed Foreign Beggars will join the iconic DJ Semtex on the StreetFest main stage. The trio have found themselves playing main stages at festivals throughout the world including Lovebox in London, Serbia’s Exit Festival and Northern Bass in New Zealand and have built a steadfast reputation as one of the UK’s most versatile, creative and prolific live acts.
StreetFest highlights include:
Visual Arts: Curated by PaintFreaks, 25 local and internationally celebrated graffiti and street artists, painters and illustrators including Veno, Simon Hook, Andy Seize, Meds_One, THINK, Cortisol Kid, Smor, Spek, Peza each creating large scale canvases and building murals painted in real time in and around the festival.
Music: Two stages of live music, main stage hosted by MC Paz headlined by Foreign Beggars and DJ Semtex who will be joined by residents from Musicology and License to Jungle, plusFlame Griller, Budrat Records and Defenders Of Style.
Dance stage: Real time dance battles, shows & demonstrations will take place during the day, with hip hop and funk classics from Leeds based DJ collective Fresh Jive. The Dance stage is for the 7th year curated by women in hip hop organisation b.supreme. The day will featureExplosive UK, an emerging dance collective from Leeds City College, plus the best of the Leeds dance scene. Featuring hip hop dance battles, an 80s theme disco with prizes. Highlights will include; All Style Dance Battle preliminaries, battle (top 8) and Final staggered throughout the day. B-Girl SunSun will be master of ceremonies and three International judges including B-Girl Candy B (NYC) will be on hand to judge and demo, plus a breaking showcase battle.
Sport: Skateboarders will introduce their ‘culture’ through various showcases and demonstrations via specifically constructed circuits across the venue. Mini-Ramp Jam will be curated by Learn to Skateboard. Professional and amateur skate competitions on a 32ft half pipe with over 40 skaters including Ben Groves and riders from Leeds infamous Welcome Skate Store all competing for cash prizes.
StreetFest offers a strong musical programme embodying a mix of both established and up-and-coming bands, artists and DJs from the urban scene. StreetFest has long prided itself to be early champions of some of music’s hottest names. Previous live artists have included Afrikan Boy, Stush, Goldie, Miss Dynamite, Loyle Carner, Oddisee, Professor Green, HUDSON, Wretch 32, Devlin, Maverick Sabre and Ghost Poet.
StreetFest founder Bayo Alaba said “StreetFest continues to grow, now in its eleventh year, it’s truly exciting to break the mould by launching Leeds as part of a new 3 date UK tour. We are proud to innovate every year and 2019 is going to be bigger than ever, kicking off with the best of Leeds’ creative mavericks and arts innovators. Attendees will not only see live art they will be a part of creating it during the festival. All this will make this year’s StreetFest even more of a roadblock. We’ve programmed in car parks, garages, closed off roads, car pounds, set up in warehouses and produced on disused and derelict wharfs over the years and I cannot wait to kick it all off at Canal Mills with the icon DJ Semtex”
Leeds and London StreetFest headliner and Capital Xtra’s DJ Semtex added “I’m looking forward to going on the road with Streetfest this year. It has been at the forefront of urban arts and culture for many years, which is testament to their tireless commitment. It’s great to be back in Leeds – one of the hottest shows of the year”
Tickets available from Streetfest.net or Skiddle
