Festival hundreds attend each year confirms return

THIS WILL BE THE FESTIVAL'S SEVENTH YEAR BEING HELD IN THE CITY 12:07, 29 May 2025Updated 12:07, 29 May 2025 An award-winning festival that hundreds attend each year has confirmed its

return to Liverpool. BlackFest will once again take over the city for the seventh year running. The annual combined arts festival, which takes place in September, features music, theatre,

film, and spoken word events inside community spaces and established venues. The event platforms, empowers and develops work by black artists across the region. Founded in 2018 by Jubeda

Khatun, it aims to answer a crucial need in the city’s cultural offering by bridging the gap between institutions and the marginalised communities they represent. This year’s festival will

be no different, with the team currently on the lookout for talented musicians, DJs, poets, comedians, film-makers, and performing artists to be part of it. Creative Director Jubeda Khatun

said: “Hundreds of incredible artists have performed at BlackFest during the past seven years. From big names such as jazz legend Courtney Pine and YolanDa Brown, to talented local and North

West-based artists performing live on stage for the first time and artists expanding their work developing and honing in their craft. Article continues below "We’re proud to celebrate

and shine a light on the rich pool of black and minority talent in our region and bring them to the forefront.” BlackFest 2025 will feature comedy in collaboration with Royal Court Theatre

and artist Che Burnley and a Scratch Takeover at Shakespeare North Playhouse. There will also be a celebration of composer Samuel Coleridge Taylor at The Capstone Theatre with curator Tayo

Aluko and spotlight fashion at Invisible Wind Factory. Jubeda added: “If you or anyone you know is a musician or group, comedian, dancer, poet, choir, workshop facilitator, or anything else

and wants to perform, take up space, and/or facilitate, we want to hear from you. "It’s a great opportunity, and many artists who have got involved have gone on to even bigger things,

so what are you waiting for?” Article continues below BlackFest has both paid and volunteer opportunities available for 2025. The events all aim to push Blackfest’s core mission, which is to

“cultivate and nurture work from black artists and communities”. The festival believes in “reflecting the dual identities, multiple experiences and narratives not seen and heard” by putting

the lens to stories that are political, social, economic and emotionally charged.