696 Festival: Balamii Summer Series

Delve into performances from south London’s most exciting artists, as part of the 696 Festival at the Horniman Museum and Gardens

Audience - Joe Armon-Jones and Lynda Dawn (2021) by Elena LedgisterHorniman Museum and Gardens

Summer 2021 saw live music return to the Horniman Gardens with four gigs in the Bandstand, produced in conjunction with Balamii and as part of the 696 Project.

Summer sun, music and the beautiful backdrop of London behind the Horniman bandstand all made August 2021 at the Horniman very special.

Featuring Steam Down, RADA, Lex Amor, Demae, Goya Gumbani, The Colours That Rise, Joe Armon-Jones and Lynda Dawn.

Ahnanse - Steam Down (2021) by Raymond AmoahHorniman Museum and Gardens

Steam Down: Thursday 5 August

Steam Down is an artist collective, weekly event and music community based in Deptford, South-East London.

Founded by multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer Ahnansé in May 2017, the initial event was created to connect London based musicians and producers.

RADA - Bandstand (2021) by Raymond AmoahHorniman Museum and Gardens

RADA: Thursday 5 August

RADA is a songwriter, creative director and model. RADA’s sound oscillates between hazy alternative R&B and soft trap. Of Jamaican heritage, but born and raised in Russia until age 11, her influences are wide-reaching expressed through her music and visuals.

Demae - smiling (2021) by Raymond AmoahHorniman Museum and Gardens

Demae: Thursday 13 August

Demae is the stage name of British-Nigerian/Jamaican singer, songwriter and producer, Demae Chioma Wodu.

In 2010, Demae met brothers Eman and Sam to form the basis of experimental hip-hop trio, Hawk House. 

Lex Amor - performing (2021) by Raymond AmoahHorniman Museum and Gardens

Lex Amor: Thursday 13 August

Lex Amor is a rapper, producer, sound designer, engineer and DJ from North London.

Amor first surfaced in 2016 with her characterful slant on descriptive hip hop. The calm yet powerful cadence of her delivery has since cultivated a cult following all over the world. 

Goya Gumbani - Bandstand (2021) by Raymond AmoahHorniman Museum and Gardens

Goya Gumbani: Thursday 19 August

Rapper Goya Gumbani’s work is firmly rooted in NYC hip hop storytelling. In 2020, Crack Magazine remarked of his work that he is ‘firmly a New York MC, helping to revive and reimagine the city’s boom-bap legacy’. 

The Colours That Rise - Bandstand (2021) by Raymond AmoahHorniman Museum and Gardens

The Colours That Rise: Thursday 19 August

Comprised of producer duo Simeon Jones and Nathanael Williams, The Colours That Rise have previously turned heads with 2017’s “2020” EP released on Breaker Breaker.

Joe Armon - Jones (2021) by Elena LedgisterHorniman Museum and Gardens

Joe Armon-Jones: Thursday 26 August

Joe Armon-Jones is an English producer, composer and keyboard player who creates in an uncompromising, free-flowing, experimental way, combining jazz, dub, hip-hop, funk and soul.

Lynda Dawn - performing (2021) by Elena LedgisterHorniman Museum and Gardens

Lynda Dawn: Thursday 26 August

Lynda Dawn is a vocalist, producer and songwriter from London. Exploring the sonic spectrum between soul, funk and jazz, she draws upon her musically inclined upbringing to deliver a distinctive style of storytelling.

Audience - Balamii Summer Series, Lex Amor and Demae (2021) by Raymond AmoahHorniman Museum and Gardens

Adem talks to us about the 696 Festival

"Black British music is so vast in its styles and forms and makeups that actually what’s been really difficult is having a spectrum of different kinds of Black experiences. This is something that I’ve really tried to do and I think we could have gone even further with it."

Audience - Steam Down (2021) by Raymond AmoahHorniman Museum and Gardens

Supported by:

With thanks to Museums Association, Esmee Fairbairn Collections Fund and Arts Council England for their support. 

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