(Mercury Music Award winner 2009)

Hiphop
Speech Debelle raps with complete intimacy, as if only addressing one person. Her debut album Speech Therapy, produced by regular Roots Manuva collaborator Wayne Lotek, is both intimate and epic, moving back and forth between the personal and political, the mundane and the spiritual. At the age of twenty-five her fragile voice can make her sound like a teenager, but she’s packed in enough experience to last most people forever: from reflections on hostel life and the hustles involved in getting by on the South London streets, to funny incidents and sharp observations. “Daddy’s Little Girl” is a scathing attack on an absent father held together by organ and dub bass. “Bad Boy” looks unflinchingly but also non-judgementally at the attitudes and outlooks of the yout’s Speech grew up knowing. “Buddy Love” is a funny, bouncing look at what happens when you start shagging your mate. 
“Sensational” – Sunday Times 
“Potent, precious, poignant. The artist Lily Allen could only dream of being” – DJ 
“A superstar in the making” – Update [single of the week] 
“Like no hip hop record you’ve ever heard” – Dazed & Confused 
“Urban decay recast as a brooding short film, flooded with poetry and honest emotional toil” – iDJ

A funky fusion of hiphop, soul and electronica from the doctor who raps.

Rapper Chima Anya is tearing up the UK scene at the moment with his new collaboration ‘It’s The Manner’ that features the legendary Jehst and his new track ‘New Day’ featuring Soweto Kinch. He is a talented MC and talent belongs at the Live Box, 

And would you believe that by day Chima’s is a medical doctor? Ha, the secret lives of rappers. Hol’ tight Doc, pimp nurses and push that penicillin.

A dynamic seven piece touring band, Homecut bring a fresh blend of critically acclaimed hip-hop, soul, jazz and sonic experimentation. The brainchild of emcee and producer Testament, the Homecut sound breaks the stereotypes that surround rap, and navigates a social and spiritual commentary on everyday British life. “A stand-alone classic that deserves celebration” ALBUM OF THE WEEK- Metro

 “Impressive…”ALBUM OF THE MONTH– Echoes

 "Deep, deeply satisfying UK Hip Hop”- DJ Magazine

“One of UK’s finest”- DJ Vadim 

“A party starter and a pioneer” – Corinne Bailey Rae

“Just when Hip-hop was getting a little bland, up pops Homecut”- BBC Music 

“The best Hip-Hop album I’ve heard in decades”– The Music Fix

"This is the kind of music the world could do with more of"- Blues & Soul Magazine

Nigerian trickster-poet and prize-winning storyteller performs with Soweto Kinch and the band. Concerning liquids, He believes in aPple jUice, likes his coffee absent and claims to conjure Krystal out of rain puddles. Concerning solids, He believes in green apples, likes his steak well done, and claims to have a desk carved of brimstone and beautiful. Concerning life, he believes it is the greatest symphony of all, that people all freestyle and adlib to it, but once in a while, they have to conform to the beat. Within the symphony are significant riffs like Ghandi or King- they give kudos to the great concert

Jazz

Alex Garnett, Nigel Hitchcock, and Joel Frahm (saxophones) with Rick Germanson (piano), Steve Brown (drums), Michael Janisch (acoustic bass). PLUS - a free workshop whether you are a beginner or whether you have crossed the line to excellence, whether you are a singer or a player of instruments.  It is for you and it promises to be a night of high powered entertainment

Venue: The Hare and Hounds, 106 High Street, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JZ

Time: performance 7.45PM

Workshop  5.00Pm  – 7.00PM

UK street battle champion, lyrical instigator of the Rhyme Book Club and the Don’t Flop tournament. Eurgh and Soweto Kinch will be hosting the Battle In the Box.. The Place Where Mc's Pit their lyrical wits against each other and the audience decides who gets the prize.