To start a 10-day festival of dance and music to celebrate one year since the Birmingham medal-winning athletes Commonwealth Games got underway in the city’s Centenary Square, where a stage was set up - for an evening of huge celebrations and free entertainment, for what was a landmark occasion for its citizens.
With the booming soundtrack of legendary Birmingham bands Black Sabbath, UB40 and Dexy’s Midnight Runners setting off the proud and expecting crowd into wild delirium, it was a chance to look back at what Birmingham put on, for the Commonwealth – and wide world. This truly was a “Brum T’ing” in every way possible.
Presented by award-winning BBC presenter Ayo Akunwolere and Radio 1Xtra’s Kaylee Golding, everyone there – man, women and child – made sure that they were part of this Birmingham Festival 23 spectacular. And remember, this was just the start of things to come.
Helping to get the Festival underway soulful house DJ Echo Juliet and BBC Asian Network’s Bobby Friction got the party started before Commonwealth Games mascot Perry, along with the city’s own internationally renowned Bhangra legends Dhol Blasters got the crowd ‘whipped’ into real heights of excitement and delirium. It was then that some of England’s medal-winning athletes would take to the stage to receive the level of adulation their endeavours deserve.
Live music saw mezzo-soprano Samantha Oxborrough, and the Choir with No Name and the community BSL choir Music In Motion doing their respective thing, alongside singer, dancer and multi-instrumentalist, Bambi Bains and Urban Music award-winner and rapper Sanity.
But it was the Friendly Fire Band who would be the highlight at the end of a ‘buzzing’ Birmingham evening in the city as their ‘It’s a Brum T’ing’ made this Birmingham Festival 23 starter of 10 (days) the perfect ‘appetiser’ for what’s to come. All festival event will be running from 11:00 to 21:00 BST every day - over the 10 full days.
