Rise Up! Festival Returns to Aberdeen for its 3rd Year - Celebrating the Voices and Visions of Black and POC Creatives in Scotland

Rise Up!, a festival of creativity and unity, returns to Aberdeen for its 3rd year from May 2nd to 4th. Hosted at the prestigious Music Hall and the intimate Lemon Tree, this year's festival, curated by We Are Here Scotland and commissioned by Aberdeen Performing Arts, promises to be a powerful showcase of the talent and perspectives of Black and People of Colour (BPOC) creatives in Aberdeen and across Scotland.

The festival opens on Thursday, May 2nd, with an introspective exhibition by Joshua Ekekwe, a 26-year-old British-Nigerian self-taught artist, designer, and aspiring writer. Ekekwe's exhibition features four large-scale digital paintings on canvas, each embedded with a multi-textural digital collage that encapsulates the essence of the African diaspora's experience in creating a sense of home in new lands. Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with the artwork by penning their own reflections on postcards featuring the exhibited pieces.

Friday, May 3rd, features a keynote address by acclaimed Glasgow-based theatre artist and filmmaker Adura Onashile, followed by an eclectic cabaret evening that intertwines comedy, spoken word, music, and dance. The cabaret showcases the talents of dancer Kristin Weichen Wong, spoken word artist Phoenix Archer, and the innovative music of Tehillah Sihlabela, known as 1000Trees.

Saturday, May 4th, offers a full day of workshops and panel discussions designed to spark dialogue and inspire change. Workshops include Pass the Mic Presents - Pitching Underrepresented Community Stories with Raisah Ahmed, zine-making with Samar Ziadat, and screen printing and badge making with Rudy Kanhye and Lauren La Rose. The festival also features three thought-provoking panel discussions: ‘Activism & Art’, ‘Black-owned Spaces’, and ‘Designing Inclusion’ moderated by Phoenix Archer, Pete Preston, and Sanjeev Mann, respectively, and featuring an impressive line-up of speakers.

The festival also includes a live recording of the popular Black Scot Pod podcast, hosted by Suzie Mwanza and Shirley Mcpherson featuring special guest Vanessa Kanbi, and a poignant performance of When Mountains Meet, a storytelling/gig theatre show that seamlessly fuses Scottish and South-Asian musical traditions.

When Mountains Meet will play at the Lemon Tree on Saturday, May 4th. Storytelling, gig theatre and striking visual images combine to tell the true story of one woman’s travels in search of family and connection. An international cast of storytellers and musicians set forth on an unforgettable voyage from the Scottish Highlands to the Himalayas. A vibrant live score, influenced by Scottish and South-Asian music contributes to a dynamic, immersive audience experience.

The festival culminates on Saturday evening with a dynamic live gig headlined by Bemz, a rising star in the Scottish rap scene. Backed by a full live band and specially curated supporting acts, Bemz will deliver a raw and honest performance that showcases his signature style.

“We are pleased to announce our third Rise Up Festival in partnership with Aberdeen Performing Arts. Since its inception in 2022 The Rise Up Festival has always been about highlighting the wealth of creative and artistic talent that exists within the North East of Scotland” says We Are Here Scotland founder and director Ica Headlam.

“This year marks the continuation of celebrating Black and People of Colour artists and creatives who contribute so much towards Scotland’s creative industries. From previous festivals, we have learnt about the importance of communities coming together to champion one another, and we are very excited about this year’s festival including new workshops, panels and events.

We hope that this year’s festival will not only provide inspiration to those who attend. But also provide opportunities for the sharing of ideas and the development of new working relationships across various communities within Aberdeen.”

Susan Whyte, Head of Creative Engagement at Aberdeen Performing Arts said “Rise Up continues to go from strength to strength, ever evolving and growing since it began in 2022. It’s so exciting to be part of such a creative and vibrant festival celebrating the incredible contribution of Black and People of Colour artists and creatives to the cultural landscape here in the North East and throughout Scotland.

“This year’s festival line-up is full of the thought-provoking, unifying and inspirational events, talks, music, comedy, spoken word and more that Rise Up has come to be known for and a great chance to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy some of the brightest talent this country has to offer.”

Rise Up! Festival is a celebration of some of the many diverse voices and visions that shape Aberdeen and Scotland's Black and POC creative communities. Join us at The Music Hall and The Lemon Tree for three days of art, music, and dialogue that challenge, inspire, and unite.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit: www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/rise-up