WHAT IS ENGLAND?

20th - 23rd April  The Old Church

Tired of the same old tribalist ‘Brexit this, Immigrants that, Morrissey said what now?’ grimness on social media? Looking for something inspiring to do in London this weekend? WHAT IS ENGLAND is a 4-day festival in the run up to St George’s Day exploring ‘Englishness’ through music, talks and workshops at London’s only surviving Elizabethan church. An opportunity for EVERYONE to explore and reimagine English identity in an inclusive, welcoming way, at a time when a toxic form of nationalism is on the rise. It’s a concerted effort to move beyond the current divisions and, y’know, figure out something better that Englishness could mean going forward.

There’s a tasty lineup, including comedian Shazia Mirza, DJs from The Quietus and NTS Radio, Broadly Editor Zing Tsjeng, Gal-dem Arts & Culture Editor Micha Frazer-Carroll and Stick In The Wheel ("Britain's most exciting new folk band" UNCUT).

www.bishi.co.uk

Plus - and this is a big plus - the European premiere of Bishi’s The Good Immigrant song cycle - inspired by the eponymous anthology and originally created and performed while she was artist in residence at Brooklyn’s National Sawdust earlier this year. We’ll be there - drinking tea and moaning about the weather…
 
(If you don’t know Bishi’s work, check out this (below) collaboration with Labour legend Tony Benn from her last album, Albion Voice - inspiring, ballsy genius)

Michelle Olley

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