East London to host free music and arts festival

East London is ready to jumpstart the capital’s summer of music festivals with Vortex Outdoors, a free outdoor music event that will take place in Dalston’s Gillett Square on Sunday 9th May.

Now in its second year, Vortex Outdoors, organised by The Vortex jazz club in partnership with BrazenBunch and Hackney Cooperative Developments will bring together artists, both established and emerging, from the music genres of jazz, reggae, soul, funk and hip-hop. Organisers expect to see an increase in the 1,500-strong audience from 2008 due to the diverse line-up of artists curated by BrazenBunch, which includes Don-e, one of the UK’s most gifted multi-instrumentalist and songwriting talents.

Gillett Square is already synonymous with creative talents, promoting social cohesion and a place that invites cultural exchange and education; principles that organisers of Vortex Outdoors have embedded into their event. They are keen to ensure that that event’s free access attracts a range of communities from across London, including the surrounding area of Hackney, which has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the capital. Vortex Outdoors is extending its support for communities by engaging independent artists to perform at the event, many of whom are from the East London area.

Speaking about the event, festival organiser Clemmie Franks commented: “Vortex Outdoors is a great day out for anyone who enjoys listening to quality live music and being part of a positive community event. We encourage people from all walks of life and from different parts of London to help to support our ethos of creating sustainable and cohesive communities.”

Artists performing on the day include Done-e, Zarif, Jamie Woon, HKB FiNN, Elisabeth Troy, Aruba Red, Kevin Mark Trail, Me’sha Bryan, Sharlene Hector, Last Mango in Paris, The Lifeforce Band and students from the surrounding area as well as BSix, a 6th form college in Hackney. There will also be a festival after-party in The Vortex jazz club featuring a DJ appearance from Urban Nerds resident Dusty Lungs.

As well as listening to excellent performers on the day, people attending Vortex Outdoors can also enjoy a range of sustainability activities where they can participate in creating a ’junk art’ sculpture, be part of a film instillation and receive free advice and bicycle maintenance, all contributed and run by local organisations.

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Notes to Editors:

§ Vortex Outdoors starts at 1pm and concludes at 7pm. The event’s full address is Gillett Square, Dalston, London N16 8JH.

§ The after-party is an indoor event at The Vortex Jazz Club, located at 11 Gillette Square, starting at 8.30pm and concluding at 1am.

§ Sustainability activity is contributed and run by local organisations: Pangolin’s Ark, Fugitive Images and Push Cycles and Moustachio’s Bikes

§ The Vortex is a world-renowned jazz club in Dalston established over 20 years. It is a beacon for jazz, folk, world and contemporary music in the capital. The Vortex Jazz Foundation strives to help secure the future of live jazz in north and east London, and has developed a programme of jazz education for young people. www.vortexjazz.co.uk

§ BrazenBunch is a non-profit arts collective providing events and projects that benefit local and global communities. In particular, BrazenBunch works with young people and those considered marginalised, vulnerable or at a disadvantage. BrazenBunch has successfully produced projects in the UK, Caribbean and Africa. www.brazenbunch.com

§ Hackney Cooperative Developments (HCD) is a Community Interest Company that has been creating opportunities for inclusive local economic development since 1982. HCD’s Gillett Square project was initiated in 2006 to stimulate and promote the use of Dalston’s public space for cultural activities that relate to local communities. www.gillettsquare.org.uk

§ The Arts Council England, PRS Foundation, West Hackney Parochial Charity and Hackney Council support Vortex Outdoors.

For more information including profiles of the artists and photography, please contact: Bieneosa Ebite on 020 3212 2152 or bieneosa.ebite@brightstarpr.net