Festivals / News
The Downs 2019 releases lineup for the Information Area
The Downs Festival in Bristol returns for its fourth year on August 31 with headliners Lauryn Hill, Grace Jones and IDLES.
Returning again this year will be The Information Area, which will feature topical discussions, debates, panels and thought-provoking talks on some of the most pressing issues facing society today. In the evening, there will be a lineup of live music, curated specially by IDLES themselves.
The Downs 2018 © Sarah Koury / KoLAB Studios
The Information Area will host some of the UK’s most influential and powerful speakers of modern times. Contemporary storytellers Desree, award-winning Charlie Craggs and Information Area headliner Dr. Saba Shafi will bring their tales and experiences to The Downs for visitors to experience first-hand.
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The commercial director of the Advocacy Academy, Dr. Saba will engage her audience with worldly stories and first-hand experiences of working with the youth movement that aims to unleash the power of young people to change the world for good.
Meanwhile, Charlie Craggs, an award-winning trans activist and author, will bring her campaign Nail Transphobia to the stage. Charlie has been travelling around the UK with her pop-up nail salon offering members of the public the chance to have a conversation with a trans person to attempt to humanise the issue.
Desree © Moses Baako
Desree, a spoken word artist, writer and facilitator, will be exploring intersectionality, justice and social commentary at The Downs this year. She has featured in events across the UK, and uses words to express her opinions on contemporary issues facing society and individuals.
Desree is joined on the lineup by the co-authors of the ‘Black Girl Bible, Slay in Your Lane’, Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uvibinene. Yomi and Elizabeth will be offering their advice, opinions and hot takes on race, feminism, and popular culture.
The Information Area will also play host to Scottish hip-hop artist Darren ‘Loki’ McGarvey, who inspires young people to express themselves through rap, and the Extinction Rebellion will be on site to explain how we can win the fight against climate change. Also keep your eyes peeled for Anagram (Make Noise), Oculus Go, Nail Transphobia, Caring in Bristol, Aid Box Community, Sleep Pods, Protect our NHS, Greenpeace and more.
Milo’s Planes / Press
As day turns to night, IDLES’ Joe Talbot has curated a stellar music lineup to keep the party going long into the wee hours. Punk/post hardcore band Milo’s Planes will kick off proceedings, shortly followed by Brighton quintet DITZ who are one of Talbot’s favourite bands in the city.
South London new wave punks Talk Show will play the penultimate set at the Information Stage, rounded off by IDLES’ close friends and riotous live performers Heavy Lungs. This is not a set to be missed.
The Downs Bristol returns for its fourth year on August 31. For more information and tickets, go to their website: https://thedownsbristol.com/
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