21 Years of Kinetika Bloco - Jazz FM Voices

To celebrate and mark 21 Years of Kinetika Bloco, Femi Koleoso (Ezra Collective and Gorillaz) presents a special Jazz FM Voices documentary.

This youth performance group is a key stepping stone for many young musicians, including Femi, Sheila Maurice Grey and Theon Cross, AND is a vital supportive, learning environment that has built a lasting community.

Listen here to discover the ENERGY of The Bloco! There’s live recordings from Carnival, stories from the young people who take part, and a feast of musical anthems.

Featuring contributions from core team members, alumni and current students: Ruben Fox, Andy Grappy, Shayanna Dyer-Harris, Mark Kavuma, Dominic Canning, Christ-Stephane Boizi, Atl Ongay-Perez, Marlon Hibbert and Hattie Asker.

More about Kinetika Bloco:

Kinetika Bloco was established as a charity in June 2010, but has been in existence since 2000 when it was first established as a project within Kinetika Art Links International. In 2016 they became a Youth Company in Residence at Southbank Centre and in 2018 became an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation.

Their mission is to get young people from South London engaged in long term creative activity advancing their education, skills, and capacity. Through the music, dance, design and leadership activities they enable young people to have creative engagement, determine company policy and direction and to follow pathways for leadership and career development and participate in society as mature and responsible individuals.

They have an outstanding track record in musical progression, developing a consistent and proven talent pathway for young artists which empowers them to develop creatively and take a lead within Bloco and the wider sector.

"We draw our influences from the Caribbean, Brazil, Africa and New Orleans. Our achievements include: performances at Notting Hill Carnival, Bestival and London Jazz Festival; performing for Nelson Mandela who called us “enchanting”; representing the UK at Beijing Olympic Festival; leading Team GB in the 2012 Victory Parade; collaborating with major artists like AfroReggae, Hot 8 Brass Band and Jerry Dammers at high profile venues including Southbank, Roundhouse and the Royal Albert Hall; and performing our own second-line in New Orleans."

Kinetika Bloco aims to embody and promote a positive representation of youth in London.

The Summer School

To find out how you can take part in the 2021 Kinetika Bloco Summer Schools, and other events throughout the year, click here.