Once upon a time in Birmingham there were performing arts showcases that once over, the energy from inside the room would spill out onto the streets. The ones I’m referring to amplified emerging, and often, black talent; would create a buzz for weeks and put you on to new artists, some of whom would go on to forge professional creative careers. 

I didn’t realise how much I missed that format until I was on my feet for a standing ovation after the last of 12 West Midlands’ acts had given their all on stage for And Still I Rise.

That was witty Birmingham rap duo, Trappy SelfSuccess and Drizz GB by the way, who are promoting their Champion Season EP, and closed the show on a high in a way only UK Grime can. 

The show is inspired by its namesake – the 1978 poem by the revered Dr Maya Angelou – which became a rallying cry punctuating each performance. One of the smoothest to do it was Neo-soul singer-songwriter SUNIQ, whose debut single, Better Days, aired on BBC Introducing earlier this year. With beautiful runs, she sang part of Angelou’s poem which we later learned her mum would have her recite in response to being bullied at school.

Each artist was specially selected by Leicester-based social enterprise, 2Funky Arts Through dance (Vanessa Downie, Jamal Sterrett, Hadija Brittain-Harris), poetry (Poet49, Chris Oliver, Ingrid, Derrion Wilson), vocals (Zolatec, Sam Harris, Miss Fire, SUNIQ) and rap (Trappy SelfSuccess and Drizz GB), they explored themes from identity and empowerment, hopes and dreams to displacement and resistance.



Black Country poet Derrion Wilson centered legacy in her piece. She descended to the stage with the same grace as those exiting the Empire Windrush ship, brown suitcase in hand. They went “from mango trees to English breeze,” she recited, owning the stage and embodying the shared history of Caribbean immigrants. During her poem she retold her grandmother’s story of having lost “three out of six children and a niece” in Jamaica while she was in England. I immediately thought of my nan who experienced a similar tragedy in reverse. 

Jamal Sterrett was mesmerising to watch. A dancer from Nottingham, he uniquely blends different dance styles: ‘mutation’, with its contortions and glides, ballet and ‘Bruk Up’, a style that emerged from Jamaican dancer, George Adams, in the 90s. After his moving performance, Jamal explained he was inspired by “the lack of infrastructure for new art forms”. 

He also spoke about his own struggles as an artist from finding funding to rejecting labels. 

He said: “I don’t want to be a ‘black artist’. I just want to be an artist.”

While the showcase delivered on variety and thoughtfulness, it lacked a little in staging. Some performances were perfectly pared back, like spoken word artist Chris Oliver, whose subtle choreography, and even his intentional deep breaths, were all I needed to see and listen to. But overall, I wish lighting and set design had been better considered to amplify these eclectic performances.

The beauty of a showcase is there’s something for everyone. Some performances will resonate with you more than others, but I guarantee you’ll be blown away at the talent in our region and be searching their socials before you’ve left the auditorium. And please, arrive on time to not miss the opening act, Zolatec, who brought something completely unexpected and badass to the steelpans. 


The And Still I Rise tour will continue at Baby People in Derby (17th October) and Nottingham Arts Theatre (24th October).


Photos provided by RAV Photography. Featuring artists, Hadija Brittain-Harris, DrizzGB, and Zolatec.