Party: Akala // Plug Sheffield // 30th April

Party: Akala // Plug Sheffield // 30th April

MOBO award-winning hip hop artist, writer/poet and educator ‘Akala’ is a label owner and social entrepreneur who fuses unique rap/rock/electro-punk sound with fierce lyrical storytelling. Inspired by the likes of Saul Williams and Gil Scot-Heron, over the years Akala has developed a stellar live show with his renowned drummer/award-winning music producer Cassell ‘TheBeatmaker’ (Plan B, The Streets and Keziah Jones) headlining 6 UK tours as well as touring with the likes of Jay-Z, Nas & Damian Marley, M.I.A. and Christina Aguilera to Siouxsie Sue, Damon Albarn’s (‘Blur’/Gorillaz’) ‘Africa Express’ and Richard Ashcroft, appearing at numerous UK / European and US festivals (Glastonbury, Big Chill, Wireless, V, Hove and SXSW) as well as collaborations with British Council arts/music projects across several countries in South-east Asia, Africa, The Philippines, New Zealand and Australia.

Akala is more recently known for his compelling lectures/seminars, journalism (Guardian, Huffington Post UK and the Independent), TV presenting and script-writing talents and has gained a reputation as one of the most dynamic and literate talents in the UK.

Akala has also featured on numerous TV programmes across Channel 4, ITV2, MTV, Sky Arts and the BBC promoting his music, poetry as well as speaking on wide ranging subjects from music, youth engagement, British / African-Caribbean culture and the arts as a whole.
In 2009, Akala launched the ‘The Hip-hop Shakespeare Company’, a music theatre production company which has sparked worldwide media interest since its inception. Previous clients/collaborators include: BBC, Mastercard, London 2012, First Direct Bank, The Barbican, The Roundhouse, The Southbank Centre, British actor; Sir Ian McKellen, singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran, actor/musician; Colin Salmon, Ms. Dynamite and The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Voice Director; Cicely Berry.

LINKS: Akala press kit: http://yousend.it/akalaepk
Akala ‘live at the Tate Modern’ (album art installation/performance): http://bit.ly/AkalaTateModern-LoseMyself

Akala ‘Find No Enemy’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjvUMr1-AAU

Invited: Rhod Vaughan, Dilip Modhwadia, Amy Ward, Ali Peek, Adele Bailey, Michael Willgrass, Matt Casbolt, Alex Hamilton, Rhi Rhi Brook, Alice Winckle, Yanni Pitsillides, James Hiley, James Walker, Emily Barlow, Eileen Naughton, James Jambo Oxtoby, Gina Elbow, Beazy Lebowski, Topd Og, Kristopher Hartill, Emily Booth, Callum Martin, James Smithson, Jake Scales, Oh Londem, Sam Christie, Ahbab Chowdhury, Iris Anamali Bajraktari, Nathan Barwick, Will Yeadon, Adam Hatswell, Kyran Shearer, Damon Alder, Henry Knight, Amy Bruckshaw-Cross, Kifah Elby, Jazz Beckett, Greg Best, RyRy Love, Add Tom Zanetti-New, Janice Pink, Craigy Dee, Elly Bidmead show more »