Schedule
9.30 AM: Sunrise Stretch: Drum n Bounce with Emma Smallman
10.30 AM: Perry’s Playtime Disco
12 PM: More Than A Moment Presents Echoes of the Future
5 PM: More Than A Moment Presents More Than Enough
7 PM: Performance from The Friendly Fire Band
8 PM: Closing Ceremony Watch Party
Throughout the day: Games action on screen, Piing, Screen Spotlights, food & drink
The Victoria Festival Site wraps up, celebrating a history of the city’s celebrations and a nod towards our future, in line with Birmingham’s motto ‘forward’. Our last Sunrise Stretch is a special Drum n Bounce session - the best way to start your week! Get warmed up before trying a signature D&B routine to a heady cocktail of Drum'n'Bass bangers, designed to get you smiling, whatever your fitness level. Then, keep on dancing at Perry’s Playtime Disco - your opportunity to have a boogie with the Commonwealth Games’ official mascot!
At lunchtime and sunset, More Than A Moment are bringing a collection of artists from the global diaspora and the West Midlands. Echoes of the Future and More Than Enough will highlight the past, present and future of culture, creativity, and activism within diaspora communities and the challenges they face in the 21st century because of the legacy of the Commonwealth and all that it represents. Hosted by Birmingham-based presenter Ayola Lee.
Tee Demba uses creativity, social and youth work as a vehicle to make positive change on a worldwide scale, assisting the communities that need it the most.
Lexia Tomlinson is a Poet, Actor and Spoken Word artist. She delivers performances and captivating workshops. Her work engages audiences with its unabashed honesty wrapped up in metaphors; her central ethos is 'the social is political, the political is social but everything is personal'. Lexia has opened sets for the likes of Buddy Wakefield, and raised the curtain for Kate Tempest’s play Hopelessly Devoted. She is a 2021 BBC Words First Alumni and 2017 Roundhouse Slam Semi finalist.
Reload is an award winning musician, lyricist and writer. Having spent the best part of his professional career as a social commentator and storyteller, Reload has managed to amalgamate his passion for rap music with a unique and rich vein of literature. Having performed at some of the biggest festivals across Europe and being championed by key tastemakers from Radio 1, Capital Xtra and Apple Radio, Reload’s vivid wordplay and ear catching hooks have made him one of the West Midlands’ best known secrets.
Nyotaa is a singer, songwriter, performer, creative director and co-founder of record label Kamona Records. She is one half of the musical sibling duo “Izeidi Izeidi” whose debut EP “the first” has made positive waves in the West Midlands and London. She released her debut solo LP “twentyoneandlost” in 2020 and has more surprises coming at the end of 2022!
Masego is a writer and spoken word artist who has also worked in theatre and film including with Mafwa Theatre, Leeds Playhouse, and Cosmo Square Films. She’s also an Arts and Well-Being facilitator trained by Displace Yourself Theatre.
Janel Antoneshia is a Jamaican-born singer-songwriter influenced by genres as diverse as gospel, RnB, soul, trap and reggae. As her rapidly growing fanbase testifies, this versatile and distinctive performer is definitely carving out a lane of her own.
The Priesthood Collective is a collection of multidisciplinary artists founded by Reisz Amos, who is a theatre maker, director, singer/songwriter and musician. Utilising his experiences in both the music and film industries, Reisz has a passion for sound design and a speciality in vocal arrangement. He is known as a mentor to many in the artistic and creative fields and is often called upon as a keynote speaker on topics such as creativity as a Black artist, diversity in opera and mental health benefits in the arts.
Lo is a singer/songwriter whose mellow sounds and thought-provoking lyrics evoke a cathartic experience. Her tones are influenced by her love for RnB and neo-soul. Lo has 10 years of classical singing experience with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) Children’s and Youth Choruses. She started songwriting at age 9, but her music remained unshared until the release of her first EP – Escape, in 2021. Each track is symbolic of a stage in her journey to escape from a repressed former self into a more confident and peaceful existence. She is passionate about finding a way to use her music to inspire others and leave a mark on the world.
Adjei Sun is a Birmingham based artist. As well as writing poetry, he writes his own songs, creates films, curates events for different causes he’s passionate about, and acts. For Adjei, creating has always been a form of therapy, a way of dealing with things. When he started sharing his work, he realised that his art wasn't only helping him but helping others too.
AffieJam is a multi-disciplined artist from Birmingham. She is primarily known as a songwriter-musician but is also passionate about psychology, illustration, graphic design and skating. Using her creativity to communicate, her work seeks to offer new experiences to audiences.
Eddy Luna Further proof of the wealth of musical talent emanating from outside of the M25, Eddy Luna is a gifted singer-songwriter matching raw, introspective lyrics about relationships and mental health with neo-soul and jazz-indebted production. Hailing from Dudley in the West Midlands, the 25-year-old takes inspiration from all corners and eras of music to form something unique and compelling.
At various times during the day, challenge your friends, family and other audience members to a game of Piing. Piing is a virtual game that brings people together, inviting them to play an immersive high-speed game, using their phones as controllers, with the action happening on our big screen. Piing is super simple, uniquely challenging and seriously fun. Presented by Comic Relief - donations are encouraged as part of gameplay. Comic Relief intends to split all proceeds equally between Comic Relief and registered charities United by Birmingham 2022 Legacy Charity and Commonwealth Sport Foundation.
Be a part of our Closing Ceremony celebrations at Victoria Square, with a special performance from The Friendly Fire Band, the band behind the iconic Brummie anthem, 'It's a Brum Ting',
In the evening, join us for the Closing Ceremony Watch Party - this will be the last chance to come together and celebrate the athletes’ achievements in true Birmingham style. Enjoy all that the Closing Ceremony has to offer in big screen style, with the company of your friends and family.
The Festival Food and Drink Eatery, a pop up catering unit, will offer a range of tasty breakfast, lunch and dinner treats daily from 8am to 10pm. From lunchtime, the square will also be licensed for people to enjoy drinks from the bar, including a choice of social enterprise prosecco and cocktails for those looking to support a worthy cause as they enjoy the Games atmosphere.
The menus will change across the two weeks, giving return visitors something different to look forward to and showcasing some of the finest Colmore eateries and bars in the city. For early risers, who want a healthy treat on the way into the city, perhaps after enjoying the Sunrise Stretch sessions, there will be granola yoghurt pots, overnight oats, kombucha and coffee. From lunchtime you can pick up salads, deli bakes, vegan cakes, muffins and pastries plus appetising ciabatta and focaccia sandwiches. There will also be biriyani, vegetarian papdi chaat, spicy chicken noodles and veggie stir fry to enjoy whilst listening to the Fountain Stage Music programme plus kebab wraps, shawarmas with selections of salads, pickles, and sauces and vegan options including crispy tofu. Games and Festival site visitors will be spoiled for choice!
Throughout the day visitors and passers by are also invited to watch sporting highlights from the Games on our big screen, enjoy food and drinks from Colmore BID cafes, bars and restaurants, and take a look at digital commissions and projects from the Birmingham 2022 Festival at our Screen Spotlights.
