Freedom 50

Tickets are for all evening performances, including BCMG's performances

Sunday 7 November, 7pm - 9.20pm

Birmingham Hippodrome

 

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of Bangladesh Independence with Birmingham hosting a number of unique events as part of Freedom 50.

Acclaimed British-Bangladeshi vocalist Sohini Alam and her band Khiyo – formed with composer/multi-instrumentalist Oliver Weeks – headline this special celebration of 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence. 

Khiyo give Bengali heritage music a fresh sound, mixing powerful and expressive interpretations of the classics with dynamic and original arrangements that draw on South Asian and Western folk and classical traditions, rock, blues, and jazz. Alam and Weeks are also known for directing the music for Leesa Gazi’s multi-award-winning documentary film Rising Silence.

Acclaimed UK Bengali jazz-fusion artist Sohini Alam is joined by talented dancer and choreographer Amina Khayyam for this special celebration of 50 years of Bangladesh’s independence, with a guest performance from Birmingham Contemporary Music Group of new music and the poetry of national poet Rabindranath Tagore.

This evening performance will close a day of activities, curated by Legacy West Midlands, that will include drama, craft and saree workshops, performances, film screenings, exhibitions and a phita mela welcoming all.

 

---

BCMG Performances

Sinta Wullur (b.1958) Tagore’s Fireflies 4’ (2017) 

Param Vir (b.1952) Wheeling Past the Stars 10’ (2007)

---

 

Freedom 50 is a national collective of individuals and organisations who have organised a range of cultural, arts, heritage, social and sporting activities to celebrate the heritage of the British Bangladeshi community.

From 26 March, the official Bangladesh Independence Day, Transforming Narratives partners Legacy WM, Birmingham Museums Trust (BMT), Birmingham Repertory Theatre (The Rep) and Birmingham Contemporary Music Group (BCMG) will be part of the celebrations including online film screenings, photography exhibitions and live music.