Top 10 BASS Festival Moments as chosen by founder Ammo Talwar MBE

When curator and founder of BASS Festival, Ammo Talwar MBE, first decided to create Birmingham’s iconic event, surely he never imagined the amazing heights it would go on to reach and how highly respected the event would remain after a decade. Having supported emerging artists such as Professor Green, JP Cooper and George The Poet, as well as providing a stage for music legends such as Giles Peterson, Goldie and Channel One, BASS has been one of the biggest annual events on the UK urban music calendar.

Now in it’s tenth year, BASS15 is once again going to be venturing outside of Birmingham, with events also taking place in London. Aheas of this year’s events, we caught up with Ammo Talwar MBE to find out what his top 10 moments are from the last ten years of BASS.

In no particular order…

1. Celebrating 60 years of UK Sound System, with Channel One & Mad Professor paying homage to Duke Vin & Jamaican Sounds

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2. Professor Green delivering a Hip Hop workshop with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, challenging both art forms

3. Working with Instagram on a youth project – the UK’s first external event with this worldwide platform

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4. Creating a radio station, BASS FM, allowing over 50 young people to showcase music on an FM license in Birmingham

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5. Goldie, Temper and Henry Chalfant all meeting for the first time ever – 40 years of graffiti history in one room

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6. Expanding Bass Festival into Manchester, Leicester, Derby and Nottingham for 3 years, commissioning new work in other regions

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7. Showcasing Fela Kuti’s sleeve designer and lifelong friend, Lemi Ghariokwu, for the first time ever in the UK

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8. Producing a show with Faith 47, South Africa’s best female graffiti artist and then helping her tour Europe

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9. Bilal performing to an intimate audience of 100 people – Pure hip hop jazz vibes

10. Creating a Grime Theatre production with Lady Leshurr,  RoxXxan and 20 local grime artists connecting both art forms and then touring it – Decypher Collective

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To find out more about BASS15 including all the events that are taking place across October, click here.

Matt Tarr
@MattTarrJourno

Matt Tarr

Matt Tarr

Urban Music Editor
With grime and hip hop being major influences on him growing up in South East London, Matt's passion is urban music but over the years he has gathered a hugely diverse taste, ranging from Wiley to The Smiths by way of Machine Head, that has made him a very open minded individual.
Matt Tarr
Gigslutz Urban
About Matt Tarr
With grime and hip hop being major influences on him growing up in South East London, Matt's passion is urban music but over the years he has gathered a hugely diverse taste, ranging from Wiley to The Smiths by way of Machine Head, that has made him a very open minded individual.