麻豆社

The reggae poet and performer Linton Kwesi Johnson celebrates his 70th birthday this year. He鈥檚 known simply as 鈥渢he poet鈥� in Brixton, where he chronicled some of the key events of Black British history. He was the first black poet to be included in the Penguin Modern Classics series, a collection that鈥檚 just been reissued with three new poems. Nick Ahad talks music, politics and the power of the spoken word with LKJ.

The majority of arts organisations are not run by people who would consider themselves artists. However in Birmingham there are two artist-led organisations- MAIA, an arts and social justice organisation, and Eastside Projects, which describes itself an artist-run multiverse. Front Row brings together Amahra Spence, Co-founder, Director and CEO of MAIA, and Gavin Wade, Artist-Curator, Co-founder and Director of Eastside Projects to discuss what happens when artists lead.

The wildly popular 麻豆社 TV series Peaky Blinders is being reimagined as a dance show, Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby by Rambert, with new music by Janelle Monae collaborator Roman GianArthur. Nick Ahad visits the rehearsal rooms and asks Rambert CEO Helen Shute what the UK鈥檚 oldest contemporary dance company has in common with a notorious turn of the century Birmingham gang.

Annaliese Broughton is one of the finalists in this year鈥檚 麻豆社 Contains Strong Language and 麻豆社 1Xtra Words First Talent Showcase. This is a scheme which celebrates the most talented poets and spoken word artists aged 18-30 from across the UK. She joins Front Row to perform her poem, New Meanings, which will be turned into an animation.

Presenter: Nick Ahad
Producers: Ekene Akalawu & Olive Clancy

Image: Linton Kwesi Johnson