‘Listen to the World’ open mic nights at St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace are a place where the musical traditions and talents of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers find a home among local artists. Counterpoints Arts is supporting this launch event, taking place during Refugee Week.

Come and join us, as either a listener or performer, everyone is welcome; British locals, as well as those who have settled here more recently. We will be celebrating this year’s Refugee Week theme – We Cannot Walk Alone.

‘Listen to the World’ Open Mic night is a live hybrid show where anyone in the audience, professional or first-timer can come and sing or play an instrument, online or in person (see more below).  

 

Tickets, for both in-person and online events – are here.

 

Featured Artists

Bumi Thomas

Bumi is a contemporary Scottish Nigerian singer-songwriter whose ethereal voice stokes the soul transcendentally. Her acoustic and evocative style is inspired by her multicultural heritage expressed visually and sonically as invocations of non-linear identity. ‘I tell stories about movement, migration, displacement, joy and humanity.

Her cinematic sound combines jazz, high-life rhythms, palmwine grooves, reggae and blues, infused with folk and delivered with soul. Her musicality is rich in texture, stimulating lyrics, haunting melodies and raw emotion. BUMI earned her stripes on the live circuit and has shared the stage with many musical greats, including Tony Allen, Ginger Baker, Keziah Jones, Shingai Shoniwa, Ayanna Witter Johnson, Melody Gardot, Rhiannon Giddens, Laura Mvula,  Les Amazones des Afrique, Andrew Ashong and more. Playing sold out shows in  venues such as the London Jazz Cafe, Roundhouse, Somerset House, Ronnie Scotts,  Royal Festival Hall,WOW (Women of the World) Festival, Frieze Art Fair,  eARTh, Houses of Parliament, Tate Modern  Autograph, New Art Exchange, Royal Opera House  London Palladium and the Royal Albert Hall.

Her latest Ep ‘Broken Silence’ released June 2020 has been described as ‘Timely and visceral’ by the Sunday Times and ‘Strikingly Original ‘ by London Jazz News. The lead Single ‘Black Child’ was featured  LIVE on BBC Radio 4 Loose Ends  and  Edinburgh International Festival. ou can find Bumi on twitter, instagram and facebook.

 

Ibrahim Fanous

Ibrahim is a vocalist and kerar player, composer and music producer based in London.  Born in Kassala, a state in eastern Sudan, Ibrahim began his vocal training at a young age in three different languages – Arabic, Tigrinya and Amharic.  After successfully recording with the music ensemble, AfriCairo in Egypt, Ibrahim joined and performed with the acclaimed Nile Project in 2017, touring north Africa, US, Europe and the UK, including at the Barbican, London.  In 2020 we were excited to welcome Ibrahim as a performer ‘in residence’ for St Ethelburga’s music and poetry open mic programme, Presence.  Ibrahim’s YouTube account.

 

What happens at an open mic event?

Alongside featured artists, members of the audience can sign up to perform too.  You can respond to the theme of the evening, ‘We cannot walk alone’ or with whatever is on your heart.  This is a fun, relaxing evening where anyone; professional or first-timer, can perform to an appreciative audience. Or you can simply come and listen.  You sign up for an Open Mic slot when you arrive at the event (online or in-person).  There are six slots and each slot is for one or two songs/ for 3-5mins.

Hybrid event – how to attend

You can attend Listen to the World online, or in person at St Ethelburga’s.  Both Bumi Thomas and Ibrahim Fanous will be performing from St Ethelburga’s, broadcasting live to guests online as well as to an in-person audience.

Attending on zoom, you will need:

If you are attending in person, St Ethelburga’s operate a COVID secure environment which includes the following conditions:

  • Test and trace sign in using the NHS app and QR code, or manually.
  • A maximum of 30 people in the venue, with seating set out 2m apart.  You can see the venue (Nave) here.
  • Guests are requested to keep a 2m physical distance from others at all times, unless attending with members of one other household, or with members of their support bubble.
  • Guests to wear masks at all times.
  • Please contact jo.winsloe@stethelburgas.org if you have any questions about attending in person.

Co-ordinator: For all questions about the Open Mic event or to be added to the mailing list, please contact Jo Winsloe Slater at  jo.winsloe@stethelburgas.org.