Music

Samara Joy transported us into a universe of realised dreams and revival. Her timeless vocals and inviting stage presence brought an auditorium to our feet for two standing ovations.

Weaving on and around the iconic streets of East London, Brick Lane Jazz Festival showcases the freshest artists on the UK’s thriving jazz scene.

False Idols is back for another round of rebellious antics at DRUMSHEDS. This Saturday, be prepared for a wild experience of queer hedonism.

On a chilled summer Sunday in South London, Cloud X Festival became a secret garden party hosted for the best of the UK’s emerging R&B, Soul and Alt rap music.

Field Day 2023 was a sold-out success. Against the backdrop of a sunlit Victoria Park, London, this year’s festival welcomed 50,000 guests to an audio visual celebration of some of the electronic music scene’s most visionary artists.

Dubbed London’s #1 Soul and Alt rap festival, Cloud X is back for its third year - this time, in a new scaled up location - Beckenham Park, South London. The festival promises a day to remember, drawing together good music, connection and the energy of independent creatives.

Ahead of her upcoming show at Patterns in Brighton this Friday, we caught up with mutli-genre DJ, Arthi - ‘The Arthi starter for every occasion’.

Following her ascent to internet stardom, Nieve Ella takes the stage at Boardmasters Festival, August 11th. After a whirlwind European tour with pop superstar Dylan, this breezy indie pop sensation doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon!

Summer’s in full swing. On Saturday 29th July, celebrating its third year running, Body Movements is back - rooted in colour, queer family and beautiful mayhem, the multi-venue festival is taking over Hackney Wick, London, and its labyrinth of indoor and outdoor venues. 

We’re celebrating Field Day’s homecoming at Victoria Park. After a sold out 15th anniversary, which drew in crowds of 50,000, we’re looking forward to another day-long festival with some of electronic music’s most revered acts. Here’s GIFTED’s rundown of 5 female acts not to miss.

Festival season has come around once again and we’re excited to jump into a promising summer line up. To kick things off, we’ll be at El Dorado, an enchanting boutique festival set in the heart of Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire. Here’s GIFTED’s list of five things we are most looking forward to.

Some traditions need to be broken in order to be restored. At an intimate night at The Roundhouse, London, Gambian artist Sona Jobarteh - the first female professional kora player from a griot family, extends the role of the mother through music and myth.

Briggs sat down with Madison McFerrin - an American singer, songwriter and producer. Madison delved into her influences, her relationship with music, how residing in different US states over time has influenced her journey and helped shape her community - as well as new video visuals for her single ‘God Herself’ off her debut album “I Hope You Can Forgive Me”.

To kick start Women’s History Month, Briggs sat down with Kara Jackson ahead of her debut album - Kara unravelled stories from her journey so far, including her sonic influences, how the creative scene in Chicago has inspired her growth and the healing experience of art in community.

As we welcome in a new month, we’re taking a moment to celebrate the festivals we’ve experienced over an endless summer. From inclusive, female-led line ups to spaces that centre care and openly affirm queer identities, we round-up the summer festivals that brought us closer together.

We Out Here was indeed a something-for-everyone kind of festival. People may have left physically exhausted from all of the dancing but undoubtedly mentally and emotionally recharged with a frequency of soul-filled new memories.

Body Movements Festival: a place where queer bodies were allowed absolute liberty to move, breathe, and flow - just as they were meant to.

For South Asian Heritage Month, we’re celebrating our very own Vicky Pasion. We caught up with Pasion to ask her 5 questions… 

Self-described as “The Ronettes filtered through 80s DIY and 90s riot grrrl, with a sprinkling of dashikis”, Black feminist punk band Big Joanie are taking the world by storm.

Over the weekend, Vicky Pasion was invited by UN Women UK to be at the Strawberries & Creem festival. With an inclusive, female led line-up, Strawberries & Creem is the first ‘Safe Spaces Now’ Festival committed to making safer spaces for women and marginalised groups.

Check out what we got up to at the UK’s first queer camping festival!

To round up Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re sharing our favourite comfort songs that we come back to whenever we’re feeling blue.

Three stages, two days, and a revolutionary line-up: queer camping heaven has arrived for LGBTQ+ ravers, their friends, and allies.

Check out Chandni and Medley, the two great openers for ‘UNEARTHED: Vicky Pasion’.

As Women’s History Month draws to a close, the exciting work of up and coming artists keeps powering onwards! Here are our top picks for women to keep on your radar this year.

Have you ever been in an old abandoned cinema full of people gently weeping? This was the experience at EartH Hackney when Adrianne Lenker played.

Londrelle spreads a message of joy and resilience: through self-love and mindfulness, he shares how we can overcome the darkest moments of life. Stay Free is about good vibrations, spirituality, manifestation, meditation, and appreciation, all combined with chill-hop beats and relaxing vibes.

To celebrate Black History Month, GIFTED is spotlighting ‘HEAVY’, by our very own Vicky Pasion.

Take a moment to sit and slow down with Soul Star Vicky Pasion. ‘To start the year, I’m proud to announce the support from the MOBOs for my next EP! As we welcome in a new month, I feel that it’s important to take some time to reflect and celebrate our wins - big and small.’

As part of Autograph ABP’s open call, they opened up space for kam + pita, friends whose pandemic survival work led them to cultivating an intentional playlisting practise.