#festivals 2019

With 5 stages of music, live recreations of Peaky Blinders scenes involving 200 actors, fashion shows and mens’ grooming - fans will be living in the show’s world encompassing the Digbeth, Central Birmingham area. Using its historic streets, warehouses and factories and employing lighting, sound, smoke, video mapping and special effects, the post World War 1 era will come to life for an unmissable day. Artists confirmed across the weekend include Primal Scream, Anna Calvi,Slaves, Nadine Shah, a BBC Introducing Stage and a host of excellent music performances, reflecting one of the sharpest soundtracks on television. Martin Coat, the creative mind behind Boomtown and immersive theatre specialists Dank Parish, bring the world of Peaky Blinders to life, taking over the streets of Birmingham. Expect close up entertainment and immerse yourself in the underbelly of early 20th century Birmingham and all the high hitting drama of the Peaky Blinders world. Contemporary dance company Rambert will perform a specially commissioned performance, choreographed for the festival by artistic director Benoit Swan Pouffer. Steven Knight will reveal all in a live Q&A, also featuring the show’s stars. Following the Kent and Curwen catwalk show in January 2019 where the collaboration with hit series Peaky Blinders was first shown, Kent and Curwen are proud to announce their involvement in the Peaky Blinders Festival 2019. VIP ambassadors will be dressed in the Kent and Curwen x Peaky Blinders collection. Kent and Curwen’s creative Director Daniel Kearns will host a conversation, discussing ‘The Peaky Look’ and how to achieve this with Kent and Curwen collaboration. In addition, there will be a fashion show from Steven Knight’s Garrison Tailors clothing range, plus the show’s influence on modern style will be reflected in onsite tailoring and men’s grooming.   Steve Knight: “It is with enormous pleasure that I announce the first ever LEGITIMATE Peaky Blinders festival, which is happening in the streets and alleys of Digbeth, Birmingham on Saturday  14th and Sunday 15th of September. It will be a festival of live music, performance, poetry, immersive theatre and experiences which will celebrate the swagger of the men and women who walked these same Digbeth streets one hundred years ago. Along with the music line up, we have the world-famous BALLET RAMBERT performing a specially written and choreographed Peaky Blinders ballet. There will be fashion shows, street food, pop ups and bars including a reimagined Garrison Tavern. We will be celebrating in Birmingham style and everyone from around the world is invited. Expect the unexpected, expect 1919 to come crashing into 2019 and, be assured, everything is officially by order of the Peaky Blinders...“ John Empson Festival Director & Founder: “The legitimate Peaky Blinders Festival is a brand new concept which starts in Digbeth, Birmingham, the authentic birthplace of the Peaky Blinders. Something totally fresh in the festival market, the show will merge cinema, live music, immersive theatre, ballet, bespoke food and drink, spoken word, pop-up performances, collaborations, exclusive previews, appearances from cast members and world class special guests. A totally 360 degree festival experience.’” Anna Calvi: "I’m thrilled to be performing at The Legitimate Peaky Blinders Festival. Scoring Peaky Blinders has been a major project for me this year and I’m excited to be bringing a special one-off version of my show to the festival 🖤." Councillor Mohammed Azim, Lord Mayor of Birmingham: “I am so excited that this amazing Peaky Blinders festival is being hosted here in our great city as a tribute to the polished BBC series, set on the streets of post-war Birmingham, which has captivated audiences worldwide. The show has brought Birmingham into the spotlight; gripping and beautifully shot, it has gained national attention and I am particularly pleased to hear that Peaky Blinders is coming home, with the current and future series being shot locally. So now is absolutely the right time for this festival, which will be a unique and exciting experience for fans of the show, as well as an opportunity for those who have not yet seen the show to find out what they are missing. I am looking forward to visiting the festival and welcoming visitors from across the globe.”