Today, the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation (SLDF) has announced further names that are joining the lineup for MORE LIFE ‒ PASS THE MIC, the once-in-a-generation musical event that is taking place on Friday, 13th September, marking what would have been Stephen Lawrence’s 50th Birthday.
AJ Tracey, Cat Burns, Clavish, Corinne Bailey Rae, Ezra Collective and George The Poet are the latest artists to confirm their participation in the one-off concert, and will be performing alongside the previously announced artists D Double E, Ghetts, The Kanneh-Masons, Mahalia, Nao and Wretch 32. The event is bringing together a curated line up of generation-defining artists that is celebrating the power of Black culture, community, and allyship, and to honour Stephen’s remarkable legacy.
Tickets are on sale now, and the event will take place at The O2 in Greenwich, South-East London, which was Stephen’s home.
Through the medium of music MORE LIFE – PASS THE MIC converges art, history, culture, and community to celebrate and provide a platform for hopeful conversations about the future of Stephen’s legacy and the Black experience in the UK. The event promises to be unlike anything audiences have seen – and artists have participated in – before.
Rapper, songwriter and one of the performers at this event, Wretch 32, said: “As a musician, as an artist who commentates on what’s happening in society, this has been one of the prominent things that’s happened in our generation. I don’t think there’s a rapper in our generation who doesn’t have a record with Stephen’s name in it. It’s powerful that we’re all always trying to make sure that he’s remembered in the right way… when I was asked to do this I knew I had to grace the stage again”.
The CEO of the SLDF, Jessica Neil, said: “Art has always been an essential thread of social justice, with music serving as the enduring voice of each generation and a conduit for the stories that define the times. Artists are the storytellers who connect us to our collective past, carrying forward the narratives that shape how we imagine the future. This generation of artists has come together as a community to lend the power of their voices to amplify Stephen’s legacy. More Life – Pass The Mic is their platform to have a vital conversation with the next generation about reclaiming our legacies and redefining the narratives around our community. It will be an honour and a privilege to witness this unprecedented gathering of legends on September 13th and a beautiful, powerful tribute to Stephen.”
Leading a coalition of Black leaders and allies from across the music industry and beyond, SLDF is supported by Live Nation, Metropolis, AEG Presents and The O2 in staging and promoting this generation-defining event, as well as a collective of major record labels, including Sony Music, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, 0207 Def Jam and media partners, BBC 1Xtra, Spotify and YouTube. Together, all partners have committed to delivering a line-up that will connect Stephen’s story to the next generation, elevating his legacy to its rightful place in history.
