BlackFest Rhythms Night – Bristol

Rhythms Night Bristol: Shore to Shore Exchange with Malik Al Nasir, plus live music from Rising Son, Laura Dia, Rebel Soul, MARNS & more. BlackFest 2026 × Bristol – Rhythms Night Join us for the 8th year of our iconic Rhythms Night – this year heading to Bristol! Kicking off the evening with Shore to Shore Exchange, exploring the shared experiences and histories of Liverpool and Bristol – two port cities shaped by the legacies of enslavement, resilience and triumph. Featuring author and historian Malik Al Nasir, the exchange will bring together history, culture and conversation, connecting the stories of Liverpool and Bristol. Experience an evening bringing together Hip-Hop, Alternative R&B, neo-soul, reggae, jazz, soulful sounds, acoustic vibes and live music featuring artists from Bristol and Liverpool: Rising Son, Laura Dia, Rebel Soul, MARNS, Bluboy, KingFast, Mina and Rafaela. The night will also feature a panel with industry professionals, bringing together music, conversation and creative community. Shore to Shore Exchange MALIK AL NASIR Malik Al Nasir is an author and PhD candidate in History at the University of Cambridge (St Catharine’s College), and an Associate of Cambridge Digital Humanities. His research explores the legacies of enslavement and colonialism, reparative justice, and the decolonisation of archives. He is the author of Searching for My Slave Roots (2025) and Letters to Gil (2021). He is Co-Founder, with Dr Leona Vaughn, of Barriers to Black Academia, a policy-focused initiative addressing structural inequities in higher education. He is also the Founder of the Sandbach Tinne Project, an interdisciplinary research and public history initiative examining the commercial and cultural legacies of Sandbach Tinne & Co. Malik is Project Manager of the Connector Project, in partnership with National Museums Liverpool and Lloyd’s Register Foundation. Featured Artists RISING SON A longstanding figure in the UK underground Hip-Hop scene, Rising Son is known for socially conscious lyricism centred on expression, empowerment and meaningful messages. His work includes an appearance on Nas’ “Thief’s Theme Remix” and his K.I.N.G (Keep Inspiring New Generations) EP, featuring tracks including “Warriors,” “Black Excellence” and “Kings In My City.” LAURA DIA Bristol singer, songwriter and producer Laura Dia creates a unique blend of sound within the Alternative-R&B space. She brings together contemporary R&B, Pop and Alternative genres with sounds inspired by her Nigerian heritage. Since her 2021 debut, Laura has recorded, co-produced and independently released her own music while developing her distinctive sound. She has received support from BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 1 and has performed on notable stages including Bristol Beacon, Forwards Festival, Boomtown and Glastonbury. Her voice, music and performances move between delicate and sweet tones and powerful, soulful expression. REBEL SOUL Rebel Soul is a multi-genre vocalist from Bristol with a deep passion for neo-soul and reggae music. Drawing inspiration from artists including Cleo Sol, Amy Winehouse and Ms Dynamite, her sound is rooted in a childhood immersed in music, from classic roots reggae to golden oldies shared with her grandparents. Coming from a family of musicians and performers, Rebel's creative roots run deep in Bristol's culture, having grown up attending and performing at the legendary St Pauls Carnival. New to the music scene in 2026, Rebel has already joined the festival circuit, performing on the Upstage at Chalfest 2026 alongside Johnnie Darkoo and DJ Ollie Mellor. Known for bringing soulful, dynamic energy to her performances, Rebel is now expanding into original material and refining her sound through a music production programme with Saffron Music, laying the groundwork for her debut releases in 2027. MARNS MARNS is a UK-based soul and jazz singer, also known for writing toplines for D&B tracks. Her music blends powerful vocals with honest songwriting. She has performed at major festivals including the main stage at Love Saves The Day, Latitude and Green Man, with support from BBC Radio Bristol, Ujima Radio and BCFM. In 2023, MARNS won the National Best Song Award for a track now featured in an award-winning Amazon Prime film. She recently featured on Kings Of The Rollers’ “Chase The Lights,” which has topped 1 million Spotify streams. MINA Confessional singer-songwriter Mina, originally from Paris and now based in Liverpool, blends raw existential lyrics with sentimental melodies. Drawing from Alternative Pop, Folk, Soft Rock and Soul, her intimate songs explore the trials of life and love. KINGFAST Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in Belfast, KingFast brings together his diverse roots through soulful music and energetic performances. Now based in Liverpool, he has performed at Liverpool Sound City, LIMF, Deva Fest, Nantwich Jazz Festival, Elderflower Fields Festival and Aintree Ladies Day, as well as performing during the Cannes Film Festival. His music has featured on a national jukebox in stores including H&M, PureGym, Costa Coffee and Jaguar, with radio play on Radio City and BBC Merseyside. RAFAELA Queer and mixed-race, Rafaela fuses reggae, soul and jazz, drawing on her Portuguese and Angolan roots with a distinctly Liverpool spirit. Following her debut in January 2025, she continues to explore and expand her sound across genres. BLUBOY Rapper, singer-songwriter and guitarist Bluboy brings his distinctive sound and versatile performance style to the stage. Industry Panel The evening will also feature an industry panel with music professionals discussing creativity, performance and the music industry. Come experience an evening bringing together history, live music, culture, conversation and community as BlackFest takes Rhythms Night to Bristol. Wednesday 28 October 2026 The Jam Jar, Bristol BLACKFEST 2026 – COMIN’ ATCHA!