Rising Styles Festival 2008

Previously known as the Brighton Hip Hop Festival, Rising Styles is the UK's largest celebration of international Hip Hop culture. Based in Brighton on the south coast of England, the festival is now in it's 5th year and aims to deliver a packed programme of events showcasing the wide ranging talents of hip hop artists from all over the globe.

Organised by arts development agency KALA PHOOL, Rising Styles exists as ‘not for profit’ to celebrate the richness, strength and diversity of Hip Hop culture, with many of its events free to attend. Historically the festival has been supported by a range of the large public funders.

The festival has seen more than 25,000 people in previous years. The 2008 festival is developing a fantastic line up of high profile events, designed to appeal to audiences new and old, and promises to be bigger and better than ever. These will include Fresh Styles Hip Hop Film Festival, poetry and MC shows, youth workshops in music production, MC-ing, DJ-ing, breakdancing and art and design, live public art, Battlejam Exhibition (a day long breakdance event), Hip Hop Foundation (educational programme) and of course, live music performances (indoor & outdoor).

The festival's main programme will run from 5-12 July, 2008. At least one artist will be selected through Sonicbids, who will subsidize the artist's travel expenses (up to 1000 EUR).

KALA PHOOL needs the best, pioneering and most innovative artists from around the world, who have their their own unique sound and a great live show. This includes all areas of Hip Hop and its sub-genres from traditional funk sampling artists to grime, a cappella/spoken word, beatboxers, turntablists, non vocal/electronic/instrumental artists and non-English language artists. In general, programming tends be more left-field, socially conscious or ‘funky’ artists and less artists that promote violence or overt bigotry.

Artists who perform at Rising Styles are at all levels of their career from established household names to unsigned artists who may have never performed or toured in the UK. Whilst KALA PHOOL has a particular interest in supporting up-and-coming new talent, artists are also encouraged to submit that might be established in their countries but not yet in the UK. There is also a strong interest in artists that might be willing to meet with and collaborate with British artists.

Previous performers include KRS 1, Soweto Kinch, Blak Twang, MC Mello, Black Grass, DJ Excalibah, Witchdoctor Wise, Baba Brinkman and Emmanual Jal.