We’re kicking off this brand new podcast series with a debate on Cancel Culture. What are your thoughts? Have you ever been cancelled? In this episode, featuring the best bits of a lively two hour discussion in front of a live audience held recently at Southbank Centre in London, you’ll hear from someone has been a victim of this online phenomena, as well as some strong views on whether it’s a force for good or just online hype.

Chairing the event is journalist and founder of Black Ballad Tobi Oredein and joining her on stage are fashion stylist, writer, cultural commentator and artist Ayishat Akanbi, social media strategist Luciana Musello and producer and podcaster Imriel Morgan.

Running monthly for the past few years at Southbank Centre in London, Violet Nights is a real-life forum for online conversations with music, performance and discussion in front of a live audience.

Join in the conversion using #violetnights or @southbankcentre on social media and don’t forget to follow us or write a review - we’d love to hear from you.

Also, if you’re between 18 and 25 you can apply for a spot on our free two day podcast making course. If you love them and want to know how to make one, on this two-day course you’ll learn how to plan, make and share your own podcast, by working on actual episodes of Violet Nights.

If that sounds cool, head to the Southbank Centre website or search Southbank Violet Nights and we should pop up - it’s free!

Podcast Presenters: Nanda Poleon and Alex Williams
Podcast Producer and Editor: Phill Brown
Executive Producer: Chrystal Genesis
Music by: @BlackMale_Beats

Cancel Culture

This episode is on how the so-called Windrush scandal affected both those who initially came to the UK and the next generation. The scandal erupted in 2018 with residents who had lived in this country for years having their rights threatened or removed by the Home Office in the UK. Some were deported, while others lost their jobs, homes, benefits and access to care on the NHS.

Violet Nights heard some shocking stories and theories on how the injustices of the ‘hostile environment policy’ can be counteracted.

Chairing the debate is Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff, Deputy Editor at gal-dem magazine and author of the book Mother Country: Real Stories of the Windrush Children. Joining her on stage is Grime pioneer and MC Marci Phonix, who went viral for criticising MP Kwasi Kwarteng live on Channel 4 News and artist Rachelle Romeo, whose father was severely affected by the scandal.

Running monthly for the past few years at Southbank Centre in London, Violet Nights is a real-life forum for online conversations with music, performance and discussion in front of a live audience. 

We want to hear your views on this as well; get involved using #violetnights or @southbankcentre on social media. And don’t forget to follow us or write a review - we’d love to hear from you.

Also, if you’re between 18 and 25 you can apply for a spot on our free two day podcast making course. If you love them and want to know how to make one, on this two-day course you’ll learn how to plan, make and share your own podcast, by working on actual episodes of Violet Nights. If that sounds cool, head to the Southbank Centre website or search Southbank Violet Nights and we should pop up - it’s free!

Podcast Presenters: Nanda Poleon and Alex Williams
Podcast Producer and Editor: Phill Brown
Executive Producer: Chrystal Genesis
Music by: @BlackMale_Beats

Children of the Windrush

This episode is a celebration of women in Grime and features some of the females in the scene who are pushing the genre forward.

It’s chaired by journalist, broadcaster and author of Generation Vexed, Kieran Yates and joining her on stage are C Cane, who has built a noteworthy profile via her standout talents and multilingual flows and British rapper, singer and actress Paigey Cakey.

Running monthly for the past few years at Southbank Centre in London, Violet Nights is a real-life forum for online conversations with music, performance and discussion in front of a live audience.

Tell us where you think the Grime scene is heading and let us know which female’s flow you’re feeling right now; get involved using #violetnights or @southbankcentre on social media. And it would be great if you could follow us or write a review - we’d love to hear from you.

Also, if you’re between 18 and 25 you can apply for a spot on our free two day podcast making course. If you love them and want to know how to make one, on this two-day course you’ll learn how to plan, make and share your own podcast, by working on actual episodes of Violet Nights. If that sounds cool, head to the Southbank Centre website or search Southbank Violet Nights and we should pop up. That’s also the place to get tickets to our future Violet Nights events. It’s all free!

Podcast Presenters: Nanda Poleon and Alex Williams
Podcast Producer and Editor: Phill Brown
Executive Producer: Chrystal Genesis
Music by: @BlackMale_Beats

Lady of the Mics

This latest podcast is on Queer Activism Now as we celebrate LGBTQ+ rights in the UK thirty years on from the Stonewall Riots in New York. The panel share some uncomfortable truths and suggest positive solutions.

Chairing the discussion is Journalist and author Amelia Abraham, whose interests include LGBTQ+ identity politics, feminism and human rights.

Joining her on the stage are Fox Fisher- an award winning artist, filmmaker and trans rights campaigner, Tanya Compas - a multi-award-winning youth worker and writer who has seen her work published by Refinery29, gal-dem, Cosmopolitan and more. Plus, Dr Senthorun Raj, who is a Lecturer in Law at Keele University.

Violet Nights, the monthly event held at Southbank Centre in London is a real-life forum for conversations which usually happen online; with music, performance and discussion in front of a live audience.

You can join in the discussion too; where do you think society is with LGBTQ+ rights in 2019? Do you think it is too easy to refer to all these different people with that one initialism? Get involved using #violetnights or @southbankcentre on social media. Let us know also, what you think of the podcast series - we’d love you to follow us or write a review. 

And, if you’re between 18 and 25 you can apply for a spot on our free two day podcast making course. If you love them and want to know how to make one, on this two-day course you’ll learn how to plan, make and share your own podcast, by working on actual episodes of Violet Nights. If that sounds cool, head to the Southbank Centre website or search Southbank Violet Nights and we should pop up. That’s also the place to get tickets to our future Violet Nights events. It’s all free!

Podcast Presenters: Nanda Poleon and Alex Williams
Podcast Producer and Editor: Phill Brown
Executive Producer: Chrystal Genesis
Music by: @BlackMale_Beats

Queer Activism Now

In this latest podcast we are joined by acclaimed theatre company Cardboard Citizens, who present a new play called Stressing my Identity that questions the stigma around youth homelessness. The play encourages audience members to think differently about the situations presented and try out alternative strategies onstage using Forum Theatre techniques.

What are your thoughts; if you were in government what would you put in place to help a young person at risk of homeslessness? Get involved using #violetnights or @southbankcentre on social media. Let us know also, what you think of the podcast series - we’d love you to follow us or write a review.

Violet Nights, the monthly event held at Southbank Centre in London is a real-life forum for conversations which usually happen online; with music, performance and discussion in front of a live audience.
And, if you’re between 18 and 25 you can apply for a spot on our free two day podcast making course. If you love them and want to know how to make one, on this two-day course you’ll learn how to plan, make and share your own podcast, by working on actual episodes of Violet Nights. If that sounds cool, head to the Southbank Centre website or search Southbank Violet Nights and we should pop up. That’s also the place to get tickets to our future Violet Nights events. It’s all free!

Podcast Presenter: Nanda Poleon 
Produced by: Marita Fischer, Mair Howells, Martina Iozzi, Youness Elharrak, Magdalena Mladenova, Emma Conway and Temidayo Oyekan. 
Mixed by: Phill Brown
Executive Producer: Chrystal Genesis
Podcast Music by: @BlackMale_Beats
Performance Music by: Charley Hullah

Cardboard Citizens - No Box No Label

In this latest episode, we are joined by south London rapper Novelist who has curated this Violet Nights event. Tonight's event is all about being an independent, DIY creative in the music business and features Novelist and his friends from the industry. We hear from Dom Dronska, Senior Digital Manager at Abbey Road Studios, Rinse grime and drill DJ Oblig and it's hosted by artist, producer and Reprezent Radio host Shemz.

What are your thoughts? What does the next generation of DIY artists and makers mean to you? Get involved using #violetnights or @southbankcentre on social media. Let us know also, what you think of the podcast series - we’d love you to follow us or write a review.

Violet Nights, the monthly event held at Southbank Centre in London is a real-life forum for conversations which usually happen online; with music, performance and discussion in front of a live audience.

And, if you’re between 18 and 25 you can apply for a spot on our free two day podcast making course. If you love them and want to know how to make one, on this two-day course you’ll learn how to plan, make and share your own podcast, by working on actual episodes of Violet Nights. If that sounds cool, head to the Southbank Centre website or search Southbank Violet Nights and we should pop up. That’s also the place to get tickets to our future Violet Nights events. It’s all free!

Podcast Presenter: Nanda Poleon
Produced by: Bola Ajose, Rosel Jackson Stern, Poppy Woods, Tobi Alexandra Falade, Adama Sesay, Victoria Budgett & Sophia Cann Mena
Mixed by: Phill Brown
Executive Producer: Chrystal Genesis
Podcast Music by: @BlackMale_Beats

How to be a DIY Musician featuring Novelist and friends

In this latest podcast, we focus on black women’s experiences shaving their heads, whilst navigating the politics of British barbershop culture.

Inspired by Artist Ruth Sutoyé’s project Bald Black Girl(s), the discussion is chaired by journalist and producer Chanté Joseph. Panellists include barber and academic Candace Skelton, award-winning writer and director, Trix Worrell, best known for the sitcom Desmond’s, Casting Director Monica Siyanga, and barber and owner of SliderCuts Mark Maciver. With Poet Bridget Minamore performing an excerpt from her piece in Margaret Busby’s anthology New Daughters of Africa.

Get involved using #violetnights or @southbankcentre on social media. Let us know also, what you think of the podcast series - we’d love you to follow us or write a review.

Violet Nights, the monthly event held at Southbank Centre in London is a real-life forum for conversations which usually happen online; with music, performance and discussion in front of a live audience.

And, if you’re between 18 and 25 you can apply for a spot on our free two day podcast making course. If you love them and want to know how to make one, on this two-day course you’ll learn how to plan, make and share your own podcast, by working on actual episodes of Violet Nights. If that sounds cool, head to the Southbank Centre website or search Southbank Violet Nights and we should pop up. That’s also the place to get tickets to our future Violet Nights events. It’s all free!

Podcast Presenter: Nanda Poleon 
Produced by: Emily Giles, Anna Phillips, Faiza Khan, Isobel Turton, Leah Omonya, Vivian Adebayo, Oli Isaac Smith and Bridget Norman.
Mixed by: Phill Brown
Executive Producer: Chrystal Genesis
Podcast Music by: @BlackMale_Beats
Performance piece by Bridget Minamore

Bald Black Girls Talk Shop

This one highlights the experiences of minorities in the fitness scene, the rise in sober spaces and the importance of movement in our daily lives.  The event was curated by Kim Ngo & Rachel Tran from fitness collective Food and Lycra, which aims to break the stereotypes of what fitness looks like for women. Joining them is Queer Bruk a club night and platform for queer people of colour.

Get involved using #violetnights or @southbankcentre on social media. Let us know also, what you think of the podcast series - we’d love you to follow us or write a review.

Violet Nights, the monthly event held at Southbank Centre in London is a real-life forum for conversations which usually happen online; with music, performance and discussion in front of a live audience.

And, if you’re between 18 and 25 you can apply for a spot on our free two day podcast making course. If you love them and want to know how to make one, on this two-day course you’ll learn how to plan, make and share your own podcast, by working on actual episodes of Violet Nights. If that sounds cool, head to the Southbank Centre website or search Southbank Violet Nights and we should pop up. That’s also the place to get tickets to our future Violet Nights events. It’s all free!

Podcast Presenter: Nanda Poleon 
Produced by: This was produced by Pippa Violets, Sophie O’Sullivan, Natalie Kondratii, Viktorie Kopecna, Xena Frailing and Princess Menkiti-Udom and I’m Nanda Poleon
Mixed by: Phill Brown
Executive Producer: Chrystal Genesis
Podcast Music by: @BlackMale_Beats

Food and Lycra: Experiences in the Fitness Scene

Running monthly for the past few years at Southbank Centre in London, Violet Nights is a real-life forum for online conversations with music, performance and discussion in front of a live audience. You can hear the best bits of these discussions held at the UK’s biggest arts centre through this series of podcasts.

Violet Nights is a free monthly event curated by young people for young people.

Join in the conversion using #violetnights or @southbankcentre on social media and don’t forget to follow us or write a review on Apple Podcasts - we’d love to hear from you.

Presenters: Nanda Poleon and Alex Williams
Producer and Editor: Phill Brown
Executive Producer: Chrystal Genesis
Music by: @BlackMale_Beats

Cancel Culture

Southbank Centre: Violet Nights

Related tracks