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THE BIGGEST NAMES IN MUSIC COME TOGETHER FOR “MORE LIFE – PASS THE MIC” – A ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION MUSICAL EVENT TO CELEBRATE THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF STEPHEN LAWRENCE, ON WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN HIS 50TH BIRTHDAY
AJ Tracey, Cat Burns, Clavish, Corinne Bailey Rae, Ezra Collective and George The Poet join previously announced artists D Double E, Ghetts, The Kanneh-Masons, Mahalia, Nao and Wretch 32 to perform in a generation-defining, multi-artist, cross-genre event at The O2, London on Friday 13th September. Further artists to be announced.
Tickets are available via: www.axs.com // www.metropolismusic.com
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, 2024 Mercury Prize Nominee Cat Burns, Clavish, 2024 Mercury Prize Nominee Corinne Bailey Rae, 2023 Mercury Prize Winners 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, 2024 Mercury Prize Nominee 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”.
Baroness Lawrence, Stephen Lawrence’s mother and Founder of SLDF, commented: “Music has the power to touch people's hearts and inspire shifts in how they view themselves and the world around them, much like Stephen did for those who knew and loved him, and the many who only know his story. The 13th September will be a time for reflection and celebration and a moment to uplift the beauty and brilliance of our community. Together, we can make a collective commitment to building a kinder, more equitable society in Stephen's name.”
- BARONESS LAWRENCE
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.
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.”
- Jessica Neil
Stephen: The murder that changed the nation
Comunity Groups / Organisations / Parents Careers / Post-16 & KS5 / School Leaders / Secondary (KS3 & KS4)
Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation – Social Media Toolkit / Pledge Kit
This year on 22nd April 2023, the 30th anniversary of Stephen’s death, our goal is to ensure that the next 30 years look different from the last. We believe that meaningful change starts with tangible actions. If we each commit to taking one action on Stephen Lawrence Day that will positively impact the lives of young people from marginalised backgrounds, together we can honour Stephen’s life and legacy, and build a fairer, kinder and more equitable society in his name.
