Within the past decade, the British diaspora has begun discovering a network of venues that host Black events or engage with Black culture in some way. Historically, there has been pushback from club owners and residents alike, validated through years of criminalisation at the hands of the police (think about Form 696 and its detrimental long-term impacts on Black nightclubs). Despite the scarcity of Black-owned clubs and late-night spaces, Black nightlife is currently thriving

Being the first of its kind, it was hard to know what to expect going into Stormzy’s ‘This Is What We Mean’ Day. But in the end, the work spoke for itself. A true celebration of the growing talent within Black music, this festival was one to remember.