Birmingham symphony orchestra to back grime and rap stars in 2025 concert

The City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is to back rap and grime stars such as Lady Leshurr in a special concert next year.

The Legacy gig, which will take place on Saturday, April 12 2025 at Birmingham Symphony Hall, has stemmed from a book and documentary of the same name by the Punch Records agency, about the untold stories of Birmingham’s grime, hip-hop and rap scenes.

Lady Leshurr will be joined by 14 other Birmingham-based artists in Big Dog Yogo, Brixx, C4, Creezon, Jaykae, Mayhem, Nodb, Pressure0121, Roxxxan, Saf One, Sox, T Roadz, Trappy and Trilla.

The orchestra will be led by multi-award winning conductor Phil Meadows, backing songs such as Murdah, Woo Riddim, Toothache and Moscow.

Emma Stenning chief executive at the CBSO, told The Times she hoped the concert would make the symphony hall “more welcoming and a place where people feel comfortable and themselves”.

Announcing the concert, she told the PA news agency: “The orchestra is still flush with energy following a fantastic year of creative milestones.

“From their spectacular performance at the BBC Proms, under the baton of our cherished music director Kazuki Yamada, our players then raced home to begin a week of free concerts across Birmingham, ranging from full ensemble performances at the Bullring shopping centre and New Street Station to pop-up chamber groups and quartets in the city’s parks, libraries, cafes and galleries.

“Our special offer of £1 tickets for Birmingham residents was a remarkable success in terms of attracting new audiences to experience the joy of orchestral concerts for the first time.

“And now we finish the year announcing a collaboration with Punch Records for the Legacy project in early 2025, which will see the CBSO collaborate with 15 of Birmingham’s leading music icons.”

The concert will coincide with an audience listening campaign, giving people living in the orchestra’s home city the opportunity to talk about the importance of live music in their lives.

Ms Stenning added: “We continue to show how symphonic music is for everyone, and that the CBSO truly is Birmingham’s orchestra.”