BBC 1Xtra Comes to Manchester
| 22nd November 2017
On the 11th of November 2017 BBC 1Xtra Live came to Manchester celebrating its 15th birthday. The event took place in Manchester Arena where 9 acts performed their hit singles. The show also included special appearances from 1xtra DJs and many exclusive performances.
Programme Name: 1Xtra Live 2017 – TX: 11/11/2017 – Episode: n/a (No. n/a) – Picture Shows: Bugzy Malone – (C) BBC – Photographer: Ashley Verse
Before the weekend started Urban Development hosted an industry takeover all-day event college edition, teaming up with BBC 1xtra’s outreach programme which takes place in different cities every year depending on where 1xtra live is happening. The project is entitled 1xtra Live: The sessions took place this year at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester on the 8th November where 300 college students between the age of 16-18yrs attended a series of panel sessions, workshops and talks from leading Industry figures.
Programme Name: 1Xtra Live 2017 – TX: 11/11/2017 – Episode: n/a (No. n/a) – Picture Shows: Bugzy Malone – (C) BBC – Photographer: Ashley Verse
The event began with a performance by Lay. (pronounced Layfullstop) an artist based in Manchester. Her sound is soul and Jazz mixed with hip-hop. She sings, raps and writes which together create a beautiful collaboration. After the performance, the workshops began and depending on what your interest was you could pick through a series of workshops. Some of them were Music production, or presenting masterclass, song writing and how to get your music heard. All these workshops were led by experts in the music industry. At the end of the workshops I was brought into the concert hall where Manchester’s finest, Yasmin Evans 1Xtra presenter interviewed “The king of the North” Bugzy Malone where he gave advice on how to start from the bottom and work your way up to the top in the music industry. He also said how it felt for him to preform at 1Xtra live in his hometown. To end the inspirational event, they had a performance by Manchester’s own KS Roosevelt (KSR) who performed his single “New Love” which had the whole of the audience falling in love with him!
Overall, I would say the Urban Development and 1Xtra team did an amazing job at making this event happen as it was very well organised and so inspiring to listen to all of the different stories on how to make it in the industry.
Programme Name: 1Xtra Live 2017 – TX: 11/11/2017 – Episode: n/a (No. n/a) – Picture Shows: Stefflon Don – (C) BBC – Photographer: Ashley Verse
It was then time to see the outcome of the workshops and what anyone can achieve by following them as BBC 1Xtra brought Manchester arena’s stage alive with performances from Bryson Tiller, Not3s, Stefflon Don, Donae’o, Ghetts, Bugzy Malone, French Montana, J Hus and Travis Scott who all performed their hits not forgetting a special performance from the one and only Big Shaq!
Programme Name: 1Xtra Live 2017 – TX: 11/11/2017 – Episode: n/a (No. n/a) – Picture Shows: Big Shaq – (C) BBC – Photographer: Ashley Verse
Stefflon Don had the whole of the arena echoing her hit single “Hurting me” bringing the energy to the stage with her dance crew. French Montana was the surprise guest of the night as he set the stage on fire performing his hit single “Unforgettable” and he made it a truly unforgettable night! Bugzy Malone preformed his single “Memory Lane” that quotes the Manchester band Oasis’s classic hit “Wonderwall” which he dedicated to all the people we lost in the Manchester Attack on May 22nd of this year. The last performance of the night was with American rapper Travis Scott who sent the crowd crazy, literally, as 2 members of the crowd were escorted out of the concert for jumping on stage with the American star and he ended the show with a bang.
Programme Name: 1Xtra Live 2017 – TX: 11/11/2017 – Episode: n/a (No. n/a) – Picture Shows: Travis Scott – (C) BBC – Photographer: Ashley Verse
BBC 1Xtra live Manchester was a night filled with buckets of entertainment and inspiration that will never be forgotten by the 20,000 crowd who attended the sensational show.
For more information visit BBC 1Xtra