Ahead of the Lambeth Country Show running weekend of July 16-17 the South Londoner met with the producer of the main stage at this popular Festival held in Brockwell Park, writes Holly O’Mahony…
South Londoner: You’re responsible for curating the main stage lineup for the festival. How are you feeling about setting the tone for the first Lambeth Country Show in three years?
Nicky Ezer: Culture Promotions has been producing and curating the Lambeth Country Show main stage for over 15 years. It’s one of my annual highlights, bringing live music to the community at no charge in the beauty of Brockwell Park in Brixton.
SL: With its eclectic mix of farm animals, real cider stands, science demonstrations and performances from contemporary music groups, Lambeth Country Show is pretty unique and very south London. And, like you said, it’s free to enter, which is such a rarity these days. It’s pretty special, isn’t it?
NE: That’s right. The show offers something for everybody and not only that, it offers an opportunity for so many people to engage and be part of something amazing. It’s entertaining, social, interesting, educational, and above all brings people together of all ages and cultures. It is the highlight of so many local people’s year and now, post pandemic, will be even more important as it’s a chance to celebrate the return of live entertainment.
SL: How did you go about curating the lineup for the main stage, which incorporates performances in reggae, soul, jazz and more?
NE: Every year it brings me joy sifting through so much local talent as well as national and international acts, to bring a lineup that reflects the legacy of music as well as new sounds. We want to curate a lineup that exposes local talent and celebrates Lambeth people and their creativity, as well as also bringing veteran acts that are well known and loved.
SL: Which acts are you most excited to see play, or most excited for audiences to discover?
NE: On Saturday, I am especially looking forward to Floetic Lara Lee’s set. She is an amazing talent, and has mesmerising vocals and stage presence. I also can’t wait to dance to the old school sounds of Heatwave headlining day one with hits like ‘Boogie Nights’. Reggae all day on Sunday will also be a treat. It’s Roots day and the act to watch for is the Empresses of Roots Soul and Reggae with Teshay Makeda at the helm alongside Aysha Loren and Dionne Reid – a trio of powerful female voices. But Cleveland Watkiss MBE singing his Jamaican hits songbook alongside the legendary Horace Andy rounding off the weekend will make Lambeth Country Show 2022 a historic musical occasion.
Lambeth Country Show, Brockwell Park, SE24. July 16 & 17, 12pm – 8pm.
Admission: FREE.
www.lambethcountryshow.co.uk
This article was brought to you from The South Londoner
