In the summer of 1971, the first Thamesmead Town Festival took place, featuring a 'throw the sponge at the vicar' stall.
That particular stall's long gone, but the festival remains — celebrating its 52nd innings on Saturday 10 August 2024.
These days, the Thamesmead Festival is a riot of colour, expressing the artistic roots — and great diversity — of the south east London town's inhabitants.
Multiple stages pitch up at Southmere Park again this year — showcasing an eclectic mix of hip-hop, R&B, rap, indie, dance, spoken word and more. Here's a selection of the line-up:
- Park Stage: Kele Le Roc — the multiple MOBO award-winner and voice of Basement Jaxx hit Romeo headlines alongside R&B and soul singer Terri Walker, who sang on the Shanks & Bigfoot hit Sing-A-Long. Others gracing this stage include MOBO-winning rapper Still Shadey, award-winning funk and soul outfit Groove 101, bluesy rockers Black Wolf Blues and local favourites Old Boy Blues Band.
- Unplugged Stage: Intimate spoken word and acoustic sets from the likes of Brit School graduate Gönül and singer-songwriter Sam Winston are hosted in the shady environs of this laid-back stage.
- Southmere Stage: Get down to street dance from locally-based Dynamix, plus performances by Bollywood Vibes and Capoeira Muzenz.
Elsewhere, there's a scattering of community stalls, plus Nigerian cuisine from Yeti's Authentic Kitchen, and ZIZI's Lebanese and Sierra Leonean food.
While you're in the area, look out for six murals painted in 2023 — slathered on lift shafts, tower vents and garage doors. The commissions — mainly by women — take their cue from Thamesmead itself, from its urban environment to its majestic swans.
Thamesmead Festival is at Southmere Park, Thamesmead on Saturday 10 August 2024, 12pm-7.30pm. Entry is free. It's a 15-minute walk from Abbey Wood station.
