Tickets are on sale for Roots Manuva at ‘Fiesta in the Park’, South Park on Saturday 2nd July 2011. Fiesta in the Park is a fundraising concert and all proceeds go towards Cowley Road Carnival! 

Sensational UK hip hop legend Roots Manuva heads a line-up that also includes Brassroots, the energetic horn and percussion ensemble, Oxford’s own DJ Count Skylarkin on the decks plus more nationally renowned world, reggae and carnival bands. Unique for Oxford, Fiesta in the Park will be a spectacular evening celebration of music, dance and Summer fun for all the family.

Rodney Smith aka Roots Manuva has been dubbed by The Independent as ‘the Doyen of British Rap’. Not only taking the UK hip-hop scene by storm, Roots is now also challenging American artists. Known for his socio-political lyrics and fearless writing, he is a supreme MC and one of the most compelling lyricists in the last two decades of British music, nominated for the prestigious MOBO Award for Best Hip Hop Act and Mercury Prize nomination for ‘Run Come Save Me’ in 2001.

Mixing infectiously danceable hip hop, dub and electronica with reggae and gospel, his fascination with and love of soundsystem culture informs not just his music and lyrics but his whole attitude towards life and goes some way to explain his popularity both as an artist and an individual. Currently working on a new album, his sound is as fresh and fired up as ever in 2011.

Stuart Allen, Cowley Road Works trustee and Programme Director for Fiesta in The Park: “Fiesta in The Park is growing as an outdoor music event in its own right.  The night before Carnival, it’s a great way for everyone to get into the Carnival mood with a spectacular summer’s night of great vibes from a lineup of international and Oxford artists. “All of the proceeds will to go the Cowley Road Works charity to help secure the Carnival for this and future years,” he adds