- Words Miriam Balanescu
Cambridge’s Strawberries & Creem Festival have unveiled their final line-up, with Giggs, Little Simz, and Notting Hill Carnival destined for the S&C fields.
Time is ticking speedily down to 2021’s Strawberries & Creem Festival, set for the 18-19 September at a brand-new festival site, Childerley Orchard – a fittingly fruity location.
Dedicated to Afrobeats, Hip-Hop, R&B, House and Drum & Bass, this year’s full juicy line-up has finally been revealed, with Giggs – one of the UK’s most esteemed rappers – on the cards for the Main Stage, joined by Mercury Prize-nominee Little Simz who will share songs from her eagerly anticipated album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’, and hotly tipped artist Amaria BB.
For those who have been sorely missing West London’s integral and much-loved street festival, Notting Hill Carnival’s spirit has been reincarnated for the Cambridge fields, with vibrant costumes, steel drums, and a mysterious Soca artist promised. Their appearance will be the carnival’s first festival partnership.
Co-founder of Strawberries & Creem, Preye Crooks, has said: “As an event and institution that has been a mainstay in the lives, diaries and cultures of so many of our team and attendees, it has long been a dream of ours to work with Notting Hill Carnival. NHC and their team embody all that our ‘Celebrate Heritage’ tagline represents, and when we heard the sad news of their postponement this year, we felt there would be no better way than to celebrate the influence NHC has had on all of us than by collaborating with them. We’re absolutely delighted this year to be bringing the Carnival flavour and spirit to Cambridge, and it will beautifully accompany many of the Caribbean artists already playing at the festival, such as Koffee. It’s a festival first and something we are incredibly excited about.”
The Main Stage will be hosted by Capital XTRA presenters Yinka Bokinni and Shayna Marie to guide you through the weekend.
Particle, at the Renegade Roulade stage, will be accompanied by Drum and Bass-ers Wilkinson, Hybrid Minds, and Dimension. Over at the Studio S&C stage, sour-sweet artist Honey Dijon, Denis Sulta, Mall Grab, Archie Hamilton, and Moxie will be in great form.
A VIP party will be held in association with Hennessy at the Orchard area, with tunes from Afrobeats artist Juls, DJ and producer Sef Kombo, DJ Shy One, and BBC 1XTRA’s Jeremiah Asiamah to look forward to.
Our favourite fruity festival has also made milestones in tackling gender inequality this year, pledging to Girls I Rate and Keychange for an equal gender-split line-up. Strawberries & Creem have also partnered with Safe Spaces Now to increase safety measures for festivalgoers, tackling harassment and assault.
The final few tickets for Strawberries & Creem 2021 are available here.
