Freetown Collective, a lesser-known but popular Trinidadian band who have been around for more than a decade, have been invited to perform at UB40’s 45th anniversary concert in Birmingham on 27 August. In preparation for this major event, the group has been hosting intimate sessions, popularly known as ‘Tight Spaces’, with their fans in Trinidad and Tobago, who have been gathering to listen to the music they love from a band that never disappoints.
Freetown Collective was founded in 2010, and currently comprises six members: Muhammed Muwakil, Lou Lyons, DJ Rawkus, Tishanna Williams, Shanna Joseph and Malene Joseph. There’s a profound concept behind the band’s origins: Freetown was the name of an area in Trinidad that is currently known as Belmont. The original name is rooted in the ideal of freedom, and the belief that every individual can attain absolute freedom from both internal and external inhibitions, essentially becoming a ‘free town’.
Thirteen years on from the band’s inception by Muwakil and Lyons, the spirit of ‘free town’ is still reflected in their music; a song they released just this year, entitled Mighty People, can only be described as empowering, urging people to look inside themselves for inspiration and hailing individuality as something powerful that deserves to be celebrated and revered. Other popular songs by the band include Feel The Love, Mas, a collaboration with Mical Teja, Space For A Heart and Shine.
Freetown Collective has progressively gained a global fanbase. To date, the band has successfully performed on stages across the world and collaborated with acclaimed musical icons. In 2016, Major Lazer and Showtek created a remix of Believer, arguably the band’s most popular tune. The song has close to 50 million views on YouTube, and was awarded the Gold Certification in France in 2017.
Freetown Collective are dedicated to their fundamental belief that all people are worthy of love and dignity. They incorporate the sanctity of humanness, or the nature of being human, in their art in a way that is deeply touching and uplifting.
There will be an opportunity to experience Freetown Collective live in London ahead of the UB40: 45th Anniversary Homecoming Show (which also features Soul II Soul). ‘Welcome to Freetown- Windrush: Destination Home’ takes place on 18 August at Dingwalls, for tickets visit socaetickets.com.
