The event has been billed as a celebration of the area’s cultural diversity reports Roshni Ray

A community event in Cricklewood with people gathering around a tent — Credit – Crossroads Productions

A new grassroots music festival will be held in Cricklewood later this month.

Crossroads Music Festival, which is being organised by Cricklewood Town Team (CTT) in partnership with Crossroads Productions, is described as “a celebration of the cultural diversity of Cricklewood, Northwest London”.

The festival will run over the weekends of 19th-21st and 26th-28th September and the organisers will partner with local restaurants and outdoor spaces to host musicians with diverse global heritage.

The festival will give audiences a chance to listen to live music while enjoying a meal or a drink in a restaurant or relaxing in a local green space.

Matilda Velevitch of Crossroads Productions told Barnet Post: “We did a project just before COVID, called Crickledwood Broadway, and it was very much about examining the fact that Cricklewood Broadway looks like a large arterial road that leads to Brent Cross. It’s dusty and misty but actually, if you walk up and down there’s a real community that supports each other.

“One of the things I discovered when I was doing it, because I am not British and I came here, like many people, about 15 years ago, was the large music heritage of the area. This was the ‘Music Mile’ that brought people from all over the world into the area. Here overall, people have mixed and mingled. Initially it was the Irish and then Caribbean, and then many more. But with that, they brought their music and they brought their food.”

Cricklewood Broadway and Cricklewood Lane are filled with a rich variety of restaurants and cafes with food from countries including Iran, Nigeria, Brazil, Syria, Ireland and Ethiopia. These venues will play host to musicians from their home countries.

In addition, free performances of live music will take place outdoors in the Mapesbury Dell, on Cricklewood Green and at Oaklands Road Place and Keyes Road Place, along with some roaming musicians.

When talking about the history of music in the area, Velevitch said: “The Rolling Stones lived in this area. They lived on Mapesbury Road. There’s a huge amount of bands who’ve formed here. And then in terms of people performing, we’ve had Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and many more.”

Audiences will experience a diverse range of performances, from acoustic musicians to small bands and DJs showcasing a variety of styles from around the globe.

The festival’s line-up of grassroots performers, all accomplished musicians, will be joined by headliners such as Dele Sosimi’s Afro Beat Orchestra. Dele Sosimi stands out as one of the most active musicians currently on the Afrobeat scene worldwide.

Velevitch said: “This festival has really allowed us to tap into those artists who are underrepresented, not because they have a refugee background, but because once again, we are lacking venues and opportunities for them to play.

“People belong where they live, and community is more important than ever. I am absolutely sure most music venues in London were set up during hard times. People would come here and they didn’t have a lot. They went out to those music venues for their relaxation and their relief, and they all came together.”

Danny Maher, chair of Cricklewood Town Team, said: “We are thrilled that Cricklewood will have the opportunity to celebrate and promote grassroots music in our local area with the new, free to attend, Crossroads Music Festival.

“Cricklewood Town Team is delighted to have received funding from Arts Council England National Lottery Fund for Grassroots Music. The festival promises to have something for everyone and we invite people from across London to join us for this special musical occasion in Cricklewood. We hope that the festival will return annually and become a key feature every year in the local calendar of events.”

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