The Music is Ours came. It delivered. And now the second weekend of the Music is Black Festival from East Bank is almost here – and if anything, it looks even better.
Power & Respect lands on 11 and 12 July at Stratford Waterfront, and it is a celebration of Black women and non-binary voices that are driving music and culture forward right now. Curated by Jamz Supernova, Yazmin Lacey x TYSON, and BORN N BREAD, this is not a gentle appreciation of the past – it is a proper statement about who is shaping the present.
And yes, it is completely free.
Power & Respect: what is it all about?
The Music is Black Festival from East Bank is an eight-month programme celebrating Black British music in all its forms. Running across four live outdoor weekends plus exhibitions, film screenings, talks and club nights, the whole thing is anchored in the idea that Black music is not just part of British culture – it is British culture.
The first weekend, The Music is Ours, took over Stratford Waterfront on 13 and 14 June with a block party rooted in London’s soundsystem legacy and the birthplace of Grime. If you were there, you know. If you missed it, Power & Respect is your chance to make amends.
This second weekend puts Black women and non-binary artists at the centre – not as a footnote, but as the headline. Jamz Supernova, one of the UK’s most respected DJs and advocates for underrepresented voices in music, heads up the curatorial lineup. Alongside her, Yazmin Lacey x TYSON bring their distinct blend of soul, R&B and left-field sound, and BORN N BREAD round out a lineup that has serious east London energy from top to bottom.
Where, when and how
The stages are at Stratford Waterfront – The Waterfront Stage and Mid Terrace, both outdoors, right in the heart of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park near Sadler’s Wells East. You do not need tickets. You do not need to register. You just turn up.
Saturday 11 July: music stages run 12pm to 7pm, then things move inside to Sadler’s Wells East from 7pm onwards.
Sunday 12 July: 12pm to 5pm at the outdoor stages.
That is a full weekend of live music, right here in Stratford, completely free.
The bigger picture
Power & Respect does not exist in isolation. The Music is Black Festival from East Bank is anchored by a major exhibition at V&A East Museum – “The Music is Black: A British Story” – running from 18 April 2026 through to 3 January 2027. It is a multi-sensory journey through over 125 years of Black British music, and it is the kind of thing that makes you proud that east London is home to it.
There are two more live weekends still to come: Queer Frequencies on 22-23 August (curated by Shy One and collectives redefining queer sound) and Black to the Future on 12-13 September (a genre-bending closing party curated by FLOHIO). The whole series has the feeling of something genuinely historic happening right here in our part of London.
Play some music games at Draughts
If you want to carry the music energy into the evening, we have got you covered. Hitster is one of our favourite music games in the library – players take a song card, listen to a snippet via QR code, and have to place it in chronological order on a timeline. It sounds simple, it is absolutely not simple, and it makes for an incredible group activity for music lovers. A perfect wind-down after a day of live sets.
Come and see us before or after
We are right here in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – 5 Aquatics Walk, E20 2AS – which means on Power & Respect weekend, we are practically next door to the action.
Come for lunch before the stages open. Stay after the last set. Or make a full weekend of it across both days. We are a bar, restaurant and board game cafe with over 1,000 games in the library. Order some food, grab a drink, pull something off the shelf. We are the kind of place that makes a day out feel properly complete.
One thing worth knowing: Power & Respect is going to draw a crowd. We are in the same park and our tables do go fast on busy weekends. Book in advance at draughtslondon.com – it takes two minutes and means you are not standing around hoping for a spot when you should be sitting down with a drink.
Tips for your visit
- No tickets needed for the festival itself – it is completely free and unticketed. Just show up.
- Outdoor stages run 12-7pm Saturday and 12-5pm Sunday. Come early for lunch at Draughts and head to the stages, or catch the music first and come to us after.
- The festival site is near Sadler’s Wells East at Stratford Waterfront. The Waterfront Stage is signposted from the park entrance.
- Stratford station is your best bet for getting here – Elizabeth line, Central line and Overground all stop there.
- “The Music is Black: A British Story” exhibition at V&A East is free and unmissable. Pair it with a Draughts visit for a brilliant park day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Music is Black: Power & Respect?
Power & Respect is the second of four live festival weekends in the Music is Black Festival from East Bank – a free outdoor music event at Stratford Waterfront in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Curated by Jamz Supernova, Yazmin Lacey x TYSON and BORN N BREAD, it celebrates Black women and non-binary voices driving music and culture. It takes place on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 July 2026.
Is Music is Black: Power & Respect free?
Yes. The Power & Respect weekend is completely free to attend. No tickets, no registration – just turn up at Stratford Waterfront in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
What time does Power & Respect start?
On Saturday 11 July, the outdoor stages run from 12pm to 7pm, with the evening continuing inside Sadler’s Wells East from 7pm onwards. On Sunday 12 July, the outdoor stages run from 12pm to 5pm.
Where exactly is Power & Respect taking place?
The stages are at Stratford Waterfront in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, near Sadler’s Wells East. The two outdoor stages are The Waterfront Stage and Mid Terrace.
Who is curating Power & Respect?
Power & Respect is curated by Jamz Supernova, Yazmin Lacey x TYSON, and BORN N BREAD.
Who is Jamz Supernova?
Jamz Supernova is a DJ, broadcaster and advocate for underrepresented voices in music. She is known for her work at BBC Radio 6 Music and for championing emerging artists across R&B, soul and experimental music. She is one of the UK’s most respected figures in music.
What is the Music is Black Festival from East Bank?
The Music is Black Festival from East Bank is an eight-month programme of events running across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2026, celebrating Black British music and culture. It includes four free live festival weekends, plus exhibitions, talks, film screenings, dance performances and club nights.
What are the other weekends in the Music is Black Festival?
The four live weekends are: The Music is Ours (13-14 June), Power & Respect (11-12 July), Queer Frequencies (22-23 August) and Black to the Future (12-13 September). All are free.
Is there a Music is Black exhibition?
“The Music is Black: A British Story” is a major exhibition at V&A East Museum in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, running from 18 April 2026 to 3 January 2027. It takes visitors on a multi-sensory journey through over 125 years of Black British music.
How do I get to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for Power & Respect?
Stratford station is the closest, served by the Elizabeth line, Central line, London Overground and National Rail. From Stratford, the park is a short walk. Hackney Wick (Overground) and Pudding Mill Lane (DLR) are also options depending on where you are coming from.
Is Power & Respect family friendly?
Yes. The Music is Black Festival weekends are family friendly, with activities including Dance Floor sessions at Sadler’s Wells East.
Where can I eat and drink near Power & Respect?
We are right here. Draughts is at 5 Aquatics Walk inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – a short walk from the festival stages. We are a bar, restaurant and board game cafe with over 1,000 games. Book a table in advance at draughtslondon.com – weekends in the park get busy.
What other events are happening in the park this summer?
It is a packed summer at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. As well as the remaining Music is Black weekends, the Novuna London Athletics Meet is at London Stadium on 18 July and Wing Fest returns on 24-26 July. Plenty of reasons to keep coming back.
