CultureMix Arts continues to offer creative activities for all ages with free music workshops for young people through ground breaking projects, internships, artist development and funded strategic partnerships.
RASPO – READING ALL STEEL PERCUSSION ORCHESTRA grows in size with new players joining from beginners, Bootcamp and RASPO Juniors. Live outdoor performances included the Windrush celebration, Lantern Parade, Rewind Festival, Carnival of the World, Riverbeats at the Oracle, Whitchurch Children’s Festival, the grand parade at London’s Notting Hill Carnival, and with a large orchestra of 32 players for the Calypso & Carols Christmas fundraising concert in Reading.
Reading Reggae Collective‘s musical director Jnr Watson launched Open Jam Open Mic events as host alternating with Sound System Veterans courtesy of Reality Shock Records to showcase new artists alongside established professionals.
Led by Jnr the Collective performed for it’s first paid booking at the Whitley Social Club’s Rum n Reggae Party in August.
Artists appearing in 2025 included Barry Dread, Donovan Kingjay, DJ Reuben Irie, Footsie King Original, Afrikan Simba, guitarist Ciyo Brown, bass player and producer Michael Fletcher, Wesley Benjamin, Alwyn Akrofi-Quarcoo, Reggae Collective vocalists Yvonne, Sista Thelma, Dionne, Ebonny, & Pam, guitarist and co MD Derick Andrews, keyboard player Calvin Bennion, The Wailers’ drummer Carl Benjamin, Bajan reggae singer Indra, Errol Kingsley, Daddy Freddy, Colourman and many more.
EDUCATION & WORKSHOPS: CultureMix Arts continues to provide unique music education at schools across Berkshire working in partnership with Berkshire and Slough Music Hubs to develop 14 school steel bands at weekly sessions. One off workshop days continue to be popular for schools, colleges and businesses as well as for private events across the region.
The CREATIVE BUSINESS HUB sets up partnerships to offer business training and work experience for young people seeking a career in the creative industry.
CultureMix Arts worked in partnership with Reading University to employ a part time undergraduate intern as an event coordinator. Two Year 10 young people completed a work experience week as admin assistants. For the Pathways into the Creative Industries at the Green Park Job Fair CultureMix Arts offered insights for school students exploring the world of work.
The Black Heritage project was a successful partnership project with Reading Borough Council funded by the Shared Prosperity Fund supporting year nine boys from Bulmershe School to develop a sense of belonging and identity through a combination of music learning, business and mentoring. Seven 13 and 14 year olds attended ten weekly sessions at the CultureMix Centre in the Autumn. They learned three songs as a steel band, and planned, promoted and marketed the culminating school performance event to their peers at the end of the project.
The Jazzrobeat Collective set up in 2024 for 12-17 year olds continues to attract young musicians keen to work with professionals for live performances. The ensemble of young people performed at the Carnival of the World live stage and at the Face Bar for the M Power event organised by Berkshire Music Trust.
Reading Carnival of the World returned to Broad Street bigger and better for the 8th event since its 2016 launch with award winning steel orchestra RASPO opening and closing the live stage..
The event featured a host of world class artists and performers including Kaagô, a dramatic African drumming band from the Ivory Coast featuring a traditional masked Zaouli dancer, a stilt dancer and fire eating acrobats.
RASPO opened and closed the live stage with twenty five pan players. Live contributions came from UK based calypsonian and musician Gerry Ranks, reggae soul singer Harmonie Deja, afrobeat artist Lord B, and teen music project The Jazzrobeat Collective.
The dazzling Broad Street Parade featured two 4m tall puppets courtesy of artist led carnival arts organisation Global Grooves who presented the stunning Caribbean Carnival Queen Kaya and street dancer Manny joined the forty strong Beatroots samba band, fabulous carnival costumes from Lost in Paradise, and drummers and dancers from Kaagô and RASPO.
Notting Hill Carnival: During August Bank Holiday RASPO triumphed again at London’s spectacular Notting Hill Carnival Parade for a two day marathon performance on a floating stage attended by up to 2 million people who watched 16 steel bands, 56 Mas Bands, 9 Brazilian Bands, 39 Children’s Bands, 40 static sound systems, 15,000 costumes and 300 food stalls on the 3.5-mile route. Six young people joined RASPO to experience performing at Notting Hill for the first time.
Our annual Black History Month Festival during October celebrates all our cultural activities from free tasters, showcase events, concerts, and Caribbean music and dance workshops. CultureMix Arts hosted a stall at the Reading University Black History Fete in Broad Street Mall.
The Calypso & Carols Fundraising Concert saw RASPO Steel Orchestra entertain Reading’s festive shoppers at the free outdoor event with a large orchestra of 32 players to raise funds so under 16s can learn music and engage in cultural activities free of charge.
The CultureMix Arts Team leads on innovation and inclusion ensuring all projects run smoothly for ultimate community engagement and promoting the activities through interviews on BBC Radio Berkshire, That’s Thames Valley TV and ….
Business Director Nathifa Jordan was nominated and shortlisted for Diversity Champion at the Whats On Cultural Awards. She is established on the Boards of the East Midlands Caribbean Carnival Arts Network (EMCCAN), and charity funding body Youth Music.
Artistic Director Mary Genis continues to contribute her expertise as a board trustee for Notting Hill Carnival organiser Carnival Village Trust and Reading based arts organisation Jelly. As a guest on Eddie Nestor’s show for BBC Radio London Mary spoke about the impact of carnival culture on young people.
Music Director Paul Watson continues to develop RASPO’s repertoire and is the resident pan tuner – one of only a handful in the UK. He joined a panel of judges for Slough’s Got Talent and leads the RASPO Slough project which launched for beginners in the Autumn at Cippenham School.
Our freelance music leaders help to develop the organisation’s portfolio of activities: Jamie Howell nurtures the young musicians for the Jazzrobeat Collective at weekly sessions. We say thank you to Ruel Richardson for his contribution to CultureMix Arts over the last three years.
Jamah Lynam continues to promote RASPO opportunities to children and young people from local youth clubs. Kris Kemist of Reality Shock Records provides artists for Reggae Friday’s Sound System Veterans.
Our focus for 2026 is Quality and Excellence raising the standard of our work and improving the level of musicianship within our music projects.
Image credits: Julia Brazil, Wilf Springer, Mary Genis for CultureMix Arts
