Punch's 2022 Rewind: Highlights of the year

Now that 2022 is beginning to draw to a close (and following last week’s article “A Celebration of 2022: Punch’s Rewind of the Year Starts Now”), we’re taking this time as an opportunity to reflect on the projects that have taken place over this past year.

There is so much to celebrate, so this was by no means an easy task, but we have individually highlighted projects that have filled us with pride throughout 2022.

Nikki Riggon, Head of Programme

“We’ve been a driver for positive change and a catalyst for hard discussion surrounding race through our involvement in Birmingham Race Impact Group (BRIG)”

There's so much for us to be proud of this year, our programme has been so broad. We’ve been able to launch art commissions that have been in the making since 2020 through Gallery37, including Wander Water which can now be seen on display at The Roundhouse.

We’ve been a driver for positive change and a catalyst for hard discussion surrounding race through our involvement in Birmingham Race Impact Group (BRIG). We’ve all had the opportunity to step outside our comfort zones *flashback to me hosting Write The Future for Meta and WMMB* and we’ve grown much closer as a team *insert terrible photo of team hungover at away day*. We were on the road for the first time post-COVID with the Morgan Munroe, Elvira tour and we have worked with many exciting new artists.

Reflecting on 2022 I’m really proud of the team but I'm SO excited for 2023!

Sannah Sajid, Digital Marketing Assistant

“I loved being a part of the Elvira Tour as it gave me an insight into the world of touring, how the industry works and what life on the road is really like.”

Live music and touring has always been something that I’ve loved and wanted to be a part of, so when we announced that we were going to be taking Morgan Munroe on a UK-Wide tour, I couldn’t wait to get on the road. 

We took R&B artist Morgan Munroe on her first tour following the release of her EP ‘Elvira’, and it was everything I expected it to be and more. The first stop was in Glasgow and ended in Leicester, which is Morgan’s hometown. 

I loved being a part of this tour as it gave me an insight into the world of touring, how the industry works and what life on the road is really like.

Brad Morrison, Head of Marketing & Communications

“I had the privilege of producing my first immersive visual art exhibition Reworlding, which explored wellbeing, environmentalism and utopia.”

During the 2020 pandemic when exhibitions & galleries had to pause, I turned to the streets of Digbeth, and the walls that I used to pass aimlessly became an exciting adventure of visual art; every day I would discover new art pieces. I began to find a love for street art & new ways of showcasing exhibitions.

Two years later, I had the privilege of producing my first immersive visual art exhibition Reworlding, one of Gallery37’s 2022 commissions, which explored wellbeing, environmentalism, and utopia.

After months of planning & preparation, Centrala became home for a week, artists Hayley Salter & Jacob Carter became an unshakeable team, and together we crafted a beautiful multi-sensory space brimming with purposeful art including; an atmospheric soundscape recorded in green spaces around Birmingham, hanging portraits showcasing the city’s local heroes & their connection to nature and recycled carpet that was displayed to reflect the terrazzo-style sculptures which filled the walls of the exhibition. The responses from attendee’s were overwhelmingly positive - it was when I was told that the exhibition helped with an individual’s wellbeing & mental health that I filled up with emotion & pride.

Fahmida Choudhury, Insight Producer

“It has been great to have the opportunity to contribute to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games evaluation.”

Coming up to almost a full year at Punch Records, it has been great to have the opportunity to contribute to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games evaluation. 

This experience not only enabled me to partake in a globally recognised event, but over the course of the Festival I learned so much about Birmingham’s creative and cultural sector from the very practitioners themselves.  I was fortunate to be under the supervision of Simon Redgrave and Amanda Roberts guiding me through the processes involved in carrying out the evaluation research and will take the skills I’ve developed and apply them to our next research project.

CAS, Creative Producer

“I was touched by the number of attendees and feedback received, as I believe it’s important to produce various events that reflect us individually and society.”

Being a Christian has always been, and continues to be an important aspect of my life. It was an honour to be given the opportunity to produce the A Love Letter To The Gospel: Past, Present & Future event.

A Love Letter To The Gospel: Past, Present & Future is a feature-length documentary, directed by Storyteller and Musician, Rhea Marcia. The documentary explores the Gospel music journey and premiered at Holy Trinity Parish Church, Birchfield on 1st October 2022, with a live performance from Rhea and a full band, Q&A panel with Gospel artists, and community pillar Reverend Eve Pitts as the host. 

I was touched by the number of attendees and feedback received, as I believe it’s important to produce various events that reflect us individually and society.

Another highlight for me was being Tour Manager for Morgan Munroe. Both were a great way to represent Black History Month 2022!

Jay L’Booth, Creative Producer

“The use of a white cove really gave the visuals an immersive feel and allowed the artists to move around in their own worlds.”

This year at Punch, my highlight has to be Multiverse. The fact that this was so unique and had never been done before excited me. It was a challenge I wanted to experience and I feel it came together beautifully. Immersive experiences are the new wave of technology and i’m glad we got to implement that with Multiverse. 

I feel the lineup of artists we had really represented the up and coming scene in Birmingham right now. With ones to watch like Indigo Marshall and Creezon but there was also an insight into collectives such as >THEM. Each artist had their own scene created by Multidisciplinary artist DEMARAE and the scenes complemented the music magically. The use of a white cove really gave the visuals an immersive feel and allowed the artists to move around in their own worlds. 

What’s more, is the interactive aspect of this event, and how the audience could use a PS5 controller to explore the digital worlds further. Not forgetting the live art element of the space, where incredible digital paintings were created by Dayle Demaret-Smith and Rere Demarae.

I think we should continue to run events such as Multiverse - working with different artists each time. I also think it’s important for us to continue this immersive element within our future shows and projects.

kimberleigh logan, Creative Producer

“I’ll keep it real, my first-ever cypher went crazy! BAR4BAR.. Are you mad? There’s no better feeling than putting together an event that everyone is literally screaming for. The sounds, the bars, the crowd- immaculate. The music scene in Birmingham is so underrated and to be in the midst of some of the best talent coming through our streets right now was wild.”

Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

When we were approached for the second time by Birmingham Hippodrome to produce the launch of B-SIDE Hip Hop Festival, I knew I had to step up and put on something that was going to represent what’s really going on in Birmingham right now and open up the celebrations properly! I teamed up with Reuben (Fyah Kamp), and DJ Biggoss to help stitch together one of the littest lineups ever! 

From the open mic to the producer showcase, every artist involved lit up the stage in Suki10C like it was their biggest show. Wheel ups after wheel ups; the bars had our heads spinning! People were just pulling up to drop a few bars, packing out the place with good vibes - nobody wanted it to end. It was what we needed, and everyone who came will agree.  

I think for me, seeing that type of response was the moment I knew we smashed it. It’s important to provide spaces for artists to share their art with each other to create a more connected music industry because it’s clear that we have a very competitive nature, and whilst that’s somewhat necessary for this industry, we should stand on each other’s shoulders to grow and expand bigger than what we know our city to be. My only hope is that we continue to do so! 

Big shouts to the artists, producers, and music enthusiasts for coming through; not to mention Suki10C, Birmingham Hippodrome, Biggoss, and Reuben for making BAR4BAR my highlight of the year! 

Watch our Rewind video of the year on Youtube