Opening Party
Featuring: Kefaya & Elaha Soroor, Gnawa Manchester, Dungi Sapor and Savanna Boys
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Date: Fri 19 June
Time: 19:00 - 00:00
Venue: Yellow Arch Studios
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ABOUT THE EVENT
One of the biggest nights of the week YEAR! It has to be the opening party!
In a festival first, our opening party will be hosted at the legendary Yellow Arch Studios, which has nurtured the talents of many Sheffield musicians and artists!
Kefaya & Elaha Soroor
Afghan singer Elaha Soroor and eclectic London-based ensemble Kefaya have joined forces for a mighty and mesmerising new album, Songs Of Our Mothers; a fresh, vibrant and beautiful take on Afghan folk music filtered through myriad forms, from spiritual jazz and dub to Indian classical music and electronica.
Gnawa Manchester
Gnawa Manchester brings the hypnotic trance rhythms of Morocco’s Gnawa tradition to UK audiences ---- music that’s far more than a genre, rooted in spiritual performance and centuries of cultural history.
Led by Zakaryae on the guembri (bass guitar), the band delivers a modern fusion sound, weaving Sub-Saharan sacred influences with touches of jazz and blues through an energetic mix of instruments. Expect deep grooves, call-and-response spirit, and an immersive, mystical journey that lifts the room!
Dungi Sapor - Drifting Sound: Echoes Across Tides
Presented by Kakilang, Co-Produced with Wildtune, supported by Taiwan Ministry of Culture
DJ Dungi (Dungi Sapor) presents a live set that fuses Taiwanese Amis indigenous vocals with experimental electronic sound. Her performance transforms voice into rhythm, texture, and atmosphere, weaving together layered beats and immersive soundscapes.
Joined by Amis dancers, the set unfolds as a dynamic exchange between sound and movement, where tradition and contemporaneity intersect. Drawing from Indigenous vocal practices and club culture, Dungi creates a distinctive sonic language that is both grounded and forward-looking - inviting audiences into an embodied, resonant listening experience.
Savanna Boys
A UK based Zimbabwean DJ collective delivering a high‑energy fusion of Amapiano, Afro house and Afro beats, with unmistakable roots straight from the motherland. Their sets are built for movement, rhythm and pure vibe. Once they touch the decks, the room shifts and the party finds its heartbeat.
Expect log drums. Expect groove. Expect a crowd that doesn’t want to go home!
Event Format & Information
19:00 - Doors open and attendees arrive
19:00-00:00 - A range of live music and DJs, set times TBC
00:00 - Event ends, although attendees can leave at any time
Food: Food can be purchased from our food vendor until 21:30. Menu and allergen information will be confirmed soon.
Seating: This is a standing event, but if you require seating or have specific access requirements please contact us at access@migrationmattersfestival.co.uk.
Audio: Loud volume with average decibel levels ranging between 90 to 115 dB. Wearing earplugs is advised. Free earplugs are available at the ticket desk if needed.
Lighting: The venue space will be dark with flashing lights and changing colours throughout the event.
Quiet space: There is no dedicated quiet space at this venue.
Venue Accessibility
Detailed access information for Yellow Arch is available on their website and AccessAble.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility for this event, please contact us at access@migrationmattersfestival.co.uk.
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC
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Dungi Sapor is an Taiwanese, Amis (Pangcah) artist, DJ, and producer from Hualien, Taiwan, whose work bridges Indigenous vocal traditions and contemporary electronic music. Drawing on ancestral melodies, she transforms voice into rhythm, texture, and immersive soundscapes, creating a distinctive form of Indigenous electronic expression. Her performances move between experimental club culture and cultural storytelling, offering audiences an embodied experience where tradition is continuously reimagined through sound.
About Kakilang
Kakilang is a interdisciplinary arts organisation dedicated to supporting and presenting artists, cultures and communities from East and Southeast Asian communities. Kakilang develops projects across performance, music, and visual art that explore identity, history, and diasporic experience. Through collaborations, touring, and community engagement, the organisation creates platforms for underrepresented voices while fostering meaningful cultural exchange between the UK and Asia.
About Wildtune
Wildtune is a non-profit music platform focused on presenting world music in innovative and intimate ways. Combining live performance, film, and design, Wildtune curates cross-disciplinary projects that connect artists and audiences through shared listening experiences. With an emphasis on collaboration and cultural exchange, the platform works closely with international musicians and local communities to bring diverse sound practices into dialogue within the UK’s independent music scene.
EVENT INFO
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£13 | £10 | £3
For more information about our ticketing approach, please visit: https://www.migrationmattersfestival.co.uk/festivalpasses
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Doors Open: 19:00
Running Time: 19:00 - midnight -
Event Format & Information
See the ‘Event Format & Information’ section for detailed information.
Venue Accessibility
Detailed access information for Yellow Arch is available on their website and AccessAble.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility for this event, please contact us at access@migrationmattersfestival.co.uk.
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Age Guidance: 14+
Content Warning: There are no content warnings for this event
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Photography Credit:
Kefaya & Elaha Soroor: Sam Rockman