Southside Champions Youth Culture Through Support for B-SIDE Hip-Hop Festival

By Julia Robinson, BID Manager, Southside District

At Southside, we’re proud to be the home of festivals in Birmingham – a vibrant District where creativity thrives and communities come together. From family-friendly favourites to large-scale cultural celebrations, our neighbourhood is known for its inclusive and diverse events.

That’s why we were especially excited to support the B-SIDE Hip Hop Festival 2025, a bold and energetic addition to Birmingham’s cultural calendar.

B-SIDE is more than just a music festival – it's a celebration of youth culture, creativity and community. With breakdance battles, skate spaces, basketball slams and live street art. BSIDE speaks directly to a younger audience that can be underserved by traditional cultural organisations. At Southside, we believe that needs to change.

For the festival, we helped to facilitate the venue through our license on Hippodrome Square, as well as supporting with Safety Advisory Processes. We made sure all our neighbours were aware of the festival and any planned road closures and disruptions.

During the weekend of B-SIDE, our team were on hand throughout, welcoming visitors and supporting the Birmingham Hippodrome events team to deliver an exciting weekend of all things hip-hop.

After the festival, just like every weekend in Southside, we led on the cleanup of the District, ensuring we are fresh, tidy and open for business the following day. Our city never sleeps!

As the heart of Birmingham city-centre, Southside should be a place where young people feel seen, heard and celebrated. Supporting B-SIDE is one vital step in making that vision a reality. We want young people to feel that they belong here, that they are part of the pulse that drives this city forward.

Our partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome, the festivals organisers, is central to this aim. The Hippodrome consistently delivers world-class events that are accessible and inspiring to all. Their committment to excellence and inclusivity aligns perfectly with our goals at Southside District. Together, we’re working to ensure that Birmingham’s cultural scene reflects the full spectrum of its communities – especially it’s youth.

Our support for B-SIDE is just the beginning. We’re committed to continuing this journey, creating space for new voices, fresh energy and the next generation of cultural leaders.