Particularly focused in the area of Croydon in London, the festival is promoting the likes of black artists and those from ethnic minorities who won’t get opportunities like this usually. Witnessing this first hand was SDS founder Makeda Bennett-Amparbeng, and she quickly wanted to act this, and so she has with a relentlessness and determination to give Croydon a chance and put their name on the map. This is where The Bop Live Festival was born, and was first held virtually back in November 2020, and is now returning for the first time as a hybrid - a real life event as well as a virtual one on February 5th 2022.

Previously featured by the likes of BBC Radio London and BBC Radio 5, as well as coverage from Mixtape Madness, The LinkupTV and ASBO Magazine, The Bop Live Festival is shaping up to be a hugely coveted annual festival that will attract more and more people and talent each year it takes place. SDS now work heavily with Wozzy Brewster OBE, who has been integral to the development of artists such as Yussef Dayes, Katy B and Kate Tempest.

Speaking more on what The Bop Live means to her, Makeda explains:

“Croydon is often looked down on and given a bad name, you rarely hear positive things associated with it. Being from Croydon, myself and the SDS team know different and that's why we are changing that narrative.

We’ve not only seen first hand the plethora of local talented creatives here but also a great number of up and coming creatives simply looking for local events and initiatives to help with their professional development. The Bop Live was created to shine a light on these creatives and the borough, whilst also inviting other creatives from other areas to see what we the Croydoners are offering.”