Rise Festival

Rise was a free anti-racism music festival held in London, England from 1996 to 2008. Originally organised as an anti-racism festival by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), it was revived as such by the former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone. In June 2008, the Greater London Authority, under newly elected Mayor Boris Johnson, removed the anti-racist message of the festival. Subsequently, the trade unions UNISON and Unite the Union withdrew their festival funding, and Johnson cancelled the festival in April 2009, blaming lack of sponsorship.

When, in 1996, the festival was set up, it was originally called "Respect". While primarily a music festival, it also worked to encourage trade unions, voluntary groups, charities and community organisations to highlight their work and ideas concerning equality and the promotion of anti-racism.

The original event took part in Finsbury Park and featured artists Chumbawumba, Fun-Da-Mental, Asian Dub Foundation and Incognito. In 1997, the featured musicians were Luciano, Audioweb, the Fun Lovin' Criminals and Dreadzone and the event took place in Victoria Park, Hackney.

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