Jarvis Cocker Beatboxes For Anti-Knives Campaign

Former Pulp singer Jarvis Cocker joined former Sugababe Mutya Buena on stage in London earlier this week in aid of an anti-knife campaign.

The concert featured musicians performing their songs accompanied only by a beatbox orchestra, and was held at the Southbank Centre in Lambeth – a borough that has been the scene of two teenage deaths in violent attacks in 2008 from a total of 28 across the capital.

The gig – which also featured Vanessa Carlton – was organized by beatbox artist Shlomo, who hoped that the show would inspire young adults to find an alternative to knife crime.

“I really believe that beatboxing and music in general gives us the potential to inspire a change, to move away from the despondent attitudes that have led to problems with postcode wars, drugs, knives and gun crime,” he said. “Working creatively with young people gives them an opportunity to take an interest in their own development. Suddenly it can be considered cool to apply yourself to something.”