Have You Heard? #13: SK Shlomo

World-record beating beatboxer SK Shlomo (Shlo) returns to the Bristol Beacon stage this summer with their hit-show ‘Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure for Kids’. Known for their groundbreaking music and innovative performances, SK Shlomo has captivated audiences worldwide. They can’t wait to hit the road with their new interactive tour that guarantees to be an unforgettable experience for the whole family.

Accessibility and inclusivity are essential to their performances – with SK Shlomo talking openly about about their own experiences of being neurodivergent, in turn creating a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone to join in the music-making fun and be themselves.

Join us as we discover more about their creative inspiration and what’s in store for this phenomenal show.

Introduction: Shlo, tell us a bit about yourself, your work and connections to Bristol 

I am a world record breaking beatboxer, which means I love making music with my mouth and I have spent my whole adult life touring around the world performing shows and making music.

I love coming to Bristol, there’s such a great music scene there and the people are always so enthusiastic. I’ve been touring to Bristol Beacon for years now, so I’m very excited to be coming back.

What can you tell us about your Beatbox Adventure for Kids show and how the show came about?

I created my family show Shlomo’s Beatbox Adventure for Kids after I became a parent. I realised I needed to do a show that would help me be home in time for bath time. I also realised that my audience had grown up with me, and more and more of my fans had kids and weren’t able to come to my night time more rowdy shows. It felt like there was a real gap in the market for shows that appeal to children but aren’t mind-numbing for the grown-ups.

This show is so fun because the grown-ups are the ones pushing the kids in the door and the kids have so much fun learning to beatbox with their parents. It’s often the first gig for many kids and a really fun shared experience for the whole family.

Accessibility: It feels like you’ve placed a particular emphasis on making this show as accessible as possible. Can you share why this is important to you?

Accessibility is absolutely key. In the show, I talk about my own story as someone with neurodivergent disabilities. I have ADHD and autism, and so do a lot of the kids who come to the show. A lot of them know that they’re neurodivergent, and a lot of them have never really had a conversation about it. However, beatboxing is definitely something that appeals to people with brains like mine.

It’s been really emotional for me to receive messages from parents who saw the show and ended up having crucial conversations about neurodivergence. They also ended up getting diagnoses and support for their kids, and often for the parents too, as these things run in the family. It’s really beautiful that I can talk about some of the challenges I’ve faced as someone who didn’t get diagnosed until my late 30s, and help other families to get the support that they need much earlier.

Creating an accessible space and an inclusive environment for people to show up, whoever they are, and however they are, is really central to the whole movement.

What makes a great live music experience?

I’ve always absolutely loved any musical experience where the people on stage are having fun. It’s irresistible, and it’s partly why my music taste is so broad and varied.

I perform at lots of music festivals, and I love it because there’s a chance to see music from all kinds of different backgrounds and genres. Any time when the person or people on stage are smiling and jamming, in their element and having fun – it just becomes so infectious.

What’s one album/artist/work that you’ve been listening to recently and can recommend to our audiences?