On Wednesday, August 5th, 2026, the highly anticipated COVEN’s BLAXTRAVAGANZA: NIGHT ONE announced an unexpected addition to their lineup. South African artist Moonchild Sanelly will be joining the opening night of the new queer Black festival, curated by SCARBA and dedicated to celebrating Black queer sound, performance, and possibility.
Sanelly, known for her unique blend of “future ghetto funk” which combines elements of gqom, kwaito, electronic music, pop, and rap, will bring an exciting energy to the already impressive lineup which includes Nakhane, LIE NING, and Matthew Jacobs Morgan.
The festival, taking place at COVEN throughout the month of August, aims to reclaim space in Soho through live music, art, performance, and nightlife, inspired by the style and attitude of Blaxploitation cinema. With no strict categories and artists performing on their own terms, BLAXTRAVAGANZA promises to be a one-of-a-kind experience.
In addition to Sanelly, Grammy-nominated producer and sound engineer Charles Moon will also be joining the lineup. Moon, known for his high energy and soulful music, has established himself as a distinctive voice in contemporary club culture. He is also the co-founder of ssagitari0, a new experimental label based in Mexico City.
Other artists performing on the opening night include South African musician Nakhane, whose work blends soul, electronic pop, and theatrical performance, and Berlin native LIE NING, whose sound moves through alternative R&B, soul, indie, and art-pop.
The night will take place at COVEN, a popular LGBTQ+ club in London, described by Time Out as “London’s Best LGBTQ+ Club” and by COLD Magazine as “London’s New Queer It Club.”
BLAXTRAVAGANZA will continue throughout August with a diverse program, including a night of sensual techno, a performance exploring lineage and ritual, and an event for WLW led by Nikita and Ash from I Kissed a Girl.
Tickets for BLAXTRAVAGANZA: NIGHT ONE are available on the COVEN website. Further programming will be announced, with a carnival weekend closing out the festival on August 31st. Don’t miss your chance to experience this groundbreaking celebration of Black queer artists and culture.
