Open City is thrilled to annouce a new urban cycling tour tracing the history of Grime music led by the former MP, Rory Stewart OBE.

The one-time wannabe mayor will lead a bike-based exploration of East London visiting key sites associated with Grime’s pioneers like Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Kano and Lethal Bizzle.

Stewart’s tour will touch down at buildings and estates where key chapters in story of Grime unfolded including the 1970s Crossways Estate by Tower Hamlets borough architect, John D. Hume where Tinchy Stryder grew up, and Chamberlin Powell and Bon’s Barbican Estate – best known as the location of Sketpa’s 2015 Shutdown music video.

A spokesperson for Rory Stewart said, ‘Rory is very excited to be leading this cycling tour of the history of Grime for Open City. He is an avid cyclist often spending his weekends at the local BMX track and a keen follower of all forms of rap music. He has even dabbled in slam poetry himself and in 2019 had a great chat with the Irish rap group Hare Squead on Brick Lane.’

Rory with Irish rap group, Hare Squead

Rory with some bikes

Location

The tour will meet by Ernő Goldfinger’s Balfron Tower, a little-known East London block first made famous by Peter Beste’s photograph of Grime legend Dizzee Rascal which was taken at the tower’s base. Balfron Tower was also one of the East London residential blocks from which the pirate radio station Rise FM was broadcast which, as an MP, Stewart would often play in his constituency offices in Penrith.

Peter Beste’s photograph of Dizzee Rascal posing outside the little-known Balfron Tower

Tickets

Tickets to the tour will be released via the Open City newsletter in the coming weeks. Sign up to receives updates below.