How a Beverley Knight campaign sparked a decade of Wolverhampton culture

After a weekend of poetry, panel talks, comedy showcases, family workshops, and literary exhibitions: Cultural Architect Kupid the King will take to the stage to bring the weekend to an exciting and inspirational climax and to mark the 10th anniversary of the platform that has become the backbone of the city’s music scene. For the first time, he will reveal the true origin story of the brand - a story that began with Kupid living on just £1 a day, followed closely by a 2016 campaign by Wolves’ Soul Queen Beverley Knight.

In February 2016, Knight posted a striking image on social media after painting her face with the tragic, real words of victimised young girls supporting the Plan International UK ‘Because I Am A Girl’ campaign.

"I saw the post and went down a rabbit hole into Plan UK's work," explains Kupid. Inspired by the work of the charity and his cousin's advocacy, he wanted to use the skills he had to deliver and share the message. "I decided the most effective way to contribute was to build a stage for the cause."

Sunday Best was born. What began as a charity lineup championing women at Clarendon Pub in Chapel Ash evolved into a decade-long crusade to build an inclusive, independent, self-sustaining entertainment community in Wolves.

In 2016, the focus was clear: spectacular talent, incredible causes, and a genuine night out for the city. Early events for Plan UK and Save the Children were defined by a simple mission which continues to ground Sunday Best as they head into the new year: to provide great entertainment for people to enjoy whilst seamlessly supporting great causes.

The event demanded style, soul, and substance from Day 1 - standards that have since crystallized into the brand's defining mantra: "You're Never Overdressed at Sunday Best."

Kupid didn't just build a stage; he built a safe haven - creating a verified, professional pathway that takes artists from bedroom producers to headline acts. Under the banner of The Industry Spot, he has facilitated viral moments, including Lady Leshurr's 24 hour TikTok stream and the DJ AG activation in Queen Square that put Wolverhampton on the global digital map.

However, A Sunday Best Story will not just be a highlight reel, Kupid promises a live documentary that explores the grit behind the glamour.

"You cannot force a structure onto terrain you haven't surveyed," he notes "I spent a lot of time learning that the hard way."

The show will candidly address the specific challenges of building culture in a city often overshadowed by its larger neighbours. He will speak on the fight to reverse the brain drain of talent to Birmingham and London, and the exhausting reality of battling tokenism, where Black creatives are often viewed as tick boxes for diversity quotas rather than partners in infrastructure.

He will also confront the friction between culture and commerce in a working-class city. From broken promises by venue owners to the struggle of building a sustainable economy in the face of local poverty, the event will reveal the ongoing fight to ensure talent is paid, respected, and given a reason to stay in Wolverhampton.

A Sunday Best Story - 10 Years of Music & Community

In February, the full, unpolished story will be told. Expect candid storytelling, special guest appearances, and a deep dive into how a moment of digital inspiration turned into a decade of physical legacy.

Details:

• Sunday, 8 February 2026 at 7pm

• Doors open at 6.40pm for a prompt start

• Wolverhampton Literature Festival

• Space, Castle Street, WV1 3AD

• £5 adv booking

Tickets available via Wolverhampton Literature Festival Website.