Black British music exhibition at Brixton’s Black Cultural Archives

BCA Black Sound logo

An exhibition opening next month at the Black Cultural archives in Brixton will celebrate pioneering Black British musicians, fans and promoters and the journey of their music from margins to mainstream.

Black Sound, from 7 April to 4 November, is the story of 100 years of creativity and DIY ingenuity in overcoming the music industry’s status quo, and of the players, promoters, producers and punters who changed Britain’s culture.

It will combine sound, moving images and archive material to take visitors through three phases of the journey: Original Imports; DIY Culture; and Re-mastering the Mainstream.

The BCA says Black Sound is a “raw and energetic” exhibition that will draw on its archive of photographs, vinyl, cassettes and music tracks to showcase the musical heritage of Black people from across the UK.

Lloyd Bradley, author of the acclaimed anthology of Black British music Sounds Like London, has developed a narrative for the exhibition that knits together rich social history and a powerful soundscape.

Audio-guided tours will feature as part of the experience and visitors can listen to a mix of the 100 most seminal albums from the past 100 years.

Admission will be free with audio-guided tours costing £3.

Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10.00am – 6.00pm; last entry 5.30pm.

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1 COMMENT

  1. Just drawing your attention to a forthcoming event at Rye Wax 7.30pm Tuesday 11 April, when our guest speaker is Lloyd Bradley. Lloyd is co-curator of this exhibition.
    Basic information about the event:
    London: Black Music Capital of the World. An Illustrated talk from Lloyd Bradley.
    Free to attend.
    Rye Wax bar and Taco Queen food facilities available.
    7.30-9pm Tuesday 11 April @ Rye Wax
    The Basement, CLF Art Café, 133 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST (opposite Peckham Rye Station)

    Lloyd Bradley makes the case and outlines how we got there and who put us there.
    Lloyd Bradley, former sound system owner and pirate radio broadcaster, is the author of the best-selling books Bass Culture: When Reggae Was King and Sounds Like London: 100 Years of Black Music in the Capital. (which opens from 6 April), and is currently writing the story of 70s soul.

    Event venue: http://www.ryewax.com

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